Today, the 28th of May, will forever be a mournful one for lovers of the Bronte family. It was on this day in 1849 that Anne Bronte took her last breath. Elder sister Charlotte Bronte and friend Ellen Nussey were by her side as she took her last breath, looking out of their window at Wood’s Lodgings and gazing at the infinite sweep of the horizon, mind on the infinite sweep of what was to come.
Anne Bronte died in a time of faith, she was not afraid to die, it was those left who would suffer. Little could Anne have guessed that 176 years later we would still be reading her books, still talking about her life. Her last moments were captured in print by Ellen Nussey, and a very beautiful and moving read it makes. I discuss it below in my latest House Of Bronte video:
We will all be thinking of Anne Bronte today, particularly at 2 pm, the moment which marked her passing from this world. Let us not dwell on the challenges she faced, however, but on the triumphs she achieved. Through her great novels she will live forever, so let’s raise a glass and say “Thank you Anne Bronte!” I hope you can join me next Sunday for another new Bronte blog post.
