Timeless Literature by Celebrated Authors at Auction: Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë was a trailblazing English novelist and poet whose literary legacy continues to captivate readers around the world. Best known for the groundbreaking Jane Eyre, she also penned Shirley, Villette, and The Professor. Born in 1816, Charlotte was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters, the others being Emily Brontë and Anne Brontë who were also accomplished writers in their own right. The Brontë siblings grew up in the isolated Yorkshire village of Haworth, where they were raised by their father, Patrick Brontë, following the death of their mother at a young age.

To overcome the widespread gender bias in the literary world, Charlotte published her works under the name "Currer Bell". At the time, female authors were often not taken seriously, and using a male pseudonym allowed her writings to be received without prejudice. Although her true identity was eventually revealed, she continued to publish under the name Currer Bell for much of her career, maintaining the professional distance it afforded and challenging the limitations placed on women in literature.

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Published posthumously in 1857, The Professor was Charlotte Brontë’s first novel, although it was not published until after her more famous works such as Jane Eyre and Shirley. The Professor tells the story of William Crimsworth, an Englishman who moves to Belgium to start a new life and pursue his career. The novel explores themes of ambition, class struggles, and personal development. Whilst The Professor doesn't have the same widespread fame as Jane Eyre, it is still notable for its insights into Brontë's evolving literary style and her ability to create complex and driven characters.

Forum Auctions was delighted to sell a first edition of The Professor for £7,500. This exceptional copy had previously belonged to Charlotte Brontë’s husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls, and featured his ownership inscription, ‘A B Nicholls,’ in ink on the front free endpaper.

Jane Eyre was written and published in 1847 and is Charlotte’s most celebrated work. Composed during the Victorian era, a period when women had limited rights and were expected to adhere to rigid social roles, Jane Eyre emerged as a groundbreaking novel. It was praised for its emotional depth, its strong and independent heroine, and its compelling blend of romance, social commentary, and Gothic elements.

In one of our auctions of Fine Books, Manuscripts, and Works on Paper, we were pleased to offer a first edition of Jane Eyre (1847). Following an exciting and competitive round of bidding, the work achieved a final sale price of £32,500.

The novel follows the life of the orphaned Jane, who grows up to become a governess and falls in love with her mysterious employer, Mr. Rochester. Charlotte Brontë drew heavily from her own life when writing this novel, for she, like Jane, came from a modest background and worked as a governess. Charlotte’s experiences at a harsh boarding school also shaped her portrayal of Jane’s early education for the fictional Lowood school was loosely based on the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge where all the Brontë sisters attended.

What made Jane Eyre, so groundbreaking was not only its exploration of themes such as morality, gender roles, and social class, but also its unconventional heroine. Jane was far from the typical romantic figure, she was poor, plain, and fiercely independent. Brontë endowed her with a rich inner life, marked by strong moral conviction and emotional resilience, qualities rarely seen in female characters of that era. This depth and complexity challenged prevailing literary and societal norms, making Jane Eyre a truly revolutionary work.

Brontë's third novel, and the last to be published during her lifetime, is Villette, which also holds the distinction of being Forum Auctions’ highest selling Brontë work. Often regarded as Charlotte’s most personal and mature novel, Villette presents a far darker and more introspective narrative than Jane Eyre. Published in 1853, just two years before Charlotte’s death, the novel reflects many of her own inner struggles with loneliness, identity, faith, and unrequited love.

The story delves into themes of isolation, the endurance of solitude, and the inner conflict resulting from society’s suppression of individual desire. The protagonist, Lucy Snowe, travels abroad to work as a teacher at a boarding school in the fictional town of Villette. During her time there, she confronts a foreign culture and religion, and develops a profound affection for Paul Emanuel, a man she ultimately cannot marry. These experiences lead her to an emotional breakdown; however, over time, she gains strength and a renewed sense of purpose by establishing and managing her own school, thereby achieving both independence and personal fulfilment.

The remarkable presentation copy that sold at Forum Auctions for £125,000 linked two of the great figures of 19th century English literature. Brontë is known to have held Thackeray in high esteem, dedicating the second edition of Jane Eyre to him, after much admiring his recently released Vanity Fair (1848): "I see in him an intellect profounder and more unique than his contemporaries have yet recognised; because I regard him as the first social regenerator of the day". The two first met at a dinner party given by publisher George Smith in late 1849, the meeting reputedly stilted by Brontë’s shyness. Another dinner party, held by Thackeray in Brontë's honour in June 1850, appears to have been no more successful, with Brontë perceived as serious and in outmoded dress by her fellow guests. Despite moments of awkwardness, the important literary relationship between Brontë and Thackeray evidently stemmed from a deep mutual appreciation.

Charlotte Brontë’s literary novels provided the reader with a glimpse into her life through her characters. However, Charlotte’s true self is revealed in her lifelong correspondence to her schoolmate Ellen Nussey, sending approximately 500 letters in her lifetime, 350 of which have survived.

In contrast all of Nussey’s letters to Brontë were destroyed at the request of Charlotte's husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls. The surviving correspondence forms the primary source of information about Brontë and serves as the foundation for most of her biographies. The letters are a testament to a profound friendship and offer a window into the personal and professional life of one of England's most celebrated authors.

Forum Auctions sold a letter written by Charlotte Brontë to Miss Ellen Nussey for £4,375. The letter was written by Charlotte while staying in London as a guest of her publisher, George Smith, where she visited the Royal Academy, dined with Thackeray and sat for her portrait by George Richmond.

Together the Brontë sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, were three of the most significant writers of the 19th century. Whilst growing up on the edge of the West Yorkshire moors at Haworth Parsonage, they lived with their brother Bramwell, their mother Maria and their father Patrick who served as the local church reverend.

The siblings shared a close relationship, as children they created the imaginary worlds of Angria and Gondal, detailed fantasy realms filled with politics, romance, and intrigue. Branwell and Charlotte were the primary architects of Angria, writing elaborate stories, poems, and histories. These early imaginative writings helped Charlotte develop her narrative skills, vivid imagination, and love of complex characters and plots.

Much like his sisters, Branwell had a creative passion, originally pursued a career in painting. However, his life was overshadowed by personal challenges, including alcoholism, opium addiction, and unrealised ambitions. He died tragically in 1848 at the age of 31.

Throughout their careers Emily and Anne also made a lasting contribution to literature, Emily is best known for her renowned novel Wuthering Heights (1847), while Anne made her mark with classics including Agnes Grey (1847) and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848).

During her lifetime Charlotte Brontë faced significant personal challenges, including the early deaths of her siblings and persistent health issues. Despite these hardships, her writing made a profound and lasting impact on English literature. On March 31, 1855, she died at the age of 38 due to complications related to pregnancy, leaving behind a legacy of powerful and enduring works. Brontë is remembered for her exploration of themes such as independence, love, social criticism, and self-empowerment, securing her place as a central figure in the Victorian literary canon.

Works by Charlotte Brontë are regularly offered at Forum auctions, frequently included in auctions of Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper. Browse our Current Auctions to view discover our latest offerings.

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