Update: December 2011: Mixed news on the disposition of the “new” Charlotte Bronte manuscript. At auction, it was won by a museum, so it will still be available to the public. Though, instead of the Bronte Parsonage Museum in England, it went to a literary museum in France. Story at “The National”: here.
KW writes: For all of us Jane Eyre and Charlotte Bronte fans, this tiny book is a rare find! Written when Bronte was only 14 years old, it is a brilliant piece of satire. Bronte created this tiny work in the format of a men’s magazine. It includes a witty ad (see below), which observes economics and social justice in her usually insightful, though aloof, manner. It’s a kind of Mad Magazine for the 19th century. And, it contains a hint into her future sociological writing, such as her reflections on charity schools in Jane Eyre, and her novel, Shirley.
Bronte manuscript. Image from: i.dailymail.co.uk
(excerpt from) The Telegraph & Argus
[Brontë] Parsonage Museum in Haworth [England] is eager to ensure ‘national treasure’ is not lost to the public
UK/November 14, 2011
An appeal has been launched to help fund the purchase of a rare Charlotte Brontë manuscript.
The Brontë Parsonage Museum is appealing for financial support from the public and funding bodies.
It needs to raise up to £300,000 to cover the expected cost of buying the work at an auction next month.
The unpublished manuscript contains three works written by Charlotte – author of Jane Eyre – when she was 14.
Charlotte’s Young Men’s Magazine Number 2 contains 4,000 words set in a fictional world created by the famous literary siblings.
The book, until now in private ownership, is believed to have never before been seen by scholars. (more…)
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