Chapter 2

State of Charlotte Brontë's health at the commencement of 1847--Family trials--"Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey" accepted by a publisher--"The Professor" rejected--Completion of "Jane Eyre", its reception and publication--The reviews of "Jane Eyre", and the author's comments on them--Her father's reception of the book--Public interest excited by "Jane Eyre"--Dedication of the second edition to Mr. Thackeray--Correspondence of Currer Bell with Mr. Lewes on "Jane Eyre"--Publication of "Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey"--Miss Brontë's account of the authoress of "Wuthering Heights"--Domestic anxieties of the Brontë sisters--Currer Bell's correspondence with Mr. Lewes--Unhealthy state of Haworth--Charlotte Brontë on the revolutions of 1848--Her repudiation of authorship--Anne Brontë's second tale, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall"--Misunderstanding as to the individuality of the three Bells, and its results--Currer and Acton Bell visit London--Charlotte Brontë's account of her visit--The Chapter Coffee House--The Clergy Daughters' School at Casterton--Death of Branwell Brontë--Illness and death of Emily Brontë.