Library Journal
When prospective curate Arthur Nicholls first calls at the Rev. Patrick Brontë's Haworth parsonage, he mistakes Brontë's daughter Charlotte for a servant; then, after having been enthusiastically hired by Charlotte's father, he seals his fate when she overhears him referring to her as "an ugly old maid." Raised to earn her own living and proud of her prickly independence, Charlotte scorns the smugness and lack of sympathy among the men surrounding her, but Nicholls's comment rankles, especially since her sisters and the villagers of Haworth don't concur with her decidedly poor opinion of Nicholls. Doing her best to ignore him, she buries herself in writing projects with her sisters as they stalwartly cope with their aging father's blindness, their brother's deteriorating condition, and, eventually, their own ill health. VERDICT James's semifictionalized account of Charlotte Brontë starts off more slowly than her The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, but she is just as faithful to the writer's language, time, and place. This is bound to fascinate admirers of the doomed Brontës and those who enjoyed Denise Giardino's recent Emily's Ghost.—Cynthia Johnson, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA
From the Publisher
I DID NOT WANT THIS STORY TO END. For fans of biographical tales and romance, Syrie’s story of Charlotte offers it all: longing and yearning, struggle and success, the searing pain of immeasurable loss, and the happiness of a love that came unbidden and unsought.” — Jane Austens World
“Faithful to the writer’s language, time, and place. This is BOUND TO FASCINATE admirers of the doomed Brontës.” — Library Journal
“James takes the biography of Brontë and sketches it into a work of art … The availability of specific, passionate details is what gives the book its main pull … A CAN’T-MISS NOVEL for Brontë fans and historical fiction buffs alike.” — Sacramento Book Review
“AN ENCHANTING LOVE STORY FOR CHARLOTTE BRONTE … 5 stars. An excellent combination of truth and conjecture that is a gratifying and magnetizing read! … I love [James’s] reverent and precise representation of these beloved authors. Her graceful story telling is seamless and entertaining. I highly recommend this novel.” — Austenesque Reviews
“You will never look at the Brontë sisters as mere writers again. The passion, intelligence, mystery, and perfection that these minds shared was astounding. Talk about a gifted family... you’ll love it.” — Once Upon A Romance
5 STARS. A meticulously researched account of Charlotte Bronte’s life. The author … brought Charlotte to life as an intelligent, feisty, passionate woman. Charlotte’s romance with Arthur Nicholls was also convincing. I liked how the author showed the source of many scenes and Rochester himself from Jane Eyre.” — Library Thing
“James’s extensive research . . . shows all throughout the book. . . “The style imitates Charlotte Brontë‘s . . . [James’s] non-linear structure works surprisingly well, as she places each flashback at the precise relevant moment … READERS WILL BE GLUED TO ITS PAGES FROM START TO FINISH.” — Bronte Blog
“This reconstruction of Ms. Brontë‘s life is done with such creativity and realism that it’s hard to imagine this is “not” what happened. . . By the end, the reader feels a real kinship with not only Charlotte, but all of the Brontës... A MUST BUY for Brontë-ites!” — Romance Junkies
“I REALLY THOROUGHLY, HEARTILY ENJOYED THIS CELEBRATION OF BRONTE’S LIFE and developing romance with Arthur Bell Nichols. Anyone who’s ever peeked at a Bronte letter, or stole into Charlotte’s Juvenalia, or re-read those parts in Jane Eyre, will find in this work not a stranger, but a welcoming friend.” — A Fair Substitute For Heaven
“WRITTEN VERY MUCH IN THE STYLE OF THE HEROINE’S NOVELS... The story is well researched and closely follows the events of Charlotte’s life, subtly interweaving her personalized view of the situations … Captures all the heartache and triumphs of the independent and creative spirit Charlotte Bronte must have been.” — Romance Reviews Today
“Syrie James recreates how the poor, plain, and socially unconnected Ms. Brontë became a literary sensation. Based on extensive research, Brontë‘s deepest passions and desires, triumphs, and disappointments come to life... Anyone who is a fan of her work will welcome and enjoy this remarkable novel.” — Bookviews
“AN AMAZING JOURNEY through the life of one of my very favorite authors... James weaves a beautiful story that … breathes life into a much loved and respected family in the literary world. Her language is flawless... The words could be Charlotte’s own as the story unfolds.” — Kaye's Book Reviews
“I WAS TRANSPORTED... The Bronte sisters were so removed from the world and yet so compelling to get to know. If you’ve ever been a Bronte reader, then I’d thoroughly recommend Syrie James’s book. If you’ve never dabbled in Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, what’s stopping you?” — Sonoma Country Life
Austenesque Reviews
AN ENCHANTING LOVE STORY FOR CHARLOTTE BRONTE … 5 stars. An excellent combination of truth and conjecture that is a gratifying and magnetizing read! … I love [James’s] reverent and precise representation of these beloved authors. Her graceful story telling is seamless and entertaining. I highly recommend this novel.
Once Upon A Romance
You will never look at the Brontë sisters as mere writers again. The passion, intelligence, mystery, and perfection that these minds shared was astounding. Talk about a gifted family... you’ll love it.
Jane Austens World
I DID NOT WANT THIS STORY TO END. For fans of biographical tales and romance, Syrie’s story of Charlotte offers it all: longing and yearning, struggle and success, the searing pain of immeasurable loss, and the happiness of a love that came unbidden and unsought.
A Fair Substitute For Heaven
I REALLY THOROUGHLY, HEARTILY ENJOYED THIS CELEBRATION OF BRONTE’S LIFE and developing romance with Arthur Bell Nichols. Anyone who’s ever peeked at a Bronte letter, or stole into Charlotte’s Juvenalia, or re-read those parts in Jane Eyre, will find in this work not a stranger, but a welcoming friend.
Romance Junkies
This reconstruction of Ms. Brontë‘s life is done with such creativity and realism that it’s hard to imagine this is “not” what happened. . . By the end, the reader feels a real kinship with not only Charlotte, but all of the Brontës... A MUST BUY for Brontë-ites!
Romance Reviews Today
WRITTEN VERY MUCH IN THE STYLE OF THE HEROINE’S NOVELS... The story is well researched and closely follows the events of Charlotte’s life, subtly interweaving her personalized view of the situations … Captures all the heartache and triumphs of the independent and creative spirit Charlotte Bronte must have been.
Sacramento Book Review
James takes the biography of Brontë and sketches it into a work of art … The availability of specific, passionate details is what gives the book its main pull … A CAN’T-MISS NOVEL for Brontë fans and historical fiction buffs alike.
Bronte Blog
James’s extensive research . . . shows all throughout the book. . . “The style imitates Charlotte Brontë‘s . . . [James’s] non-linear structure works surprisingly well, as she places each flashback at the precise relevant moment … READERS WILL BE GLUED TO ITS PAGES FROM START TO FINISH.
Library Thing
5 STARS. A meticulously researched account of Charlotte Bronte’s life. The author … brought Charlotte to life as an intelligent, feisty, passionate woman. Charlotte’s romance with Arthur Nicholls was also convincing. I liked how the author showed the source of many scenes and Rochester himself from Jane Eyre.
Sonoma Country Life
I WAS TRANSPORTED... The Bronte sisters were so removed from the world and yet so compelling to get to know. If you’ve ever been a Bronte reader, then I’d thoroughly recommend Syrie James’s book. If you’ve never dabbled in Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, what’s stopping you?
Kaye's Book Reviews
AN AMAZING JOURNEY through the life of one of my very favorite authors... James weaves a beautiful story that … breathes life into a much loved and respected family in the literary world. Her language is flawless... The words could be Charlotte’s own as the story unfolds.
Bookviews
Syrie James recreates how the poor, plain, and socially unconnected Ms. Brontë became a literary sensation. Based on extensive research, Brontë‘s deepest passions and desires, triumphs, and disappointments come to life... Anyone who is a fan of her work will welcome and enjoy this remarkable novel.
JULY 2011 - AudioFile
This beautiful literary romance is told from the point of view of Charlotte Brontë as she and her sisters, Emily and Anne, embark on their careers as novelists, writing JANE EYRE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, and AGNES GREY respectively. Bianca Amato narrates with elegance. She captures Charlotte’s voice with perfection, making her sound like a dear friend sharing her joys and sorrows with intimate detail. Amato gives tender attention to each character’s voice, especially that of Curate Arthur Bell Nicholls, whose feelings for Charlotte are infused in each Irish-accented word. The story is based on the facts of Charlotte’s life but is also a warm and delightful love story. Listeners will surely yearn to hear the novels of the Brontë sisters after finishing this audiobook. M.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2010 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
