Bronte sisters brother

Meanwhile the Yorkshire poet Simon Armitage, who is leading the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Branwell’s birth commented: ‘Most people know Branwell either as the ne're-do-well brother of the Brontë family or as the shadowy absence in his famous portrait of his three sisters.

She had tuberculosis but refused most treatments. Branwell scrawled her name, in large Greek letters, at the top of the poem: Lydia Gisborne.

Gisborne, however, was her maiden name. The young siblings were incredibly close, living in a very personal world fired by their imaginations. His profession as a tutor and artist required stability and focus, yet he was frequently dismissed from positions due to *"unexplained absences"* and *"unprofessional conduct."* A former employer, the Robinson family, noted in a letter that Branwell was *"often found in a state unfit for duty,"* a euphemism that strongly suggests intoxication.

Persuasive evidence also lies in the physical and emotional toll described in Branwell's later letters.

He was ordained as a minister in 1806. Emily quickly learned German and piano. His failed relationships, unfulfilled artistic ambitions, and financial instability drove him deeper into addiction. "Take courage, take courage," she whispered to Charlotte. The characters are passionate and sometimes violent. His sisters’ letters often mention his deteriorating condition, describing him as "wasted" and "beyond recognition," a stark contrast to his once robust frame.

Branwell’s alcoholism also exacerbated his mental health issues, creating a vicious cycle of despair and dependency.

She sent some of her poems to the famous poet Robert Southey, but he replied that literature, especially poetry, was not a suitable occupation for ladies.

However, Charlotte didn't give up. They also show her belief that books should teach moral lessons, a conviction she shared with her father. Charlotte had ambitions like her brother.

Branwell’s excessive consumption of spirits, particularly during his later years, is well-documented, with contemporaries noting his frequent visits to local pubs and his inability to hold steady employment due to his intoxication.

The impact of Branwell’s drinking on his health was both immediate and long-term. But he was also, like his sisters, highly talented. 

A willing scholar with a precocious intellect, Branwell translated Horace to critical acclaim, wrote poetry, played the organ in his father’s church and aspired to being a professional portrait painter.

‘I also sympathise with his desire to have his voice heard by the wider world – a desire encapsulated in a letter sent to William Wordsworth in 1837, when Branwell was a precocious and determined 19 year old, seeking the great man’s approval.

While Branwell's talents were squandered in a haze of drink and despair, his sisters channeled their creativity into writing, producing some of the most enduring works of English literature. His affair with the married Mrs. Robinson, though a scandal, highlights his desperate search for validation in a society that offered him little.

She was a kind person who dedicated her life to her nieces and nephew. She faced difficult conditions at Cowan Bridge School and became very ill. Today, their birthplace in Thornton and their home in Haworth, which is now the Brontë Parsonage Museum, are visited by many people each year.

The Brontë Name

The Brontë family name comes from an old Irish family called Ó Pronntaigh.