Bronte and Gaskell
Posted by Stolzi on October 19, 1997 at 22:46:09:
In response to a messenger from "the other world" ..., written by greg on October 19, 1997 at 15:21:27
[ I just viewed THE ORIGINAL MSS. of Jane Eyre up at the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth! The page was turned to Rochester's proposal to Jane. WOW! To me, this was like viewing a piece of the True Cross. And right next to it was the original mss. of Mrs. Gaskell's LIFE OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE!!! Amy 2
Long heartfelt wow.... seeing the mss, I mean.
I've just finished Benson's life of Charlotte Bronte. He points out that Mrs Gaskell must have known of CB's passion for M. Heger but completely covered it up - it was not known (though some people theorized on the basis of VILLETTE) until CB's letters to him resurfaced after M. Heger's death and the Heger family decided they were of historic and literary value and allowed them to be published in 1915.
M. Heger had answered seldom and in cool tones; no Rochester he! I am sure he knew it would be professional death to an educator of young ladies to be involved in any suspicion of impropriety.
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