I am taking two literature courses right now. In one we're studying the Bronte sisters, reading and discussing Charlotte's Jane Eyre, Emily's Wuthering Heights and Anne's Agnes Grey. I cannot overstate how fortunate I feel to have the opportunity to study these authors in their home country, and because of this we have the great fortune of visiting the places that have inspired their stories and provided the backdrops for their own lives.
As a part of the Bronte course we took a four-day trip up to Yorkshire where the Brontes lived and wrote. Haworth, pronounced like "How-worth," is ground zero for the Brontes. Here we walked the moors where the Brontes once walked, drank in the pubs where Branwell drowned in his sorrows, stepped into the room where Charlotte penned Jane Eyre, visited the hall that inspired Gateshead, saw the sofa where Emily breathed her last breath and even slept in the house where the Bronte's doctor lived and practised. I realize now that visiting these places really isn't so much about a literature pilgrimage as it is about putting the Brontes and their writings into context. I understand so much more about the books now after having seen the moors they write of, walked through the house that was their daily environment, and just feeling the spirit of Haworth made the characters come to life. One could almost feel the ghosts of Bronte's past.
Haworth high street, Black Bull pub, Branwell's watering hole
The Old Church cemetery
Haworth guide
Path to the moors from Haworth
Moors
Haworth guide
Our teacher
Our teacher pointing out "Gateshead"
Haworth town at night
Old Church
Bronte Parsonage
Bronte Parsonage
All are buried here, except for Anne
Old Church
Bronte Parsonage, the window to the left of the door is where the sisters wrote
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Bronte Country
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Thank you for sharing. I've been trying to decide what to read. Now I'm poised to read Jane Eyre. I hope you don't feel like I'm an interloper reading your posts. I find them inspiring.
Hi Shannon - I've been a secret follower of your site for awhile! I just love reading what you have to say and where all your exciting adventures take you! I've tried my hand at Jane Eyre - it's a difficult read! But how exciting to actually be where the Bronte's lived and worked! Thanks for sharing! I also want to know when you plan your next trip to the Bay Area, because I would love for you to take our family picture sometime! You are so very talented - I love what you see and and can do with a scene through the lens! Have a great day!
Lovely. James and I are planning a trip to England in March and your pictures are making me even more excited than I already am. We are staying in London for four days and then travelling South to Kent, and then on to Cornwall. I would love any input you may have on where to visit. I've been to London twice already, so I've seen the major tourist attractions (and quite a few of the less-seen ones). I am in the process of deciding how to spend our days, seeing your pictures just reminds me how very much I love this country! I love your blog, you are extremely gifted!
So glad I decided to check in and see if you've updated lately. :) I went to Haworth as a study abroad student, but only for the day and have forgotten much of it (sadly, i still remember yellling 'heathclifffffff' when we walked along the moors. anyway, love your photos, love your words....
I think I stopped breathing at the photo of the "Path to the Moors from Haworth." Beautiful. Resuscitation please.
wow- do I ever love your blog - just reading the list of places visited on the right takes my breath away. But you are such a talented photographer & so it makes everything come alive for me to travel with you, in my imagination! Thanks for a great blog! Keep up the photography - you are wonderful! Diedra
So lovely- what a fun course to take! I especially like the pictures of the town at dusk. The lights bring the buildings to life.
Post a Comment