Today we celebrate the 200th birthday of Anne Brontë.

Anne, the youngest member of the Brontë literary family, was born on 17 January 1820. Anne was born in the small Yorkshire village of Thornton on 17 January 1820, the sixth and last child of the Reverend Patrick Brontë, and his  wife Maria.

When Charlotte's friend Ellen Nussey visited Haworth in 1833, she reported that Emily and Anne were "like twins", "inseparable companions".

She described Anne: "Anne, dear gentle Anne was quite different in appearance from the others, and she was her aunt's favourite. Her hair was a very pretty light brown, and fell on her neck in graceful curls. She had lovely violet-blue eyes; fine pencilled eyebrows and a clear almost transparent complexion. 

Anne is called "gentle" Anne

• But Anne had a 'core of steel'. She was gentle, but also brave. 
• She published a volume of poetry with her sisters (Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, 1846) and two novels. Agnes Grey, based upon her experiences as a governess, was published in 1847. Her second and last novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which is considered to be one of the first sustained feminist novels, appeared in 1848. 
• With her sister Emily she created "Gondal".

Here you can find all my posts about Anne Bronte: brontesisters/ANNE-BRONTË

New book of Nick Holland: Crave The Rose: Anne Brontë At 200

From Nick Holland: The 200^th birthday of the great Anne Brontëis is near, so I’m thrilled to say that my new book to mark this occasion, ‘Crave The Rose: Anne Brontë At 200’ is available right now from its publisher Valley Press, based in Anne’s beloved Scarborough, from Amazon or by ordering from your local book shop (even better if it’s an independent bookshop of course).

I don’t like to blow my own trumpet, but I’m really pleased with this book and as I know there are lots of Anne fans reading this book, I thought I’d briefly share details of Crave The Rose. It contains things never seen in a Brontë book before, and thanks to the team at Valley Press it looks absolutely beautiful too.

My book is in three sections, the first of which is a mini-biography of Anne Brontë over the course of nine chapters. Each chapter opens with an Anne Brontë poem that is relevant to that part of her life, and this biography contains new information that has come to my attention since I wrote ‘In Search Of Anne Brontë‘ five years ago.

The middle section looks at a recently discovered essay by Anne Brontë which has never appeared in a book before. The essay is included in full, and I also explain where the essay was found, how it was verified that Anne was the author, and why I believe that these are the final words that Anne Brontë ever wrote.

The final section also contains things that can be found in no other Brontë book, as we take a walk back to the nineteenth century archives and hear first person accounts of people who met the Brontës face to face in their everyday lives. It gives us real insight into what the Brontës were like, and many of the accounts are incredibly moving – and often very surprising too.

Nick Hollands "Anne Bronte 200 events" page.

Nick Holland

My special Anne Bronte 200 website now has details on new Anne Bronte books and #AnneBronte200 events in Haworth, Bradford, Scarborough, Manchester and Brussels! 

On this page annebronte200/events we’ll be listing events celebrating Anne Brontë in 2020, and also news of publications relating to Anne Brontë and her sisters. If you have an event, or anything Anne related, you’d like me to publicise then please email me at annebronte200@hotmail.com.

With Anne’s big birthday just days away we are pleased to announce details of five Anne Brontë celebratory events – in Haworth, Scarborough, Bradford, Manchester and Brussels! Click on the individual pages to find out more!

We also have news of two very special Anne Brontë publications! There are also Anne related theatre productions coming soon in Huddersfield and Oldham – keep your eyes peeled for more details on this site soon