Anne Brontë was born on January 17, 1820, and died on May 28, 1849. She was an English writer who wrote novels and poems. She was part of the Brontë family, which included her older sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Branwell. Anne is best known for her novels Agnes Grey, published in 1847, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, published in 1848. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is considered one of the first novels to support women's rights.

Anne was the sixth of six children born to Maria Brontë, the daughter of a merchant from Cornwall, and Patrick Brontë, an Irish clergyman. Her mother died when Anne was one year old, and her two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, died when Anne was four years old. Anne lived most of her life with her father and her surviving siblings in Haworth, Yorkshire. Her father worked as a church leader there. Between 1836 and 1837, Anne attended a boarding school in Mirfield. From 1839 to 1845, she worked as a governess for several families.

In 1846, Anne and her sisters Charlotte and Emily published a book of poetry. They used the names Acton, Currer, and Ellis Bell to hide their identities. Anne’s first novel, Agnes Grey, was published in 1847 as part of a set of three books that also included her sister Emily’s novel Wuthering Heights. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was published the following year.

Anne died at the age of 29, likely from tuberculosis. After her death, her sister Charlotte wrote an introduction for a new edition of Agnes Grey but stopped others from republishing The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, believing it was a mistake. This decision reduced Anne’s popularity as a writer. However, both of her novels are now recognized as important works in English literature.

Family background

Anne's father was Patrick Brontë, the oldest of ten children born to Hugh Brunty and Eleanor McCrory, who were poor Irish farmers. Patrick, a determined young man, studied at St John's College, Cambridge, and became a clergyman in the Church of England. Anne's mother was Maria Branwell, the daughter of Anne Carne and Thomas Branwell, a successful grocer and tea merchant who owned property in Penzance.

Patrick and Maria married in 1812 in Guiseley, Yorkshire, and moved to live in nearby Hartshead, where Patrick was appointed as a pastor. Their first child, Maria (1814–1825), was born there in 1814. In 1815, Patrick became an assistant pastor at the chapel in Market Street Thornton, near Bradford. A second daughter, Elizabeth (1815–1825), was born shortly after. Four more children followed: Charlotte (1816–1855), Patrick Branwell (1817–1848), Emily (1818–1848), and Anne (1820–1849).

Early life

Anne was born on January 17, 1820, at the parsonage in Market Street, Thornton, near Bradford. Her father, Patrick, worked as a curate there. Anne was baptized in Thornton on March 25, 1820. Soon after, Patrick was assigned to a long-term church position in Haworth, seven miles (11 kilometers) away. In April 1820, the family moved into the Haworth Parsonage, a small home with five rooms.

When Anne was about one year old, her mother, Maria, became seriously ill. Maria died on September 15, 1821, possibly from a type of cancer. Patrick tried to marry again but was not successful. Maria’s sister, Elizabeth Branwell, had come to live at the parsonage to care for Maria. After Maria’s death, Elizabeth stayed to help raise the children. She remained at the parsonage until her own death. Elizabeth was strict and valued respect over affection. She had little warmth with the older children, though family friend Ellen Nussey noted that Anne was her favorite. Like her siblings, Anne was very advanced for her age. In a biography about Charlotte, Patrick recalled that when Anne was four years old, he asked her what a child most wanted. She answered, "age and experience."

In mid-1824, Patrick sent Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Emily to school at Crofton Hall in Crofton, West Yorkshire. Later, they attended the Clergy Daughter’s School in Cowan Bridge, Lancashire. Conditions at Cowan Bridge were difficult, with poor food and frequent illness. These harsh conditions may have contributed to the deaths of Maria and Elizabeth Brontë. Maria and Elizabeth were sent home from school after falling ill during a typhus outbreak. They died shortly after, likely from tuberculosis. The loss of the two oldest girls deeply affected the family. Patrick decided not to send his remaining daughters away again. Charlotte and Emily were taken out of Cowan Bridge, and for the next five years, they and their siblings were educated at home by their aunt Elizabeth and their father.

The children spent little time with people outside the parsonage and relied on each other for companionship. The moors near Haworth became their favorite place to play. Anne shared a room with her aunt, which may have shaped Anne’s personality and religious views. Anne was very close to all her siblings, but she was especially close to Emily. Ellen Nussey described them as being "like twins."

Education

Anne's education at home included music and drawing lessons. The church organist in Keighley taught piano to Anne, Emily, and Branwell, while John Bradley of Keighley provided art lessons. Their aunt attempted to teach the girls how to manage a household, but the girls preferred to study literature and read extensively from their father's large collection of books. Their reading included the Bible, works by Homer and Virgil, plays by Shakespeare, poems by Milton and Byron, novels by Scott, and articles from magazines such as Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Fraser's Magazine, and The Edinburgh Review. They also read books about history, geography, and the lives of famous people.

In June 1826, their father gave Branwell a set of toy soldiers, which he shared with his sisters. The siblings gave names to the soldiers, called "The Young Men" or "The Twelves," and created stories about them. This inspired the creation of an imaginary kingdom called Angria, a group of fictional islands near the coast of West Africa. The children made maps and watercolor drawings of Angria. They played games and wrote stories, poems, and plays about the people who lived in Angria and its capital city, "Glass Town," also known as Verreopolis or Verdopolis. These stories sometimes included details from real-life sources. The children wrote their stories in tiny books made from scraps of paper, which they sewed together by hand.

Juvenilia

In 1831, when Anne was eleven years old, she and Emily left the Angrian world, which had become controlled by Charlotte and Branwell, to create their own fantasy world called Gondal. This world would continue to affect them as they grew older. Anne and Emily were very close friends, and their bond remained strong even after Charlotte went to Roe Head School in January 1831. In 1833, Charlotte’s school friend, Ellen Nussey, visited Haworth and said Emily and Anne were "inseparable companions." She described Anne as quiet and thoughtful.

In 1832, Charlotte completed her schooling at Roe Head and returned home to teach her siblings. Later, in July 1835, Charlotte went back to Roe Head as a teacher, and Emily joined her as a student. Emily’s education was mostly paid for by Charlotte’s teaching job. However, Emily struggled to adjust to life at school and felt very homesick. She was sent home in October, and Anne took her place at the school.

At this time, Anne was fifteen years old. This was her first time living away from home, and she stayed at Roe Head for two years, returning only during Christmas and summer breaks. She made few friends at school and did not leave a strong impression on her teachers. However, she won a prize for good behavior in 1836. Anne was quiet, hardworking, and although she missed home, she stayed determined to get the education she needed to support herself.

In December 1837, Anne became very ill with gastritis. A Moravian minister visited her several times during her illness, suggesting that her suffering might have been partly caused by a crisis of faith linked to the strong Calvinist beliefs at the school. Worried about Anne’s health, Charlotte wrote to their father, who arranged for Anne to return home.

Employment at Blake Hall

After leaving Roe Head, Anne looked for a job as a governess, one of the few choices available to women like her. In April 1839, when Anne was nineteen years old, she began working for the Ingham family at Blake Hall, near Mirfield.

The Inghams were very wealthy and had five young children, the oldest of whom was six years old. In a letter to Charlotte, Anne described the children as "not very smart" and "given too many treats." She found it very difficult to manage them and had little success in teaching them. She was not allowed to discipline them, and when she complained about their behavior, she received no help and was criticized for being unable to handle the situation. The Inghams were unhappy with how little progress the children made, and after nine months, Anne was asked to leave her position. She returned home in December 1839 to join Charlotte and Emily, who had also left their jobs. Anne’s difficult time at Blake Hall is believed to have inspired her novel Agnes Grey.

William Weightman

When Anne returned to Haworth, she became friends with William Weightman, her father's new assistant pastor. Weightman began working in the parish in August 1839. He was 25 years old and had earned a two-year certificate in religious studies from the University of Durham. He was described as handsome and well-liked by the family. Weightman often visited the parsonage until his sudden death from cholera in 1842. He had a friendly and charming personality. After learning that none of the Brontë sisters had ever received a Valentine's card, he wrote cards and poems to all three sisters, as well as to Ellen Nussey, who was visiting them at the time. Some people believe Anne may have felt affection for Weightman, though there is little proof beyond a poem she wrote after his death titled I will not mourn thee, lovely one, which reflects the love the family felt for him.

Thorp Green

From 1840 to 1845, Anne worked at Thorp Green Hall, a comfortable country house near York. There, she served as a governess to the five children of Reverend Edmund Robinson and his wife, Lydia. The house is shown as Horton Lodge in the book Agnes Grey. In 1842, Anne wrote a three-verse poem titled Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day at the Long Plantation on Thorp Green. The poem was published in 1846 under the name Acton Bell.

The Robinson family had five children: Lydia (15), Elizabeth (13), Mary (12), Edmund (8), and Georgina, who was 18 months old and died the year Anne arrived. Anne faced challenges similar to those she had at Blake Hall, including missing her home and family. Her quiet and gentle nature made it difficult for her to adjust to the household. In a diary entry from 1841, Anne wrote that she disliked her situation and wished to leave. However, she remained determined to succeed and eventually became well-liked by her employers. The Robinson girls became lifelong friends with Anne.

Anne visited her family only five or six weeks each year, during holidays in December and June. The rest of the year, she lived with the Robinsons. She traveled with the family annually to Scarborough, a place she came to love. Between 1840 and 1844, Anne spent summers in Scarborough, where she collected semi-precious stones and developed an interest in geology. She included this interest in her novels, showing it as a subject suitable for both men and women.

While working for the Robinsons, Anne and her sisters considered starting a school. They explored locations like the parsonage, but the plan did not happen because there were not enough students. In early November 1842, Anne returned home after her aunt, Elizabeth Branwell, died. Branwell left a legacy of nearly £300 for each of her nieces.

In January 1843, Anne returned to Thorp Green and arranged for her brother, Branwell, to become a tutor for Edmund, who was too old to be taught by Anne. Branwell did not live at Thorp Green Hall and his teaching was not successful. He was sent home in disgrace after becoming overly fond of Mrs. Robinson, Edmund’s mother. Anne’s writings from this time show her inner struggles and her efforts to remain calm. All three Brontë sisters worked as governesses or teachers. They all faced challenges managing their students, gaining support from employers, and dealing with homesickness. However, Anne was the only one who continued her work and achieved success.

Back at the parsonage

In June 1845, Anne and Branwell returned home for the holidays. Anne left her job at Thorp Green at that time. She did not explain why she left her job, but it might have been because of the relationship between her brother and Mrs. Robinson. Branwell left shortly after Anne. Anne continued to write letters to Elizabeth and Mary Robinson.

A book of poems

In 1845, the Brontë siblings lived at home with their father. None of them had jobs or clear plans for work. Charlotte discovered Emily's poems, which Emily had shared only with Anne. Charlotte wanted to publish the poems, but Emily was upset because she felt her privacy was violated. Emily refused to publish, but Anne revealed she had also been writing poems secretly. Charlotte believed Anne's poems had a heartfelt and sincere quality. Encouraged by Charlotte, the sisters agreed to publish their poems. They kept their plans a secret. Using money left by Elizabeth Branwell, they paid for the publication of a poetry collection. The book included 21 poems by Anne, 21 by Emily, and 19 by Charlotte.

The book was published under fake names that used their initials but hid their identities. Anne used the name Acton Bell, Charlotte used Currer Bell, and Emily used Ellis Bell. The book, Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, was released in May 1846. The cost of publishing was 31 pounds and 10 shillings, which was about three-quarters of Anne's salary at Thorp Green. On May 7, 1846, the first three copies arrived at Haworth Parsonage. The book received positive reviews from The Critic and The Athenaeum, but it did not sell well, with only two copies sold in the first year. Later, Anne found success with her poetry. In December 1848, The Leeds Intelligencer and Fraser's Magazine published her poem The Narrow Way under her pseudonym. Four months earlier, Fraser's Magazine had published her poem The Three Guides.

Novels

By July 1846, a package containing the first novels written by each of the Brontë sisters was being sent to London publishers. Charlotte had written The Professor, Emily had written Wuthering Heights, and Anne had written Agnes Grey. Agnes Grey was the only one of the sisters’ novels written in the first person, and like Charlotte’s second novel Jane Eyre, it was based on her experiences as a governess.

After some rejections, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey were accepted by the publisher Thomas Cautley Newby. The Professor was not accepted, though it is unclear whether it was rejected or if Charlotte refused to pay the fifty pounds needed to publish it. However, Charlotte’s second novel, Jane Eyre, was accepted immediately by Smith, Elder & Co. It was the first of the sisters’ novels to be published and was very successful. At the same time, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey were delayed in being published. Anne and Emily had to pay fifty pounds to help cover their publishing costs. Their publisher was encouraged by the success of Jane Eyre and released Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey together in December 1847. However, Agnes Grey was less noticed than Wuthering Heights.

“Sick of mankind and their disgusting ways,” Anne Brontë wrote in pencil at the back of her Prayer Book.

Anne’s second novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, was published in 1848. The first reviews appeared on July 8, and although The Athenaeum gave a positive review, the novel faced the same criticism of “coarseness” that had been directed at the Bell brothers’ earlier works.

The novel addressed problems like unfair treatment and abuse by a husband. It is now considered by many to be one of the first feminist novels.

In the book, Helen leaves her abusive husband to protect her son from his influence. She hides and supports herself and her son by painting. This action broke social rules and English law. Until the Married Women’s Property Act of 1870, married women had no legal independence from their husbands. They could not own property, sue for divorce, or control their children’s custody. By law, Helen’s husband could have taken her back and accused her of kidnapping. By living on her own income, Helen was breaking the law because that income was legally her husband’s. The fact that the author showed sympathy for Helen rather than blaming her caused some critics to disapprove. However, in 1913, May Sinclair said that the moment Helen Huntingdon slammed her bedroom door against her husband became a powerful symbol in Victorian England.

Anne explained her intentions in the second edition of the book, published in August 1848. She strongly responded to critics (including Charlotte) who thought her portrayal of Huntingdon was too detailed and disturbing. Anne said she wanted to tell the truth. She wrote: “When we write about bad people and bad behavior, I believe it is better to show them as they truly are, not as they wish to appear.” Anne also criticized reviewers who guessed the authors’ genders and questioned whether women should write such stories. She said:

London visit

In July 1848, Anne and Charlotte visited Charlotte's publisher, George Smith, in London to clear up the rumor that the "Bell brothers" were one person. Emily refused to go. Anne and Charlotte stayed with Smith for several days. Many years after Anne's death, Smith wrote in The Cornhill Magazine about his impressions of her:

The growing popularity of the Bells' works caused more people to become interested in Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, which was first published by Aylott and Jones. The remaining copies of the book were bought by Smith and Elder, who reprinted it with new covers in November 1848. The book still sold very few copies.

Family tragedies

Branwell's continued drinking had hidden his worsening health, and he died on 24 September 1848. His unexpected death surprised the family. He was 31 years old. The cause was listed as chronic bronchitis, but it was likely tuberculosis.

Soon after this, in the same year, Emily became very ill. Her condition worsened over two months, and she died on 19 December at the age of 30. Emily's death made Anne very sad. Her sorrow made her physical health worse. During Christmas, Anne had influenza. Her symptoms got worse, and in early January, her father called a doctor from Leeds. The doctor said she had advanced consumption with little chance of getting better. In a letter to Ellen Nussey, Anne wrote about her unfulfilled goals.

Anne took all the medicines recommended and followed the advice she was given. She also wrote her last poem, A dreadful darkness closes in, in which she talks about being very sick with no cure. Her health changed a lot over months, but she grew thinner and weaker.

Death

In February, Anne felt a little better. She decided to travel to Scarborough to see if being in a new place and breathing fresh sea air might help her health. Charlotte was at first worried the trip would be too hard, but she agreed after the doctor said it was okay and Anne said it was her only chance.

On May 24, 1849, Anne, Charlotte, and Ellen Nussey began their journey to Scarborough. They stayed in York for one night. During this time, they helped Anne in a wheelchair, did some shopping, and visited York Minster. It was clear that Anne was very weak.

On Sunday, May 27, Anne asked Charlotte if it would be easier to return home to die rather than stay in Scarborough. The next day, a doctor checked on her and said death was near. Anne took the news calmly. She showed her love and care for Ellen and Charlotte and whispered for Charlotte to "be brave." Anne died around 2:00 PM on May 28, 1849, at the age of 29.

Charlotte decided to "lay the flower where it had fallen" and arranged for Anne to be buried in Scarborough. The funeral took place on May 30. Miss Wooler, Anne’s former teacher at Roe Head, and Ellen were the only other people present at the funeral. Anne was buried in St Mary’s churchyard, near the castle walls and overlooking the south bay. Charlotte had a stone placed over Anne’s grave with an inscription.

Three years later, Charlotte visited the grave and found mistakes on the headstone. She had it fixed, but it still had some errors, as Anne was 29 when she died, not 28 as written.

In 2011, the Brontë Society placed a new plaque at Anne Brontë’s grave. The original stone was too hard to read and could not be repaired. The new plaque was placed flat, copying the old words and fixing the mistakes. In April 2013, the Brontë Society held a ceremony at the grave to honor the new plaque.

Reputation

After Anne Brontë died, Charlotte Brontë added an introduction and explanation to a new edition of Agnes Grey, hoping to respond to earlier criticisms. However, Charlotte stopped the reprinting of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. In 1850, Charlotte wrote:

Later critics focused less on Anne's work because of this, and some said she was "a Brontë without genius." However, since the middle of the 20th century, more attention has been given to Anne's life and writings. Books by Winifred Gérin (1959), Elizabeth Langland (1989), and Edward Chitham (1991), as well as Juliet Barker's group biography The Brontës (1994; revised 2010), and studies by critics like Inga-Stina Ewbank, Marianne Thormählen, Laura C Berry, Jan B Gordon, Mary Summers, and Juliet McMaster have helped recognize Anne Brontë as an important writer. Sally McDonald of the Brontë Society said in 2013 that in some ways, Anne is now seen as the most bold of her sisters, writing about important issues such as women's need for independence and the harm caused by alcoholism in families. In 2016, Lucy Mangan promoted Anne Brontë in the BBC program Being the Brontës.

Works

• Bell, Currer, Bell, Ellis, and Bell, Acton (1846). Poems.
• Bell, Acton (1847). Agnes Grey.
• Bell, Acton (1848). The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.