The Brontes

Jun 13, 2016 18:08

I want to shout out to Frederick Enoch, a very perceptive reader, who in 1846 bought a copy of the collected poems of the Brontes (published as Acton, Currer and Ellis Bell).

He was one of two - count them, two - people to buy copies of the book that year. Rather embarrassing for the authors, but their readership made up in quality for what it lacked in quantity. Mr Enoch wrote to them, praising the poems and asking for their autographs. He got what turned out to be the only document in the world with the ‘signatures’ of the three Bell brothers on it.

After the publication of *Jane Eyre*, the poetry sold like hot cakes, but Mr Enoch was ahead of his time.

19th century book club, emily bronte, books, historical gossip, anne bronte, charlotte bronte

Previous post Next post
Up