Charlotte Bronte

(1816-1855)

Bronte and her sisters wrote a collection of poems in 1845 with male pseudonyms to avoid the prevalent chauvinism. They issued the poems at their own expense; only two copies were sold.

Bronte's "Jane Ayre" was, however, immediately successful. It concerns a woman's dilemma: following her affections for a man or succumbing to the pressure of social mores. It was published less than two months after she submitted it to Smith, Elder and Co. "Jane Eyre" is Bronte's most noted piece of writing.

-- Encyclopedia of Literature

Pub Date: 01/31/99