What do you think?
Rate this book
The Brontës in Brussels
A fascinating and thorough account of Charlotte and Emily Brontë's formative stay in Brussels during 1842-43 The Brontës' time in Belgium, five years before they became best-selling authors, is the least-known episode of their lives, but is a fascinating and important one. The book follows in the tracks of the sisters in Brussels, describing their life in the though the school where they came to study French has now disappeared, there is still a lot to be seen of the city the sisters knew; two of Charlotte's four novels ( Villette and The Professor ) are also based on her spell abroad, which was pivotal to her both as a writer and personally, since she fell in love with her teacher Constantin Heger. Charlotte's moving and harrowing letters to Heger—a respectable married man—are reproduced in full here and belie the common image of her as the motherly and strait-laced Brontë. Also including maps of the period, extracts from Villette reflecting real-life experiences in Brussels and translations of the sisters' little-known "Belgian essays," what emerges is a complete portrait of a slice of literary history—as well as a haunting evocation of a time and a place that came to haunt the Brontës themselves.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
300 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2014
5 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Helen MacEwan
6 booksHelen MacEwan studied modern languages at Oxford University. A translator and former teacher, she has lived in Brussels since 2004. She is the author of 'The Brontës in Brussels' (2014), an exploration of Charlotte and Emily Brontë's time at the Pensionnat Heger, and 'Down the Belliard Steps: Discovering the Brontës in Brussels' (2012), an account of her experiences setting up the Brussels Brontë Group to promote interest in the Brontës' stay in the city. Her latest book, 'Winifred Gérin: Biographer of the Brontës' (2015), reveals Gérin's fascinating and hitherto largely unknown life, based on her unpublished memoir, letters, poems and plays.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 26, 2019
A well researched and accessible guide to Charlotte and Emily Bronte's time in Brussels. The biographical background and historical images have given me new insights while I reread Villette for the sixth time.
May 1, 2022
This is a great start for exploring Charlotte's Brussels. Never realised I had walked the grounds of the Pensionnat many times before I read this one for the 1st time.
The book leads you through Brussels Then and now and links biography to Villette and the Professor. Loved it!
The book leads you through Brussels Then and now and links biography to Villette and the Professor. Loved it!
June 22, 2020
Si vous ne le saviez pas, les soeurs Bronte ont passé pas mal de temps dans un pensionnat à Bruxelles, qui se situait où se trouve actuellement le Palais de Beaux-arts (Bozar). Elles se sont inspirées de leur expérience pour nourrir certains de leur roman. Vous y découvrirez la vie de l'époque, comme dans un roman historique, joliment illustré de surcroit.
October 17, 2017
As you might know, I am a fan of the Brontës. While living here in Brussels I came into contact with the Brussels Brontë Group. A group, founded by Helen MacEwan and some fellow enthusiasts. I did not have so much knowledge about the Brontës. Just that they grew up on the moors of Yorkshire and wrote wonderful, passionate novels.
Being part of the group have, for me, opened up a whole new chapter in the history of the Brontës. The group has taken on numerous investigations in order to track the lives of Charlotte and Emily during their stay here in 1842-43 (Emily only the first year). For Charlotte it was a life changing experience. The life she lived here and her studies for the charismatic M. Heger gave her another output in life. She became infatuated with him and he entered into her literary characters.
Helen is the source of information concerning the sisters life here in Brussels. She has written several books related to their stay here. The Brontës in Brussels is a well written account of their reason for coming here, how they saw life, the people they met, the studies and how life was led in the Belgian capital in the mid of the 19th century. Most of all; how it effected Charlotte and changed her life. Most experts today acknowledge that without her stay here, she might not have written the novels she did.
It is an easy read, perfect also for those without too much knowledge of the sisters. Charlotte's novels The Professor and Villette take place in Brussels and Helen shows us references from the books and what inspired Charlotte in real life Brussels. It is a fantastic tour around the old and new parts of Brussels. Cultural happenings, traditional feasts, eating habits and much more. The book is like a bible for Brontë fans, just the right amount of background information, and written in a way that make you feel like you are walking with them, over the pebbled stones of Brussels.
The Brussels Brontë Groups arranges guided walks a couple of times a year. The walk is highlighted at the end of the book. It is easy to follow, cover the places Charlotte and Emily visited, all close to each other. Take the book with your a walk in the footsteps of the Brontës.
Other books by Helen: Down the Belliard Steps: Discovering the Brontës in Brussels, Winifred Gérin: Biographer of the Brontës. Soon to be published: Through Belgian Eyes: Charlotte Brontës Troubled Brussels Legacy. All of them add a little bit more to the life and inspiration of Charlotte.
From my blog: thecontentreader.blogspot.com
Being part of the group have, for me, opened up a whole new chapter in the history of the Brontës. The group has taken on numerous investigations in order to track the lives of Charlotte and Emily during their stay here in 1842-43 (Emily only the first year). For Charlotte it was a life changing experience. The life she lived here and her studies for the charismatic M. Heger gave her another output in life. She became infatuated with him and he entered into her literary characters.
Helen is the source of information concerning the sisters life here in Brussels. She has written several books related to their stay here. The Brontës in Brussels is a well written account of their reason for coming here, how they saw life, the people they met, the studies and how life was led in the Belgian capital in the mid of the 19th century. Most of all; how it effected Charlotte and changed her life. Most experts today acknowledge that without her stay here, she might not have written the novels she did.
It is an easy read, perfect also for those without too much knowledge of the sisters. Charlotte's novels The Professor and Villette take place in Brussels and Helen shows us references from the books and what inspired Charlotte in real life Brussels. It is a fantastic tour around the old and new parts of Brussels. Cultural happenings, traditional feasts, eating habits and much more. The book is like a bible for Brontë fans, just the right amount of background information, and written in a way that make you feel like you are walking with them, over the pebbled stones of Brussels.
The Brussels Brontë Groups arranges guided walks a couple of times a year. The walk is highlighted at the end of the book. It is easy to follow, cover the places Charlotte and Emily visited, all close to each other. Take the book with your a walk in the footsteps of the Brontës.
Other books by Helen: Down the Belliard Steps: Discovering the Brontës in Brussels, Winifred Gérin: Biographer of the Brontës. Soon to be published: Through Belgian Eyes: Charlotte Brontës Troubled Brussels Legacy. All of them add a little bit more to the life and inspiration of Charlotte.
From my blog: thecontentreader.blogspot.com
February 12, 2025
Charlotte Bronte only left Britain twice in her life, and both times it was to go to Brussels. She later memorialized her time there, re-naming the city "Villette" and bringing it to life in her final published novel, which draws HEAVILY on her experiences there as a student and teacher, including her complicated and tragic feelings for Monsieur Heger, her professor.
The importance of her time in Brussels cannot be overstated... without Brussels, there would have been no Jane Eyre because there would have been no Rochester. (And of course there would have been no Villette.)
This book lets us explore the Brussels that Charlotte knew, and reveals the story of her time there. It's a quick, interesting read complete with photos and maps, as well as a Bronte-related walking guide if one finds oneself able to visit that city.
The importance of her time in Brussels cannot be overstated... without Brussels, there would have been no Jane Eyre because there would have been no Rochester. (And of course there would have been no Villette.)
This book lets us explore the Brussels that Charlotte knew, and reveals the story of her time there. It's a quick, interesting read complete with photos and maps, as well as a Bronte-related walking guide if one finds oneself able to visit that city.
July 23, 2019
Très belle édition, et voyage dans le passé bruxellois des soeurs Brontë. De nombreuses photos, gravures, illustrations pour mettre en image les lieux foulés par Charlotte et Emily.
August 24, 2023
This is a great guide, I was just expecting more insight into the devoirs.
February 11, 2019
For a book that only examines two years in two of the Brontë Sisters lives it is strange how much this book covers. From looking at the Brussels that they would have know to the parallels in Charlotte's works, 'Villette' and 'The Professor'. It also fantastic that there is a guide to Brontë Brussel's towards the end that allows you to follow in their footsteps as much as possible. As a book about the Brontë's this one creates a focused examination of a period that shaped Charlotte in particular.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews