In brief
A newly published collection showcases Charlotte Brontë's early poems, written when she was just 13. The anthology, made available by the Brontë Parsonage Museum, highlights her aspirations as a writer in a time when female authors were rare.
At just 13 years old, Charlotte Brontë demonstrated a remarkable ambition to become a writer, which is now encapsulated in her newly published anthology, “Book of Rhymes.” Written during the winter of 1829, the collection features her poetry meticulously inscribed in tiny script on scraps of paper no bigger than a playing card, indicative of her desire to keep her work private despite her potential."This anthology hints at a nascent literary genius, showcasing the early inklings of 'Jane Eyre' long before its creation," declared Ann Dinsdale, principal curator of the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Brontë's handwritten collection includes a variety of poems, such as a long-form piece that celebrates nature, an attempt at an epic narrative, and a curious take on what she describes as a sonnet.To honor her birth anniversary, the Brontë Parsonage Museum has published this collection, which features ten of her poems alongside images of the original manuscripts, complete with ink smudges and crossed-out lines that reflect her editing process. These artifacts reveal an aspiring writer already struggling with literary style, character development, and narrative perspective.The original manuscript of “Book of Rhymes,” lost for over a century, will also be displayed at the museum in Haworth, Northern England, offering visitors a unique view into the creative thoughts of a young author who would later change the literary world. By the age of 14, Charlotte Brontë had already written a multitude of works, evidenced by the 22 titles she had penned by that time.
