Charlotte Bronte: Poems written by author aged 13 go on sale
For nearly 200 years, only a select few people had read the contents of a tiny collection of poems written by an author who later became a household name.Charlotte Brontë was just 13 when she compiled her Book of Rhymes in 1829 - misspelling the word "rhymes".In 2022, the original volume was purchased for £983,000 at auction and the winning bidder donated it to the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, West Yorkshire.The museum has now teamed up with a publisher to release £20 paperback copies of the anthology, which contains 10 works by the future writer of the novel Jane Eyre.
Ann Dinsdale, the museum's principle curator, said: "Charlotte was hugely ambitious. "She'd grown up seeing poetry published by her father on the parsonage bookshelves."So that idea of being a published author had kind of always been present."She'd been steeped in the works of Wordsworth and Lord Byron and she saw her true vocation as being in poetry."The tiny manuscript - measuring just 3.8in x 2.5in (9.7cm x 6.4cm) - was one of six "little books" written by Charlotte but never published.The eldest of the three Brontë sisters, Charlotte went on to write her classic Jane Eyre 18 years later. The girls grew up in the Haworth parsonage.She died in 1855 aged 38 and the booklet was kept by her husband Arthur Bell Nicholls until his death.It was put up for sale in 1915 in London, and again a year later in New York, before disappearing from public view for more than a century before being auctioned for a third time.
Ms Dinsdale said: "We worked with a publisher called the Tartarus Press, they're based in Leyburn, so it's a very Yorkshire project."And we published the edition of the Book of Ryhmes (sic)."These tiny, early manuscripts are so important in that they chart her development as a writer."She's trying to establish her own style, her own voice."It was one step in the process that went into her eventually producing Jane Eyre."The original15-page manuscript, stitched in brown paper covers, is on display in the museum.It was bought by Friends of the National Libraries (FNL), a UK charity devoted to saving the nation's written and printed heritage.Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Emmerdale star confirms fan favourite's return after months off-screen
A FAN favourite on Emmerdale is making a long-anticipated return. Dylan Penders, played by Fred Kettle, will be returning to ITV screens soon after months off the show. 5 5 5 The character was first introduced to Emmerdale viewers earlier this year when he befriended April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan), during her stint being unhoused and living on the streets. Despite caring for April and becoming good friends, her dad Marlon Dingle, was not a fan on Dylan and resorted to planting drugs on Dylan in a desperate bid to force him out of April's life. But his plan backfired dramatically when Dylan ended up overdosing and left to attend rehab. Emmerdale producers revealed earlier this month that Dylan would be returning to the village, but Amelia, who plays April on the soap gave a hint when exactly fans can expect to see him again. "April has had an incredibly tough year with what she has been through, with the pregnancy and the homelessness storyline," she told Mirror Online. "April and Dylan didn't leave things on the best terms, but I think what is important now is that he's back." Amelia added: "Who knows what will happen. It will be great to explore that relationship further, I think fans want to see that which is great." It's been a big week for Amelia who took out the gong for Best Young Performer at Thursday's British Soap Awards. She managed to win the prize ahead of her brother William Flanagan, who was nominated for playing Joseph Brown on Coronation Street. Emmerdale boss Laura Shaw confirmed Dylan's return earlier this month. Emmerdale's Marlon visits Dylan in hospital after he takes an overdose "Lovely Fred Kettle, who plays Dylan, is coming back to the show," she told media. "He's going to be bringing his past back to the village with him. And that's going to cause huge problems for April and the wider family there." Laura added: "We've got a couple of exciting new castings that are joining us for that story, but I'm not allowed to tell you who they are. Watch this space, because it's very exciting." 5 5
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
'One last promotion party before looking to challenge ahead'
After five weeks on cloud nine, the Premier League table has officially refreshed for next season and Leeds United are alphabetically 11th - stop the count!The Kaiser Chiefs gig at Temple Newsam, celebrating 20 years of their debut album "Employment", felt like one last promotion party before attention turned to the challenge club anthem "I Predict a Riot" featured twice on the night - as Leeds' number nine turned guitarist Patrick Bamford took stage for a one-off performance with the band. The Championship trophy was present too, along with a crop of Bielsa-era three clubs promoted from the Championship have gone straight back down in each of the past two seasons, and so we are led to believe that any prospect of Leeds surviving is doubtful.I think if you unpack it, none of the clubs promoted in that time have had any big-club pull or mentality to do some smart, serious business in the transfer window. Leeds and Sunderland will both have for what he has gone on to achieve, is undoubtedly up there with the most ground-breaking transfers out of the Premier League since Gareth Bale in 2013 - having only spent two seasons at Elland sheer scale of Leeds United, its rich history and renowned fanbase, means they are naturally a more favoured TV selection for the numbers generated. All this, accompanied with the foundations in place and money at play, makes Leeds the more appetising stage for a certain type of factor next season is that nine clubs have qualified for European football, which will perhaps give Leeds an edge in games against weakened or fatigued sides.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Black hair exhibition at Hull gallery will be 'validating', says artist
A woman says she wants to wants to "start a conversation" about afro hair, including the challenge of finding a salon that caters for black and mixed heritage Mohammed, from Hull, has opened a photographic exhibition at the city's Ferens Art Gallery, which she hopes will challenge stereotypes. Ms Mohammed said for many people even finding a salon that caters for black hair can be problematic, leaving some with no option but to call on family and free exhibition, Hair: Identity in the AfroWorld, runs until 17 August. Ms Mohammed, 34, said she now regularly travels to salons in Bradford, in West Yorkshire, and Kettering in to Hull, she said: "There's still a very small amount of people (salons) that attend to the nuances of black hair."That's why the home salon is such a big thing for a lot of black people. I do your hair, you do my hair."The Nigerian-born artist said she loves her afro hair."It's versatile, it's strong," she said."I love the fact that it defies gravity. It teaches us patience. It forces you to sometimes be self-sufficient."Visitors to the exhibition can learn about braiding styles and hair care techniques passed down through generations. Ms Mohammed said she hopes people, including children, will find the exhibition "validating". Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
