Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte
Author: Syrie James
Publisher: Avon Historicals
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-164837-3
Release Date: July 2009
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Year/Setting: 1800's England
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Syrie's Website: www.syriejames.com
Dear Readers:
Does anyone see a pattern here? :) Yes, I was given another historical novel from the author of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. (Which, I loved). The happiest thing for me, however, with this novel, is that I'm not a great aficionado of Bronte. I know a little of her works, but my loyalty has always stayed with Austen, so this was a real treat to learn more about this wonderful author and her sister.
With this latest offering from Ms. James, I was taken into the mind of Bronte. And, boy, what a mind! This woman and her sister were not slouches by any stretch of the imagination. They both were poor, completely unconnected with the "higher" echelon of society, and basically ignored by others. (Isn't that always the way with a true artist?)
The Bronte sisters lived in the world of Yorkshire - far away from the hustle and bustle of London. Yorkshire was what you would call, wild and untamed, which made this a perfect location for the well-written scenic background of this book. Charlotte's father is going blind and is turning into a "rough" character. The brother in this story is one of the first drug addicts/alcoholics that I've ever read about. Life for these famous sisters was certainly no picnic. So it makes us wonder how they were completely able to write some of the most wonderfully romantic books of the time, and still be celebrated in our world today as the "best of the best."
As you sit down with this long, thick book (which makes me VERY happy, because most times these books are rather small and are over before I want them to be), you will find out the real story behind Jane Eyre. And, I assure you, you will never look at the Bronte sisters as mere writers again. The passion, intelligence, mystery, and perfection that these two minds shared was astounding. Talk about a gifted family...you'll love it.
Until Next Time, Amy
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