Shirley, A Tale is a novel written by the English author Charlotte Brontë in 1849. It was Brontë’s second book published after Jane Eyre, which was first released under the name Currer Bell. The story takes place in Yorkshire between 1811 and 1812, during a time of economic hardship caused by the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. The events of the novel happen during protests by workers in the textile industry, known as the Luddite uprisings.

Because of the novel’s popularity, the name Shirley became a common first name for women. Brontë explained that her family had a tradition of using the surname Shirley only as a first name for boys. Before the book was published, the name was not often used as a first name in England. Today, it is most commonly used as a female first name.

Background

While Charlotte Brontë was writing Shirley, three of her siblings died. Her brother Branwell died in September 1848, and her sister Emily fell ill and died in December. Brontë continued writing, but then her only remaining sibling, her sister Anne, became ill and died in May 1849.

Some critics think the character of Caroline Helstone was inspired by Anne. It has been suggested that Brontë first planned to let Caroline die but changed her mind because of her family’s losses. However, Ellen Nussey, Charlotte’s lifelong friend, said the character of Caroline was based on herself.

Charlotte Brontë told Elizabeth Gaskell that Shirley is what she believed her sister, Emily Brontë, would have been if Emily had been born into a wealthy family. Again, Ellen Nussey, who knew Emily well, did not recognize Emily in the character of Shirley.

The maiden name of Mrs. Pryor is Agnes Grey, the name of the main character in Anne’s first novel. This character was based on Margaret Wooler, the principal of Roe Head School, which Brontë attended as both a student and a teacher.

Locations

The novel takes place in and near the Spen Valley, which is now part of West Yorkshire (then called the West Riding of Yorkshire). This area is sometimes referred to as "Shirley country" by local people. A house called Briarmains in the novel is based on the Red House in Gomersal, where Mary Taylor, a friend of Charlotte, lived. The Red House is no longer open to the public but was once a museum. Another house, Fieldhead, is modeled after Oakwell Hall, an Elizabethan-style manor house that is also now a museum. The attack on Robert Moore's mill in the story is inspired by the Luddite attack on Cartwright's Mill at Rawfolds, Liversedge. Some people think Charlotte also used events from Taylor's Mill at Hunsworth as inspiration. Charlotte's father, Patrick Bronte, lived for a time in the Hightown area of Liversedge, and Charlotte was very familiar with the region.

Synopsis

Robert Moore is a mill owner known for treating his workers harshly. He has fired many employees and does not care about their struggles. He had no choice but to do this because the mill is in deep debt. He wants to restore his family's honor and wealth.

At the start of the story, Robert is waiting for new machines to arrive for the mill. These machines would allow him to fire more workers. He and his friends stay up all night to watch, but the machines are destroyed by "frame-breakers" before reaching the mill. Robert's problems continue because of labor unrest and the Napoleonic Wars, which prevent British merchants from trading in American markets.

Robert is close to his cousin, Caroline Helstone. Caroline lives with her uncle, Rev. Matthew Helstone, after her father died and her mother left her. Robert's sister, Hortense, teaches Caroline French and arithmetic. Caroline admires Robert deeply, but Robert keeps his distance because he cannot afford to marry for love.

Caroline feels hurt when Robert grows distant. Her uncle does not understand her feelings. She has no money and cannot leave, though she wishes to. She suggests becoming a governess, but her uncle refuses to let her work.

Caroline feels better when she meets Shirley, a wealthy young woman who lives with her former governess, Mrs. Pryor. Shirley is kind, creative, and interested in helping others. Caroline and Shirley become friends. Caroline believes Shirley and Robert will marry. Shirley cares about Robert and is worried about the threats he faces from angry workers. Some workers suffer greatly after losing their jobs, while others act violently. Shirley uses her money to help the poor and protect Robert.

One night, Rev. Matthew Helstone asks Shirley to stay with Caroline while he is away. Caroline and Shirley learn that an attack on the mill is planned. They hear dogs barking and overhear rioters talking about breaking into the house. The women go to warn Robert but arrive too late. They watch from hiding as the attack happens.

The community believes Robert and Shirley will marry. This expectation makes Caroline very sick. Mrs. Pryor cares for Caroline and learns the truth: she is Caroline's mother. Mrs. Pryor left Caroline because she looked like her abusive husband. She later changed her name to Pryor and became a governess. Knowing this, Caroline finds new purpose and begins to recover.

Shirley's relatives visit, bringing her cousin Louis Moore, who is Robert's younger brother. Caroline is confused by Shirley's cold treatment of Louis. Two men ask Shirley to marry them, but she refuses. Shirley and Louis have a complicated relationship. Sometimes Shirley listens to Louis, and other times she ignores him. When Shirley is upset, only Louis can comfort her.

Robert returns home one night, stopping at the market before going home with a friend. His friend asks why Robert left when it seemed Shirley loved him. Robert explains that he proposed to Shirley, but she laughed at first and then cried. She told him he wanted to marry her for her money, not for love. Feeling ashamed, Robert left for London, where he realized restoring his family's name was not as important as keeping his self-respect. He returns home determined to close the mill if needed and move to Canada to build a new life. Just as he finishes speaking, his friend hears a gunshot, and Robert falls from his horse.

His friend takes Robert home and cares for him. After his health worsens, Robert slowly improves. A visit from Caroline helps him recover, though she must hide from her uncle and others. Robert moves back home and convinces his sister to invite Caroline to visit. He asks Caroline for forgiveness.

Louis proposes to Shirley, and she agrees to marry him. Caroline is to be Shirley's bridesmaid, but Robert proposes to her, and she accepts. The story ends with Caroline marrying Robert and Shirley marrying Louis.

Characters

The story focuses on four main characters who have very different personalities: two friends, Caroline Helstone and Shirley Keeldar, and their lovers, the brothers Robert and Louis Gérard Moore.

• Robert Gérard Moore – A 30-year-old factory owner whose textile mill is not working because of the war. He is seen as different because he comes from Antwerp, even though he is related to Caroline. Robert introduces new machines to his mill to save labor, but this makes him a target of people who oppose such changes.
• Louis Gérard Moore – Robert’s brother, who works as a teacher for Shirley’s uncle.
• Caroline Helstone – An 18-year-old girl who is shy and unsure of herself, but also smart and strong. She is the niece of Rev. Helstone and a close friend of Shirley.
• Shirley Keeldar – A 21-year-old young woman who has no parents and inherited a large amount of money. She is brave, independent, and determined.

Other characters in the story include:

• Rev. Matthew Helstone – Caroline’s uncle. He is a strict man who is not mean, but does not show much love for his niece. He has become distrustful of women because of his marriage.
• Hortense Gérard Moore – Robert and Louis’s sister.
• Hiram Yorke – A local landowner.
• Joseph "Joe" Scott – Robert Moore’s supervisor at the mill.
• Mrs. Pryor – Shirley’s shy but wise teacher, who moves to Fieldhead with Shirley. She is later discovered to be Caroline’s long-lost mother, Mrs. Agnes Helstone.
• The three curates – Three church workers from different areas: Peter Malone, who is from Ireland and England; Joseph Donne, who is from London; and Davy Sweeting, who is friendly and kind.
• William Farren – A hardworking and patient worker. He is shown as an example of a good worker from the working class.

Style

The book Jane Eyre is written from the viewpoint of the main character, who tells the story in the first person. In contrast, the book Shirley is told by an unnamed female narrator who is not one of the main characters. This narrator is a woman from Yorkshire and a close friend of the Yorke family. She tells the story from the perspective of the late 1840s, looking back in time. For her third novel, Villette, Brontë again used a first-person narrator.

Adaptations

The novel was made into a movie only once, in 1922. The silent movie was directed by A. V. Bramble, and Carlotta Breese played the main character.

In March 2014, BBC Radio 4 aired a ten-part radio drama based on the novel. The drama, created by Rachel Joyce, was part of the station's 15-Minute Drama series. Lesley Sharp narrated the series, and Joanne Froggatt played Caroline, while Jemima Rooper played Shirley.

Critical reception

After the very successful novel Jane Eyre, the book Shirley was released. However, it did not receive much praise from critics at first.