Charlotte - by Martina Devlin (Paperback)

About the Book

"Charlotte Brontèe, who dazzled the world with some of literature's most vital and richly-drawn characters, spent her brief but extraordinary life in search of love. She eventually found it with Arthur Bell, a reserved yet passionate Irishman. After marrying, the pair honeymooned in Ireland - a glimmer of happiness in a life shadowed by tragedy. That moment of joy was destined to be short-lived however, as Brontèe died just nine months into their marriage. Her genius, and the aura of mystery surrounding her, meant she'd been mythologised even within her own lifetime - a process which only intensified after her death. Observed through the eyes of Mary Nicholls - who encountered Charlotte on that fateful journey to Ireland, and who went on to wed her widower Arthur - Charlotte is a story of three lives irrevocably intertwined. Bound by passion and obsession, friendship and loss, loyalty and deception - this a story of Brontèe's short but pivotal time in Ireland as never before told."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Charlotte Brontë, who dazzled the world with some of literature's most vital and richly-drawn characters, spent her brief but extraordinary life in search of love. She eventually found it with Arthur Bell, a reserved yet passionate Irishman. After marrying, the pair honeymooned in Ireland - a glimmer of happiness in a life shadowed by tragedy.

That moment of joy was destined to be short-lived however, as Brontë died just nine months into their marriage. Her genius, and the aura of mystery surrounding her, meant she'd been mythologised even within her own lifetime - a process which only intensified after her death. Observed through the eyes of Mary Nicholls - who encountered Charlotte on that fateful journey to Ireland, and who went on to wed her widower Arthur - Charlotte is a story of three lives irrevocably intertwined. Bound by passion and obsession, friendship and loss, loyalty and deception - this a story of Brontë's short but pivotal time in Ireland as never before told.

Martina Devlin's enthralling new novel Charlotte weaves back and forth through Charlotte's life, reflecting on the myths built around her by those who knew her, those who thought they knew her, and those who longed to know her. Above all, this is a story of fiction: who creates it, who lives it, who owns it.

Review Quotes

"Devlin uses artistic license in weaving the known facts, myths, and fictions about Charlotte's life in this fascinating story. Readers who enjoyed Syrie James' The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë (2009) and Julie Gael's Romancing Miss Brontë (2010) will love this imaginative and thoughtful look at the author and her legacy."--Booklist

"Love is the focus of Martina Devlin's elegant historical novel Charlotte...With themes of friendship, love, loyalty, and loss, the book touches on sensitive topics well...The insightful historical novel Charlotte focuses on Charlotte Brontë's brief marriage and pivotal stay in Ireland."--Foreword Reviews

"The narrative moves back and forth in time; fortunately, Devlin handles it deftly. The Irish setting is vividly evoked (as are the lingering effects of the Great Famine)...a well-researched novel that provides a welcome look at one of the lesser-known figures in the Brontë circle."--Historical Novel Society

About the Author

Martina Devlin is a bestselling author and award-winning journalist. Devlin has won numerous awards for both her writing and journalism. She has been shortlisted three times for the Irish Book of the Year awards. She writes weekly current affairs columns for the Irish Independent and has been named National Newspapers of Ireland columnist of the year. She frequently chairs literary and current affairs events and is a regular commentator on BBC and RTÉ. She was born in Omagh and lives in Dublin.