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Two Short Pieces
Two Short Pieces
Charlotte Bronte
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Two Short Pieces
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF
ELLIS AND ACTON BELL
IT has been thought that all the works published under the names of
Currer； Ellis； and Acton Bell were； in reality； the production of one person。
This mistake I endeavoured to rectify by a few words of disclaimer
prefixed to the third edition of 'Jane Eyre。' These； too； it appears； failed to
gain general credence； and now； on the occasion of a reprint of 'Wuthering
Heights' and 'Agnes Grey；' I am advised distinctly to state how the case
really stands。
Indeed； I feel myself that it is time the obscurity attending those two
names … Ellis and Acton … was done away。 The little mystery； which
formerly yielded some harmless pleasure； has lost its interest；
circumstances are changed。 It becomes； then； my duty to explain briefly
the origin and authorship of the books written by Currer； Ellis； and Acton
Bell。
About five years ago； my two sisters and myself； after a somewhat
prolonged period of separation； found ourselves reunited； and at home。
Resident in a remote district； where education had made little progress；
and where； consequently； there was no inducement to seek social
intercourse beyond our own domestic circle； we were wholly dependent
on ourselves and each other； on books and study； for the enjoyments and
occupations of life。 The highest stimulus； as well as the liveliest pleasure
we had known from childhood upwards； lay in attempts at literary
composition； formerly we used to show each other what we wrote； but of
late years this habit of communication and consultation had been
discontinued； hence it ensued； that we were mutually ignorant of the
progress we might respectively have made。
One day； in the autumn of 1845； I accidentally lighted on a MS。
volume of verse in my sister Emily's handwriting。 Of course； I was not
surprised； knowing that she could and did write verse： I looked it over； and
something more than surprise seized me … a deep conviction that these
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were not common effusions； nor at all like the poetry women generally
write。 I thought them condensed and terse； vigorous and genuine。 To my
ear they had also a peculiar music … wild； melancholy； and elevating。
My sister Emily was not a person of demonstrative character； nor one
on the recesses of whose mind and feelings even those nearest and dearest
to her could； with impunity； intrude unlicensed； it took hours to reconcile
her to the discovery I had made； and days to persuade her that such poems
merited publication。 I knew； however； that a mind like hers could not be
without some latent spark of honourable ambition； and refused to be
discouraged in my attempts to fan that spark to flame。
Meantime； my younger sister quietly produced some of her own
compositions； intimating that； since Emily's had given me pleasure； I
might like to look at hers。 I could not but be a partial judge； yet I thought
that these verses； too； had a sweet； sincere pathos of their own。
We had very early cherished the dream of one day becoming authors。
This dream； never relinquished even when distance divided and absorbing
tasks occupied us； now suddenly acquired strength and consistency： it took
the character of a resolve。 We agreed to arrange a small selection of our
poems； and； if possible； to get them printed。 Averse to personal publicity；
we veiled our own names under those of Currer； Ellis； and Acton Bell； the
ambiguous choice being dictated by a sort of conscientious scruple at
assuming Christian names positively masculine； while we did not like to
declare ourselves women； because … without at that time suspecting that
our mode of writing and thinking was not what is called 'feminine' … we
had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with
prejudice； we had noticed how critics sometimes use for their chastisement
the weapon of personality； and for their reward； a flattery； which is not true
praise。
The bringing out of our little book was hard work。 As was to be
expected； neither we nor our poems were at all wanted； but for this we had
been prepared at the outset； though inexperienced ourselves； we had read
the experience of others。 The great puzzle lay in the difficulty of getting
answers of any kind from the publishers to whom we applied。 Being
greatly harassed by this obstacle； I ventured to apply to the Messrs。
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Chambers； of Edinburgh； for a word of advice； THEY may have forgotten
the circumstance； but I have not； for from them I received a brief and
business…like； but civil and sensible reply； on which we acted； and at last
made a way。
The book was printed： it is scarcely known； and all of it that merits to
be known are the poems of Ellis Bell。 The fixed conviction I held； and
hold； of the worth of these poems has not indeed received the confirmation
of much favourable criticism； but I must retain it notwithstanding。
Ill…success failed to crush us： the mere effort to succeed had given a
wonderful zest to existence； it must be pursued。 We each set to work on a
prose tale： Ellis Bell produced 'Wuthering Heights；' Acton Bell 'Agnes
Grey；' and Currer Bell also wrote a narrative in one volume。 These MSS。
were perseveringly obtruded upon various publishers for the space of a
year and a half； usually； their fate was an ignominious and abrupt
dismissal。
At last 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Agnes Grey' were accepted on terms
somewhat impoverishing to the two authors； Currer Bell's book found
acceptance nowhere； nor any acknowledgment of merit； so that something
like the chill of despair began to invade her heart。 As a forlorn hope； she
tried one publishing house more … Messrs。 Smith； Elder and Co。 Ere long；
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