Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Viking (2015), Edition: First Edition, 480 pages
Description
"A groundbreaking biography that places an obsessive, unrequited love at the heart of the writer's life story, transforming her from the tragic figure we have previously known into a smoldering Jane Eyre. Famed for her beloved novels, Charlotte Brontë has been known as well for her insular, tragic family life. The genius of this biography is that it delves behind this image to reveal a life in which loss and heartache existed alongside rebellion and fierce ambition. Harman seizes on a crucial moment in the 1840's when Charlotte worked at a girls' school in Brussels and fell hopelessly in love with the husband of the school's headmistress. Her torment spawned her first attempts at writing for publication, and he haunts the pages of every one of her novels--he is Rochester in Jane Eyre, Paul Emanuel in Villette. Another unrequited love--for her publisher--paved the way for Charlotte to enter a marriage that ultimately made her happier than she ever imagined. Drawing on correspondence unavailable to previous biographers, Claire Harman establishes Brontë the heroine of her own story, one as dramatic and triumphant as one of her own novels"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member libbromus
Charlotte is enigmatic, and, like Lucy Snow in Villette, is in thrall to her own raging emotions and sense of isolated loneliness. If she were alive today she would probably be pierced and tattooed, use recreational drugs, sleep around to get her "daddy's approval" fix, and be bisexual. For Emily I
Their lives were sad and as products of their circumscribed and stifling era they inevitably developed the neuroses and physical illnesses one would expect.
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picture a misanthropic D&D'er who evolves into a world-class hacker on the spectrum. She'd have pets, probably cats, wear a lot of eyeliner and a lot of black clothing. Anne would get some necessary dental work and be the conventionally pretty sister who goes on to college and becomes a social worker or child psychiatrist. She would end up being the only one reliable enough to take care of their aging, narcissistic father. Patrick, btw, would try to get the family on a number of reality TV shows. I imagine a mashup of The Osbornes/Kardashians/Modern Family. His quantity of marriages and divorces would be legendary.Their lives were sad and as products of their circumscribed and stifling era they inevitably developed the neuroses and physical illnesses one would expect.
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LibraryThing member Jaylia3
Moving, hard-to-put-down, sometimes heartbreaking, and utterly fascinating, Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart is less massive than Juliet Barker’s The Brontes: Wild Genius on the Moors, but it’s a good choice for someone not ready to dive into the delights of Barker’s thorough, 1,000+ page
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tome. In spite of the title, Charlotte is the main but not only focus this new biography, because it also covers the lives of Emily, Anne, Branwell and their father--they were such a close family it would be impossible to leave any of them out. All four of the siblings were imaginative and obsessive writers so that from a very young age they were creating their own shared literary worlds. I especially enjoyed the way Harman related the novels the sisters published to their life experiences. Anyone who loves Jane Eyre, or who is interested in life outside of London during the middle of Victoria's reign, will find this biography fascinating. I read an advanced review copy given to me by the publisher; review opinions are mine. Show Less
LibraryThing member cwhisenant11
I received a free copy of the audiobook for review.
I would have probably enjoyed this book more if I had read it instead of listening to the audio version. I had a difficult time distinguishing between material being quoted and the author's writing. In addition, I think the title and synopsis is a
I would have probably enjoyed this book more if I had read it instead of listening to the audio version. I had a difficult time distinguishing between material being quoted and the author's writing. In addition, I think the title and synopsis is a
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little misleading because so much of the book was not focused on Charlotte but rather her other family members. The organization of the material was a bit hard to follow and I repeatedly found myself losing interest. Overall, I would say the book wasn't what I expected and for that reason it wasn't a good fit for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member Renz0808
I received a copy of Clare Harman’s Charlotte Bronte a Fiery Heart in Audiobook form from LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. Over the years I have collected and read many biographies and literary books about the Bronte Family especially Charlotte as Jane Eyre is my favorite novel. I have to
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say that this book is probably one of the better Bronte biographies I have read. I really enjoyed how the author tied in Charlotte’s books as she told the story of her life. It helps to point out where Charlotte got some of the inspiration for her novels and what her feelings might have been as she was writing certain scenes. I think this book really helps readers understand Charlotte and the rest of her family as people instead of the myth that has been what their lives have come to. I really enjoyed the reading of the material by Corrie James. I thought she read so well and it helped the flow of the novel. Anyone who is a fan of Charlotte Bronte and Audiobooks will enjoy this. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jenn.S
The audiobook is well dictated, easy to understand with a pleasant tone. The content is interesting, especially if you are a fan of Charlotte Brontë. The information sounds well-researched and for the most part is interesting to listen to.
I received this audiobook through Librarything giveaways
I received this audiobook through Librarything giveaways
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in exchange for an honest review. Show Less
LibraryThing member pennsylady
Claire Harmon presents Charlotte Brontë: A Fiery Heart on the 200th anniversary of Charlotte’s birth.
I was fortunate to receive, for review, the audiobook narrated by Corrie James.
The characters are well defined and the narration so precise that I lingered over the discs, savoring every nuance.
I
I was however inclined to think of Elizabeth Gaskell's 1857 portrayal as the epitome of Victorian womanhood.
Fiery Heart is such an insightful title.
Additional descriptives for Charlotte that I would now use would be sensual, ambitious, rebellious, passionate, obsessive, repetitive in encouraging the re-emergence of romantic suffering and melancholy.
This biography has been a pleasure to review and recommend.
5 ★ ♥
I was fortunate to receive, for review, the audiobook narrated by Corrie James.
The characters are well defined and the narration so precise that I lingered over the discs, savoring every nuance.
I
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was aware that Charlotte's life and observations contributed to the drama and tragedy of her Gothic novels.I was however inclined to think of Elizabeth Gaskell's 1857 portrayal as the epitome of Victorian womanhood.
Fiery Heart is such an insightful title.
Additional descriptives for Charlotte that I would now use would be sensual, ambitious, rebellious, passionate, obsessive, repetitive in encouraging the re-emergence of romantic suffering and melancholy.
This biography has been a pleasure to review and recommend.
5 ★ ♥
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LibraryThing member spacechick365
Jane Eyre has always been one of my favorite books. I never realized the personal experiences Charlotte Bronte had had impacted her writing so much. Charlotte Bronte: a Fiery Heart does a great job taking the reader through Charlotte's life from childhood to death and beyond. This book was very
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well written and a very enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member stacypilot
The audio version read by Corrie James is excellent with an easy to listen to British accent for the remarkable content by Claire Harman. Using previously unavailable letters, she writes the insightful biography of not only Charlotte, but of her entire family, so you can better understand the
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society of the time, role of women within society's restrictions, and the dynamics of the Bronte family who have created some of the best novels with the works of Anne, Emily, and Charlotte. I received a copy for review from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. Show Less
LibraryThing member terran
It is obvious that an incredible amount of research went into this book. At times, the scholarly detail is overwhelming, but the compelling tragedy of the Bronte family's lives (and deaths) kept me reading. Because I didn't know much about Charlotte Bronte's life, everything was new. The novels
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written by Charlotte and her sisters Emily and Anne with their themes of repressed desires, isolation and loneliness come straight from their experiences. Even though the sisters had good middle-class educations, their only options for income were as governesses or teachers. A career as an author was considered impossible for a woman. We've come a long way since the early 1800s. Show Less
LibraryThing member vnesting
The narrator, Corrie James, does an excellent job with the audio book version of Claire Harman's biography, Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart. This biography is based on letters unavailable to previous biographers. While this turned out not to be my cup of tea, I this is well researched and narrated
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and should find a wide audience among Bronte fans and those interested in the lives of women in Victorian times. (I received a copy of this audio book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.) Show Less
LibraryThing member kyurenka
An excellent biography of Charlotte Bronte that shows her in a completely different light from what has before been revealed. Charlotte's own unrequited love may well have inspired the telling of Jane Eyre.
LibraryThing member dissed1
Claire Harman’s biography of Charlotte Bronte, entitled Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart, leaves an impression on the reader. After finishing the book, I felt like I’d learned things I didn’t previously know about the reknowned British author, but more importantly, I feel almost as though I
It’s Harman’s deft interpretation of research and accessible writing style that lend her work this clarity. Relevant detail and enlightening storytelling also make for stimulating reading. For me, this biography illuminated Charlotte Bronte and showed her in a new light. It’s only fair to note that this image includes facets that are less than desirable, such as her immature love for her mentor, Monsieur Heger; extreme stubborness, illustrated in her quest to see her first novel, The Professor, published after it had already been rejected twice, and the unforgettable mental picture of a petite, heavy-browed spinster with missing teeth. I am glad to know all these things about Charlotte, as well as all the good. I appreciate Claire Harman’s commitment to presenting a well-rounded portrait, based in reality, that leaves Ms. Bronte’s status as a literary icon intact.
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knew her—her life’s events and the times she lived in became familiar to me, as I read. I also came to understand Charlotte Bronte’s motives as a writer and where her work originated. It’s Harman’s deft interpretation of research and accessible writing style that lend her work this clarity. Relevant detail and enlightening storytelling also make for stimulating reading. For me, this biography illuminated Charlotte Bronte and showed her in a new light. It’s only fair to note that this image includes facets that are less than desirable, such as her immature love for her mentor, Monsieur Heger; extreme stubborness, illustrated in her quest to see her first novel, The Professor, published after it had already been rejected twice, and the unforgettable mental picture of a petite, heavy-browed spinster with missing teeth. I am glad to know all these things about Charlotte, as well as all the good. I appreciate Claire Harman’s commitment to presenting a well-rounded portrait, based in reality, that leaves Ms. Bronte’s status as a literary icon intact.
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LibraryThing member bostonbibliophile
Loved this book. Harman does a wonderful job telling the story of Bronte's life, which is also the story of her family- her siblings and her father. Her growth as a writer, her growing fame and her drift towards marriage were really interesting to read about. Harman brings Bronte to life, warts and
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all, especially her selfishness when it came to her relationships and the vivid fictional worlds she created with her siblings. I felt like I learned so much about Bronte and the world she lived in. Wonderful rewarding read. Show Less
LibraryThing member book_in_hand
I have always been intrigued by the Bronte sisters, curious of their lives and how they came to write some of my favorite books. Although sometimes when you look into the lives of creative people you admire they can really disappoint you. Not so with the Brontes! I only wish they could have had so
Unfortunately I can't remember the narrator of the audio books name, but she was wonderful! She had a lovely smooth voice and strived to give different cadences and voices when she was reading letters or quoting people, without sounding silly. I will definitely need to own a hardback copy as well as the audio book, I'm hoping there are photos and drawings inside!
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much more happiness and recognition. Claire Harman's biography is the best type of biography, one that reads like a novel and, in my case, kept me listening and wanting to know more. I feel like I should write Miss Harman a fan letter I enjoyed her book so much. I want to re-read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights and read anything else they wrote! I want to visit places they lived and walked and drive my friends and family crazy with facts and stories about them! Maybe I should slow down with the exclamation points...Unfortunately I can't remember the narrator of the audio books name, but she was wonderful! She had a lovely smooth voice and strived to give different cadences and voices when she was reading letters or quoting people, without sounding silly. I will definitely need to own a hardback copy as well as the audio book, I'm hoping there are photos and drawings inside!
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Awards
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — Biography — 2016)
Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize (Shortlist — 2015)
PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography (Longlist — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015
Physical description
9.45 inches
ISBN
0670922269 / 9780670922260
Local notes
Like her heroine Jane, Charlotte was raised motherless on remote Yorkshire moors and sent to a brutal boarding school. As she grew up, her five beloved siblings sickened and died until, at the end of her short life, she was the only surviving child of the Brontë clan. Heartbreakingly, she was also haunted by a great unrequited love - one that inspired her most powerful and moving novels.
Other editions
Charlotte Brontë: A Life by Claire Harman (Hardcover)