The Mother of the Brontës

This biography of the mysterious Maria Branwell “portrays a woman of intelligence, social savvy, wit and strength as well as a love for books . . . engrossing” ( Historical Novel Society ). They were from different lands, different classes, different worlds almost. The chances of Cornish gentlewoman Maria Branwell even meeting the poor Irish curate Patrick Brontë in Regency England, let alone falling passionately in love, were remote. Yet Maria and Patrick did meet, making a life together as dev