We were delighted to show our support in this year’s Bradford Literature Festival, hosting not one but two sold-out talks that brought the Brontë story to life in two very different, but equally intriguing ways.
From a tender tale of early romance between Patrick and Maria Brontë, to a sharp-eyed exploration of Charlotte Brontë’s legacy and mythology, our speakers took audiences on a journey through the personal and the powerful, the known and the newly uncovered.
A Beautiful Brontë Love Story with Joanne Wilcock
First up on Monday 30th June, was our very own volunteer and Brontë devotee Joanne Wilcock, whose heartfelt talk A Beautiful Brontë Love Story invited guests to discover the true romance between Patrick Brontë, a man from County Down in Ireland, and Maria Branwell, a lady from Penzance, Cornwall.
Her talk, The Brontës’ Journey to Thornton, was a beautifully told love story tracing the footsteps of Patrick Brontë, from rural Emdale in County Down, and Maria Branwell, from coastal Penzance in Cornwall. From a chance meeting at Woodhouse Grove School to setting up home in Thornton, Joanne guided the audience through the real-life romance that gave rise to one of literature’s most extraordinary families.
It was a heartfelt, carefully researched and deeply personal talk — and judging by the packed room and warm response (including a family of five who travelled all the way from Windsor to be there!), it resonated far and wide.
As Joanne said herself:
“It was an honour and a pleasure to give the first ever talk at the Brontë Birthplace since it came into public ownership. It is also indicative of the ethos of the Brontë Birthplace, that the Committee asked one of their Volunteers to deliver the inaugural talk, showing how much the contribution made by every Volunteer is truly valued.”
The Invention of Charlotte Brontë with Graham Watson
To close our involvement in Bradford Literature Festival’s programme, on Friday 4th July, we were delighted to welcome biographer and Brontë researcher Graham Watson to talk about his compelling and thought-provoking new book The Invention of Charlotte Brontë.
Held in the intimate setting of the Birthplace parlour, Graham offered a fresh take on Charlotte Brontë, describing how her last years of grief and success created the foundation for her friend Elizabeth Gaskell’s landmark biography The Life of Charlotte Brontë. While Gaskell’s book has remained controversial, Graham’s research through the manuscripts held in the Brontë and Gaskell archives led to his discovery that Elizabeth Gaskell’s was forced to make a false confession about her book’s alleged errors solely to save her publisher from being sued. Graham’s discovery casts into doubt many Brontë myths that have been repeated ever since.
Rather than simply retelling the traditional story, he showed how his research into written history revealed a more complex, human Charlotte than the one so often romanticised. His talk also cast new light on the Brontë family as a whole, inviting us to reconsider how material evidence challenges received wisdom, proving that even two centuries on, the Brontës continue to surprise and stir debate.
Graham said:
““Being the first Brontë biographer to deliver a talk at the Birthplace is an extraordinary honour. It also fulfils a long-held promise. In 2019, when the Birthplace was Emily’s café, it was my dream to write a myth-busting biography of Charlotte Brontë. I’m sincerely grateful to the rest of the team who have worked so tenaciously to bring the Birthplace home to Brontë fans and researchers.”
It was a joy to welcome so many new faces to the Brontë Birthplace during the festival. Whether it was for Brontë-related talks, guided walks, or simply those who popped in during our open days to soak up the atmosphere.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, to our two fantastic speakers, and to Bradford Literature Festival for helping us shine a light on Thornton’s extraordinary literary roots.