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It is well known that the Brontë siblings wrote stories in imagined worlds in their youth.
The world of Gondal, Emily and Anne’s creation, is sadly largely lost to time,
but more of Branwell and Charlotte’s writings on Angria have survived. In this
book, Heather Glen brings together the last five of Charlotte’s Angrian tales,
written in her early twenties. They were written with an intended audience of
her siblings, the knowledge of the history of the characters assumed. Glen
helps to bridge the gap with concise introductions to each piece, allowing the
reader to jump right in and enjoy the early works of such a well-loved writer.
The tales are mostly narrated by Charles
Townshend, a gossipy commentator on the aristocratic lives within. He plays
roles of varying importance in the stories and speaks directly to the reader at
times. The main male protagonists are ageing former heroes - the Duke of Zamorna,
whose many infidelities feature, and the Earl of Northangerland, whose daughter
falls under the spell of Zamorna in the final tale. These fading heroes were
inspired by Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington, the heroics of which were
fading into distant memory by the time Charlotte was penning these last Angrian
tales.
The female characters at first seem alarmingly
subservient – Mina Laury declares herself hopelessly devoted to Zamorna, whose
inattention does not weaken her affection. She is, however, also intelligent
and able to hold her own. ‘Strong-minded beyond her sex, active, energetic and
accomplished in all other points of view, here she was as weak as a child. She
lost her identity. Her very life was swallowed up in that of another.’ Zamorna
has long lost interest in her but refuses to give her up, leading to a duel
with Hartford who has fallen for her.
In the final piece, Caroline Vernon, we see again Zamorna’s lack of morals, leading to
a desperate dispute between him and Northangerland in which we see a very
different side to the latter. Glen in her introduction highlights the Byronic
characteristics of both the men and women as well as Brontë’s tongue in cheek response to Gothic
traditions.
A recurring theme is also that of colonisation.
Most of the characters are not Angrian natives but have taken control of the
land. There are many mentions throughout of discord between the different
regions of Angria and the temperaments of the natives. On the surface these may
seem like frivolous tales of the upper classes but there’s a lot more bubbling just
beneath the surface.
Brontë was not writing mere childish scribbles but
informed, intelligent responses to the political and literary world that she
inhabited. From the first her character sketches are witty and cutting, concisely
setting up characters in their first introduction. She alludes to contemporary
trends and issues that her readers would have picked up on but also those
closer to home – in Henry Hastings we
see a sister’s response to a brother’s disgrace.
The Roe Head Journal fragments are the least
easy to read because of the lack of narrative cohesion (that was never
intended) but it’s fascinating to see her continual pre-occupation with Angria,
the frustration of not having the time to write, and what it was like to have
Branwell decide the fate of characters she had created.
A lot of reviews suggest these tales are
difficult to get into and are only of interest to scholars. I found quite the
opposite to be true. Of course you have to approach them as short stories or
vignettes rather than a novel, but they are genuinely absorbing. The characters
are not all likeable but they are not designed to be. Their misdemeanours are
central to the plot and Brontë’s characteristically rich, clever prose is apparent in
these early works. A thoroughly enjoyable, enlightening read.
Pick up a copy:
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