Based entirely on rarely seen private letters, The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life by Graham Watson sheds new light on the dramatic events of Brontë’s turbulent last years of grief, fulfillment, and tragedy—and exposes the astonishing media scandal that followed her early death, when her friends and family battled to control how history would remember her. Join us as Graham discusses Charlotte's life, writing, and death as well as his own research and writing of this book!

Register directly on Zoom HERE.

NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

About the book

Charlotte Brontë had a life as seemingly dramatic as her heroine Jane Eyre. Turning her back on her tragic past, Charlotte reinvented herself as an acclaimed author, a mysterious celebrity, and a passionate lover. Doing so meant burning many bridges, but her sudden death left her friends and admirers with more questions than answers.

Tasked with telling the truth about Brontë’s life, her friend, the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, uncovered secrets of illicit love, family discord, and professional rivalries more incredible than any fiction. The result, a tell-all biography, was so scandalous it was banned and rewritten twice in six months—but not before it had given birth to the legend of the Brontës.

Through evaluating key events as well as introducing new archival material into the story, The Invention of Charlotte Brontë presents a different, darker take on one of the most famous women writers of the nineteenth century, showing Charlotte to be a strong but flawed individual.

About Graham

Graham Watson is a specialist in the Brontës and Elizabeth Gaskell, and he is currently researching Victorian literary identities at the University of Glasgow. He has published a number of papers in Brontë Studies and has recently joined the journal’s peer-review board. This is his first book. Graham lives in Glasgow.

Please register for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them, the email will be coming from Zoom.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and is in collaboration with the Chelmsford, Groton, and Tewksbury Libraries and is in partnership with a multitude of MA & NH libraries.