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The Brontë Sisters: The Complete Novels
With ABCD Classics, discover or rediscover all the classics of literature.
Contains Active Table of Contents (HTML)
This book contains the complete novels of the Brontë Sisters:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
Contains Active Table of Contents (HTML)
This book contains the complete novels of the Brontë Sisters:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
2882 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1899
2441 people are currently reading
2754 people want to read
About the author
Emily Brontë
1,539 books13.4k followersEmily Brontë was an English novelist and poet whose singular contribution to literature, Wuthering Heights, is now celebrated as one of the most powerful and original novels in the English language. Born into the remarkable Brontë family on 30 July 1818 in Thornton, Yorkshire, she was the fifth of six children of Maria Branwell and Patrick Brontë, an Irish clergyman. Her early life was marked by both intellectual curiosity and profound loss. After the death of her mother in 1821 and the subsequent deaths of her two eldest sisters in 1825, Emily and her surviving siblings— Charlotte, Anne, and Branwell—were raised in relative seclusion in the moorland village of Haworth, where their imaginations flourished in a household shaped by books, storytelling, and emotional intensity.
The Brontë children created elaborate fictional worlds, notably Angria and later Gondal, which served as an outlet for their creative energies. Emily, in particular, gravitated toward Gondal, a mysterious, windswept imaginary land she developed with her sister Anne. Her early poetry, much of it steeped in the mythology and characters of Gondal, demonstrated a remarkable lyrical force and emotional depth. These poems remained private until discovered by Charlotte in 1845, after which Emily reluctantly agreed to publish them in the 1846 collection Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, using the pseudonym Ellis Bell to conceal her gender. Though the volume sold few copies, critics identified Emily’s poems as the strongest in the collection, lauding her for their music, power, and visionary quality.
Emily was intensely private and reclusive by nature. She briefly attended schools in Cowan Bridge and Roe Head but was plagued by homesickness and preferred the solitude of the Yorkshire moors, which inspired much of her work. She worked briefly as a teacher but found the demands of the profession exhausting. She also studied in Brussels with Charlotte in 1842, but again found herself alienated and yearning for home. Throughout her life, Emily remained closely bonded with her siblings, particularly Anne, and with the landscape of Haworth, where she drew on the raw, untamed beauty of the moors for both her poetry and her fiction.
Her only novel, Wuthering Heights, was published in 1847, a year after the poetry collection, under her pseudonym Ellis Bell. Initially met with a mixture of admiration and shock, the novel’s structure, emotional intensity, and portrayal of violent passion and moral ambiguity stood in stark contrast to the conventions of Victorian fiction. Many readers, unable to reconcile its power with the expected gentility of a woman writer, assumed it had been written by a man. The novel tells the story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw—two characters driven by obsessive love, cruelty, and vengeance—and explores themes of nature, the supernatural, and the destructive power of unresolved emotion. Though controversial at the time, Wuthering Heights is now considered a landmark in English literature, acclaimed for its originality, psychological insight, and poetic vision.
Emily's personality has been the subject of much speculation, shaped in part by her sister Charlotte’s later writings and by Victorian biographies that often sought to romanticize or domesticate her character. While some accounts depict her as intensely shy and austere, others highlight her fierce independence, deep empathy with animals, and profound inner life. She is remembered as a solitary figure, closely attuned to the rhythms of the natural world, with a quiet but formidable intellect and a passion for truth and freedom. Her dog, Keeper, was a constant companion and, according to many, a window into her capacity for fierce, loyal love.
Emily Brontë died of tuberculosis on 19 December 1848 at the age of thirty, just a year after the publication of her novel. Her early death, following those of her brother Branwell and soon to
The Brontë children created elaborate fictional worlds, notably Angria and later Gondal, which served as an outlet for their creative energies. Emily, in particular, gravitated toward Gondal, a mysterious, windswept imaginary land she developed with her sister Anne. Her early poetry, much of it steeped in the mythology and characters of Gondal, demonstrated a remarkable lyrical force and emotional depth. These poems remained private until discovered by Charlotte in 1845, after which Emily reluctantly agreed to publish them in the 1846 collection Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, using the pseudonym Ellis Bell to conceal her gender. Though the volume sold few copies, critics identified Emily’s poems as the strongest in the collection, lauding her for their music, power, and visionary quality.
Emily was intensely private and reclusive by nature. She briefly attended schools in Cowan Bridge and Roe Head but was plagued by homesickness and preferred the solitude of the Yorkshire moors, which inspired much of her work. She worked briefly as a teacher but found the demands of the profession exhausting. She also studied in Brussels with Charlotte in 1842, but again found herself alienated and yearning for home. Throughout her life, Emily remained closely bonded with her siblings, particularly Anne, and with the landscape of Haworth, where she drew on the raw, untamed beauty of the moors for both her poetry and her fiction.
Her only novel, Wuthering Heights, was published in 1847, a year after the poetry collection, under her pseudonym Ellis Bell. Initially met with a mixture of admiration and shock, the novel’s structure, emotional intensity, and portrayal of violent passion and moral ambiguity stood in stark contrast to the conventions of Victorian fiction. Many readers, unable to reconcile its power with the expected gentility of a woman writer, assumed it had been written by a man. The novel tells the story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw—two characters driven by obsessive love, cruelty, and vengeance—and explores themes of nature, the supernatural, and the destructive power of unresolved emotion. Though controversial at the time, Wuthering Heights is now considered a landmark in English literature, acclaimed for its originality, psychological insight, and poetic vision.
Emily's personality has been the subject of much speculation, shaped in part by her sister Charlotte’s later writings and by Victorian biographies that often sought to romanticize or domesticate her character. While some accounts depict her as intensely shy and austere, others highlight her fierce independence, deep empathy with animals, and profound inner life. She is remembered as a solitary figure, closely attuned to the rhythms of the natural world, with a quiet but formidable intellect and a passion for truth and freedom. Her dog, Keeper, was a constant companion and, according to many, a window into her capacity for fierce, loyal love.
Emily Brontë died of tuberculosis on 19 December 1848 at the age of thirty, just a year after the publication of her novel. Her early death, following those of her brother Branwell and soon to
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 22, 2008
I have read all of Charlotte Brontes books and have read Wuthering Heights by Emily, but I had never read anything by Anne. I had the the chance to visit The child home of the Bronte siblings when I was in the UK last year and bought this book and literally devoured it. I loved the story, the characterizations, the symbolism, biblical references, etc. I highly recommend it. I gave it as a gift to a good friend and she couldn't put it down, either.
September 25, 2020
Avendo a disposizioni il più famoso (o nel caso di Emily, l'unico) romanzo di ognuna di loro è possibile comparare lo stile di scrittura, le somiglianze e le differenze nello svolgimento della trama.
Anne con Agnes Grey, Charlotte con Jane Eyre e Emily con Cime tempestose. Come bonus qualche poesie di tutte e tre.
Anne con Agnes Grey, Charlotte con Jane Eyre e Emily con Cime tempestose. Come bonus qualche poesie di tutte e tre.
June 2, 2020
Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Jane Eyre
I read all the novels but looking back I now think it was a waste of time. I think Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Jane Eyre are the only novels worth reading.
In my opinion, Charlotte's novels are repetitive and extremely misogynistic. Jane Eyre is compelling and well written.
Anne's novels are full of religious messages and, although I found The Tenant somewhat interesting in the way it approaches women's lifes in the nineteenth century, I felt like she struggled to combine the two narratives, opting for the easy solution of letter writing.
As for Wuthering Heights, I think it's a masterpiece and I am sorry Emily didn't write more novels.
I read all the novels but looking back I now think it was a waste of time. I think Wuthering Heights, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Jane Eyre are the only novels worth reading.
In my opinion, Charlotte's novels are repetitive and extremely misogynistic. Jane Eyre is compelling and well written.
Anne's novels are full of religious messages and, although I found The Tenant somewhat interesting in the way it approaches women's lifes in the nineteenth century, I felt like she struggled to combine the two narratives, opting for the easy solution of letter writing.
As for Wuthering Heights, I think it's a masterpiece and I am sorry Emily didn't write more novels.
June 10, 2018
Reading “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” By Anne Bronte 1848
February 10, 2018
Excellent collection of all the works published by the sisters. I came across the Bronte Sisters through Jane Eyer on Amazon Prime. I had long been a fan of Jane Austin, and think Charlotte Bronte came up as a suggested author. Well, what a treat that turned out to be! These women were very much pioneers in asserting themselves into a prohibited publishing world. Like Austin, they bring a fresh touch to novels and also help one to understand the plight of women in that age and society in general. By the way, Amazon Prime has a special on the Bronte Sisters which I commend - To Walk Invisible - and that is what these sisters had to do.
July 30, 2021
Interesting if not enjoyable
Having previously read Jane Eyre (wonderful), Wuthering heights (madingly brilliant) and wild fell hall (sad), I contented myself this time to read the others. Agnes grey was lovely, short and engaging, Shirley was perfectly fine but it parts confusing and the ending frustrating, I loved villette until the end and the professor was written well though the main character did not deserve the happiness he got
Having previously read Jane Eyre (wonderful), Wuthering heights (madingly brilliant) and wild fell hall (sad), I contented myself this time to read the others. Agnes grey was lovely, short and engaging, Shirley was perfectly fine but it parts confusing and the ending frustrating, I loved villette until the end and the professor was written well though the main character did not deserve the happiness he got
January 2, 2019
This book contained 7 works of the Bronte sisters and I could not resist rereading Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, 2 of my favourite books from my youth! I enjoyed reading Charlotte's, fairly autobiographical The Professor, for the first time but, it was Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte that I really enjoyed, I was impressed that her approach was more honest and less romantic than that of her sisters.
January 4, 2025
What a beautiful compilation!
I truly enjoyed every word of this Brontë sisters compilation. The stories were richly written, and full of emotion. Skillfully written, all the stories in this book moved me in different ways. I am a huge fan of the Brontë sisters books, and it was a genuine pleasure to read them once again.
I truly enjoyed every word of this Brontë sisters compilation. The stories were richly written, and full of emotion. Skillfully written, all the stories in this book moved me in different ways. I am a huge fan of the Brontë sisters books, and it was a genuine pleasure to read them once again.
Want to read
April 6, 2021Wuthering Heights review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jane Eyre review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jane Eyre review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 10, 2018
A classic
One of the classics it is good to read from time to time. A fine reminder of the rich heritage of human language and expression.
One of the classics it is good to read from time to time. A fine reminder of the rich heritage of human language and expression.
March 15, 2020
Just Classic - hope they are still getting them to read these in schools.
Want to read
September 8, 2020Available FREE today (9/8/2020)
January 1, 2021
Slow
Slow repetitive read with too much opinionated religion. If I want religion I will read the Bible. All their works are the same endeavor.
Slow repetitive read with too much opinionated religion. If I want religion I will read the Bible. All their works are the same endeavor.
September 21, 2023
Enjoyed reading these stories
November 8, 2020
Parto con una premessa: sono pessima con i classici, ne ho letti solo un paio in tutta la mia vita quindi potrei non essere il giudice migliore in questo campo. Per l’evento abbiamo deciso di non parlarvi tutte di tutti e tre i libri, ma di portarvi, ognuna di noi, la recensione di soltanto un romanzo a testa, quello scelto da me è Cime Tempestose, per cui vi parlerò di lui.
Cime Tempestose narra la storia di Heathcliff, del suo amore per Catherine, e di come questa passione alla fine li distrugga entrambi: tema centrale del libro è difatti l’effetto distruttivo che il senso di gelosia e lo spirito di vendetta possono avere sugli individui. La storia è raccontata come una sorta di lungo racconto che Ellen Dean (la governante della famiglia) racconta al signor Lockwood, il nuovo affittuario di Thrushcross Grange. La narrazione quindi avviene da un narratore esterno ai protagonisti, ma che comunque viene coinvolto nelle vicende. Anche se pubblicato circa a metà ‘800, la storia narrata risale a fine ‘700/ inizio ‘800. La narrazione è molto lineare e coerente, ricca di dettagli futili, ma questo dettaglio conferisce soprattutto veridicità al tutto poiché risulta proprio come se davvero una governante un po’ impicciona stesse qui a riferire il tutto. Non mancano comunque anche le idee che si fa sulla situazione il signor Lockwood. La lettura mi è risultata molto interessante, anche se un po’ pedante e petulante, ammetto che se non avessi letto il romanzo per un evento, ma per letture mie private, ci avrei messo molto più tempo.
Le descrizioni sono molto ricche e prolisse, a volte anche contenenti dettagli inutili per la storia, ma come vi dicevo questo non è un difetto bensì un pregio considerando chi è il narratore principale della storia. Come ambientazione ci troviamo nelle lande dello Yorkshire, ricche quindi di vegetazione e che permette un’immaginario molto suggestivo. Posti che sicuramente nella mia vita voglio visitare e che mi hanno fatto davvero sognare.
I personaggi, posso dirlo? Sono i più odiosi di cui io abbia mai letto. Viziati e dispettosi oltre ogni limite, non capisco davvero come abbiano fatto a non ammazzarsi l’un l’altro entro la fine del romanzo. Vengono spesso definiti pieni di passione, ma credo sia un tipo di passione tutto loro. Mi è stato difficile empatizzare con loro visto che li ho trovati insopportabili, ma allo stesso tempo hanno avuto una caratterizzazione assai affascinante ai miei occhi poiché non mi passava assolutamente la voglia di legger di loro, ma aumentava, piuttosto, il desiderio di scoprire quale altro guaio avrebbero commesso. Quindi, sì, ho sentimenti contrastanti a riguardo.
In fine, posso dire tranquillamente che Cime Tempestore non rientrerà tra i miei libri preferiti, ma sicuramente ha rappresentato per me una lettura piacevole e a cui penserò nel tempo, conservandole comunque un posto nel mio cuore. Non vedo l’ora di leggere le opere delle altre due sorelle poiché sono rimasta molto affascinata. Dò quindi un voto di 4 stelline, perché anche se non ho apprezzato particolarmente i personaggi, ritengo la storia davvero ben scritta e costruita. Il tema dell’amore, che diciamo è al centro di tutto, è trattato con molta forza e fervore, tipici delle storie di quei tempi, e ho adorato di leggere di storie tanto appassionate.
Cime Tempestose narra la storia di Heathcliff, del suo amore per Catherine, e di come questa passione alla fine li distrugga entrambi: tema centrale del libro è difatti l’effetto distruttivo che il senso di gelosia e lo spirito di vendetta possono avere sugli individui. La storia è raccontata come una sorta di lungo racconto che Ellen Dean (la governante della famiglia) racconta al signor Lockwood, il nuovo affittuario di Thrushcross Grange. La narrazione quindi avviene da un narratore esterno ai protagonisti, ma che comunque viene coinvolto nelle vicende. Anche se pubblicato circa a metà ‘800, la storia narrata risale a fine ‘700/ inizio ‘800. La narrazione è molto lineare e coerente, ricca di dettagli futili, ma questo dettaglio conferisce soprattutto veridicità al tutto poiché risulta proprio come se davvero una governante un po’ impicciona stesse qui a riferire il tutto. Non mancano comunque anche le idee che si fa sulla situazione il signor Lockwood. La lettura mi è risultata molto interessante, anche se un po’ pedante e petulante, ammetto che se non avessi letto il romanzo per un evento, ma per letture mie private, ci avrei messo molto più tempo.
Le descrizioni sono molto ricche e prolisse, a volte anche contenenti dettagli inutili per la storia, ma come vi dicevo questo non è un difetto bensì un pregio considerando chi è il narratore principale della storia. Come ambientazione ci troviamo nelle lande dello Yorkshire, ricche quindi di vegetazione e che permette un’immaginario molto suggestivo. Posti che sicuramente nella mia vita voglio visitare e che mi hanno fatto davvero sognare.
I personaggi, posso dirlo? Sono i più odiosi di cui io abbia mai letto. Viziati e dispettosi oltre ogni limite, non capisco davvero come abbiano fatto a non ammazzarsi l’un l’altro entro la fine del romanzo. Vengono spesso definiti pieni di passione, ma credo sia un tipo di passione tutto loro. Mi è stato difficile empatizzare con loro visto che li ho trovati insopportabili, ma allo stesso tempo hanno avuto una caratterizzazione assai affascinante ai miei occhi poiché non mi passava assolutamente la voglia di legger di loro, ma aumentava, piuttosto, il desiderio di scoprire quale altro guaio avrebbero commesso. Quindi, sì, ho sentimenti contrastanti a riguardo.
In fine, posso dire tranquillamente che Cime Tempestore non rientrerà tra i miei libri preferiti, ma sicuramente ha rappresentato per me una lettura piacevole e a cui penserò nel tempo, conservandole comunque un posto nel mio cuore. Non vedo l’ora di leggere le opere delle altre due sorelle poiché sono rimasta molto affascinata. Dò quindi un voto di 4 stelline, perché anche se non ho apprezzato particolarmente i personaggi, ritengo la storia davvero ben scritta e costruita. Il tema dell’amore, che diciamo è al centro di tutto, è trattato con molta forza e fervore, tipici delle storie di quei tempi, e ho adorato di leggere di storie tanto appassionate.
May 14, 2010
The correct title of the book, as seen even on the photo of it for this edition is The Bronte Sisters Complete Novels Illustrated. It is a collection of the works of Emily, Anne and Charlotte Bronte. The only "work" missing is Charlotte Bronte's Emma. This is because she wrote only two chapters of the work before her death. The rest was finished posthumously by another author.
The Bronte Sisters Complete Novels Illustrated is a joy in that it has all of the sister's works together in one place. It allows for easy comparison between the works and their styles. However, the volume is not without its flaws. It has no footnotes for phrases in French, or those which are out of date; the male characters speak in a manner so flowery and out of character one has to laugh at moments; and a religious undertone runs through nearly all of the novels, a hazard of both the times and the sisters being reared by a father who was a parson.
I am not going to quote any of the works here since it is a compilation and it would raise one author or work above the others if I were to do so. Let it suffice to say that if you can take into account the volume's petty annoyances, it is worth reading. The novels contained within it are classics and with the exception of their rather flowery speech very well-written. The characters come across strongly and are well rounded. All-in-all The Bronte Sisters Complete Novels Illustrated is an enjoyable escape.
The Bronte Sisters Complete Novels Illustrated copyright 2006 by CRW Publishing Limited, 69 Gloucester Crescent, London NW17EG
The Bronte Sisters Complete Novels Illustrated is a joy in that it has all of the sister's works together in one place. It allows for easy comparison between the works and their styles. However, the volume is not without its flaws. It has no footnotes for phrases in French, or those which are out of date; the male characters speak in a manner so flowery and out of character one has to laugh at moments; and a religious undertone runs through nearly all of the novels, a hazard of both the times and the sisters being reared by a father who was a parson.
I am not going to quote any of the works here since it is a compilation and it would raise one author or work above the others if I were to do so. Let it suffice to say that if you can take into account the volume's petty annoyances, it is worth reading. The novels contained within it are classics and with the exception of their rather flowery speech very well-written. The characters come across strongly and are well rounded. All-in-all The Bronte Sisters Complete Novels Illustrated is an enjoyable escape.
The Bronte Sisters Complete Novels Illustrated copyright 2006 by CRW Publishing Limited, 69 Gloucester Crescent, London NW17EG
February 18, 2021
This hunk of a book was where I spent so many lazy hours (probably 10 hours a day) just escaping. Who knew all 3 sisters would've had such amazing writings and so dark and lovely.
Read
February 1, 2019yes because its a nice story to read about all
of the girls and their brothers lives and what
struggles they went through and what made
them happy. It's cool to see how each child is
their own person yet they all share the same
love for their father and for what they love.
It also shows that even through hard times they
have each other
of the girls and their brothers lives and what
struggles they went through and what made
them happy. It's cool to see how each child is
their own person yet they all share the same
love for their father and for what they love.
It also shows that even through hard times they
have each other
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews