Lifelong Learning Lecture: Elizabeth Gaskell and the Perils of Biography
Guest speaker: Dr. Helen Heineman, President Emerita, Framingham State University
Charlotte Brontë‘s early death left her friends and public demanding answers. Tasked with telling the story of her tragic life, fellow writer and friend Elizabeth Gaskell investigated, uncovering secrets more incredible than any fiction. Determined to deliver justice to her subject, Gaskell described those who mistreated Brontë in a book so controversial it was banned within weeks. Ever since, historians have argued how much of it is true.
Gaskell’s biography sheds light on the dramatic events of Brontë‘s life. Charlotte‘s great fame made reluctant celebrities of those who had known her. Mrs. Gaskell stipulated in her will that no one could write her own life story until all parties concerned had died. This lecture describes Mrs. Gaskell’s biography and assesses the truth of her representation.
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