The Brontës: Wild Genius on the Moors: The Story of a Literary Family

by Juliet Barker

Monsieur Heger’s teaching certainly had no influence on her poetic style, which remained as terse, evocative and simply phrased as ever. Even Emily’s friends were sceptical of the effect Brussels had had upon her. Mary Taylor, writing to Ellen Nussey from Germany, where she was now supporting herself by teaching, enquired curiously: Tell me something about Emily Bronte. I can’t imagine how the newly acquired qualities can fit in, in the same head & heart that is occupied by the old ones. Imagine Emily turning over prints or ‘taking wine’ with any stupid fop & preserving her temper & politeness!2 Mary clearly considered that Emily’s advantages in Brussels had been purely social, rather than academic. This may have been a recognition of her obstinate resistance to Monsieur Heger’s teaching practices, but it failed to take into account the fact that the Pensionnat Heger had immeasurably improved her French as well as her German and her music. If nothing else, she had at least gained access to a whole new world of German literature which, with its dramatic qualities and stern tone, would appeal more to the creator of Wuthering Heights than the comparatively frivolous French novels Charlotte read so avidly.