BRONTË

Sisterly bonds are eternal.

This black-and-white graphic novel opens at a point when the Brontë family is in desperate financial need. Their father is getting sicker each day while their heartbroken brother, Branwell, is ruining himself with opium and alcohol. Charlotte and Anne want to publish their writings to help bring in some income, but Emily refuses to join them, as she says that she writes only for herself. To relieve some of Emily’s concerns, her sisters suggest publishing under male pseudonyms, and the Bell brothers, Currer, Acton, and Ellis, are born. Despite some initial rejection and mixed reviews, praise and admiration grow for their published works. Recognizing the need to share who they truly are, the sisters reveal themselves to their father, brother, publisher, and, finally, the world. Soon after, tragedy strikes the family with the untimely deaths of Branwell, rapidly followed by Emily and Anne. In this account of the Brontë family translated from Italian, Santoni’s simple, energetic illustration style works well to convey the story’s tone. Every bold, sweeping line expresses the family’s dire situation and the Haworth parsonage. Each character is portrayed clearly and distinctly, giving sharp clarity to their individual feelings and desires despite the relatively sparse text.

A beautifully illustrated reimagining of the Brontë sisters’ lives.