By Lucasta Miller? Yes, I did, and agree it's very interesting.
Yep, that's the one. I figured if you liked Hahn's account of the evolving historiography of Fritz, you'd like the same being done with the Brontes, especially with an eye toward methodology. I'm glad I read Miller *before* I read Gaskell. Miller may not be right in all of her conclusions, but she at least gets you thinking critically.
it would have been a shame to lose this over the most fickle of swans
Indeed, and I love the way you phrased this.
Which must mean that both Hervey (who usually loved to gossip) and Algarotti kept absolutely mum.
That is really interesting, and good for them! Algarotti had better keep mum *frowny face*, but good for Hervey, rival love interest yet loyal friend.
My first book on the Brontes was the sibling biography by Elsemarie Maletzke, who also translated a selection of the Angria and Gondal poems and novellas into German, and while paying respect to all the original research Mrs. Gaskell did back in the day points out her flaws as a biographer already. I also, years later, read Juliet Barker's magnum opus, and she's really taking up a Koser to Catt position re: Mrs. G, see also quotes here.
Since I also had read a lot on and about Sylvia Path and Ted Hughes (who was born none too far from Haworth) by the time I came across Lucasta Miller, the part where she she deals with Plath and Hughs and the Bronte myth was of particular interest back then.
That was a very interesting write-up, thanks for the link. I had run across Barker's work, but couldn't tell from the reviews if it was worth the buy. I'll put it on my someday list, then.
One nice thing about Dark Quartet (and its sequel), published in the 1970s, is it includes most of the things in the italicized paragraph that Gaskell is taken to task for not including. Some of the anecdotes it includes are called out by Miller as unsupported or even contradicted by the evidence, but for a work of fiction, I have no problem with that.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Algarotti
Date: 2020-09-07 02:30 pm (UTC)Yep, that's the one. I figured if you liked Hahn's account of the evolving historiography of Fritz, you'd like the same being done with the Brontes, especially with an eye toward methodology. I'm glad I read Miller *before* I read Gaskell. Miller may not be right in all of her conclusions, but she at least gets you thinking critically.
it would have been a shame to lose this over the most fickle of swans
Indeed, and I love the way you phrased this.
Which must mean that both Hervey (who usually loved to gossip) and Algarotti kept absolutely mum.
That is really interesting, and good for them! Algarotti had better keep mum *frowny face*, but good for Hervey, rival love interest yet loyal friend.
Bronte excursion
Date: 2020-09-08 10:00 am (UTC)Since I also had read a lot on and about Sylvia Path and Ted Hughes (who was born none too far from Haworth) by the time I came across Lucasta Miller, the part where she she deals with Plath and Hughs and the Bronte myth was of particular interest back then.
Re: Bronte excursion
Date: 2020-09-08 10:53 pm (UTC)One nice thing about Dark Quartet (and its sequel), published in the 1970s, is it includes most of the things in the italicized paragraph that Gaskell is taken to task for not including. Some of the anecdotes it includes are called out by Miller as unsupported or even contradicted by the evidence, but for a work of fiction, I have no problem with that.
Re: Bronte excursion
Date: 2020-09-09 04:55 am (UTC)