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Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855): (Un)Masked Author to Mythic Woman

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Biographical Misrepresentations of British Women Writers

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Life Writing ((PSLW))

Abstract

In this chapter Maier argues that from the moment in which they published pseudonymously as Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, the sisters—Emily, Anne, and particularly Charlotte Brontë—became complicit in a masquerade of identity that provoked intense speculation on the part of readers and critics. The need to “know” her has led to various representations in her desire to be both unknown and forever known. Biographies of the author by Gaskell, Gérin, Barker, Miller, and Harman are considered.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New Brunswick, Saint John, Canada

    Sarah E. Maier

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  1. Sarah E. Maier
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA

    Brenda Ayres

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Maier, S.E. (2017). Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855): (Un)Masked Author to Mythic Woman. In: Ayres, B. (eds) Biographical Misrepresentations of British Women Writers. Palgrave Studies in Life Writing. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56750-1_12

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