The story herewith told of the Brontë genius has attempted
to take a straight course. In its biographical and literary
phases, it is hoped that both the information and interpreta-
tion has the quality and interest of a narrative.

The lives of the Brontë sisters are stories as intriguing as
the stories that made their novels. With every one of the
three it was a tragic story. The novels reflected this tragedy.
That is why, I think, it has been important to treat the novels
with the fullness that has been attempted here. If they over-
balance the straight biographical material, they may well
serve to extend the revelations that the private lives of the
sisters in the Haworth Parsonage yielded with such reluc-
tance. When we stop to consider that essentially all the facts
of their lives that have any validity are contained in Char-
lotte's voluminous correspondence, the novels are as im-
portant biographically as they are artistically. And Charlotte
was not above tempering her letters with her imaginative
emotions while recording the domestic life of the family.

The story of the Brontës reiterates one overwhelming
truth, and this is that life is an enigma. With some individuals
it is easily solved and forgotten. With the four Brontë chil-
dren it leaves us bewildered-as it has for a century-and only
sure of the emotions that fired them and the spirit that
winged them.

W. S. B.

New York, 1950

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