Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell,

Life, believe, is not a dream,

So dark as sages say;

Oft a little morning rain

Foretells a pleasant day:

Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,

But these are transient all;

If the shower will make the roses bloom,

Oh, why lament its fall?

Rapidly, merrily,

Life's sunny hours flit by,

Gratefully, cheerily,

Enjoy them as they fly.

What though death at times steps in,

And calls our Best away?

What though Sorrow seems to win,

O'er hope a heavy sway?

Yet Hope again elastic springs,

Unconquered, though she fell,

Still buoyant are her golden wings,

Still strong to bear us well.

Manfuly, fearlessly,

The day of trial bear,

For gloriously, victoriously,

Can courage quell dispair!

by Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) , "Life", from Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, published 1846

List of Bronte poems

Aylott and Jones:
publishers and booksellers of Paternoster Row.

28/ 01/1846: Charlotte wrote to them to see if they would publish a short collection of poetry, if necessary “on the Author’s account.” They agreed to publish it if the author covered the cost of paper and printing.
06/02/1846: Charlotte Bronte sent a manuscript of poems to Messrs. Aylott and Jones publishers. They used the pseudonym of Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell.
06/04/1846: Charlotte Bronte wrote to publisher Aylott & Jones:
"C.E & A Bell are now preparing for the Press a work of fiction - consisting of three distinct and unconnected tales which may be published together as a work of 3 vols. of ordinary novel-size, or separately as single vols - as shall be deemed most advisable."
07/05/1846: First printed copies of the Book of "Poems" by Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte arrived at the Parsonage. They had used the pseudonym of Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell.
04/07/1846: The published Bronte Poems using the pseudonym of Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell received favourable criticism.
Suppose the sisters could see this: Price: US$ 3724.83
Bookseller Image Poems, by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.
BRONTË, Charlotte, Emily & Anne.]
Bookseller: Peter Harrington
(London, United Kingdom)
Bookseller Rating:
Quantity Available: 1
Bibliographic Details

Publisher: London, Smith, Elder & Co., 1846 [1848]
Publication Date: 1848
Binding:
Edition: 1st Edition

Book Description: London, Smith, Elder & Co., 1846 [1848], 1848. Octavo. Original olive green cloth, boards stamped in blind, titles to the spine gilt. With final advert leaf. Ownership inscription dated 1873 on front pastedown, with MS notes in the same attractive hand on both sides of front free endpaper, at head of contents page, on verso of errata slip, and to rear blank, with contemporary newspaper clipping about the Brontës tipped in to both sides of rear free endpaper. Spine and board edges faintly sunned as usual, inner hinges just cracked but holding firm, tiny stain (sealing wax?) at head of front board, a few trivial blemishes to the paper stock, but an excellent copy. First Edition, second issue with cancel title page (as usual). The first issue is extant in tiny numbers and is now virtually unobtainable. Published pseudonymously to forestall possible prejudice against female writers, this collection of verses contains 19 poems by Charlotte Brontë ("Currer Bell"), and 21 each by Emily ("Ellis") and Anne ("Acton"). First published by Aylott Jones in 1846 in an edition of 1000 copies, Poems was a resounding commercial flop, with only 39 copies sold. The remaining 961 copies were placed in storage and, following the success of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, were reissued in October 1848 by Smith, Elder, and Co. with a cancel title page showing their name as the publishers but with the date unaltered. Bookseller Inventory # 31938
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