The Brontes

I really enjoyed it, didn't know that much about them before. So sad for the father to outlive all his 6? children. It has made me want to know more, there was a link at and to more clips and information. Also l have never read the tenant of wildfell Hall, will now do so.

By the way does anyone remember the series about the Brontes that was on in the early 70s (I think) A very new Michael Kitchen was Bramwell and even then was excepionally good.

It makes you wonder how many other women leading such closeted lives in those days had as much to offer. If it hadn't been for Charlotte's initiative to really try and find a publisher nothing would have happened. Thank goodness she was so determined but what a lot we may have missed.

Agree with your post Iam64 and think the Bronte sisters would have been very proud indeed, that their books and their house were practiaclly a place of pilgrimage.

Very well acted and scripted

I finished watching it on iPlayer and really enjoyed it. I'm glad I gave it another chance.

I watched last night and thoroghly enjoyed it. I know the area, love the bleakness in winter and the moors are wild all year round. I'd no problem with the sound quality, liked the sets and thought the cast were all excellent.
I also appreciated the way Bramwells addictions and excesses affected not only him but the whole family. He's often romanticised whereas this dramatisation reflected the harsh truths of alcohol abuse and dependence.
Sally Wainwright is a brilliant writer.
An earlier poster disliked the final scenes in the Bronte museum at Howarth. I liked the contrast and rather than spinning in their graves, I suspect the sisters would have been proud that their work continues to bring pleasure. I'm planning to read and visit Howarh again soon

I've just caught up with this. I agree about the sound, I needed subtitles, too. Otherwise I enjoyed it. Branwell featured so much because it was about his effect upon their lives, over just a few years, it wasn't a re-telling of the entire Bronte story.

How interesting about the sets being built on the moors! We've been to Haworth a number of times and I had wondered if the trees that are round the parsonage today had been photoshopped out. Also, the village street looked narrower than in real life, though as we all know, the camera can lie.

baubles I'm sure you'll find The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a good read. It must have been very shocking at the time with it's graphic description of life with an alcoholic husband.Not the sort of thing that was discussed in polite society!

Rev Nicholls was Patrick Brontes Curate, that's why he was part of their lives and how Charlotte came to marry him.

I entirely agree about the sound quality but I'm glad I persevered. It made me appreciate the harshness and difficulty of their and made me want to find out more. The bit that really got me was at the end when they showed the present day reality at the parsonage - tourists taking selfies and buying up the gift shop. The Brontes must be spinning in their graves.

She married the curate I think, the one who kept popping in and out of the house to see her father.
She died within the year, very sad.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and have just ordered The Tenant of Wildfell Hall as I have to confess to never having read it.

Once my ear tuned into the sound it was fine, I loved the grittiness although a couple of modern expressions grated a little. I'd over it to have been a series rather than a one off.

I wondered who she had married but had not got as far as finding out! I thought her publisher looked pretty smitten with her, and had wondered.......??

Apparently the average age to die in the area was 19. In that context, the Brontës' early demise doesn't look so unusual.

I didn't go to sleep either!!! Not even a short doze!!! Yes Charlotte married Rev Nicholls, but died while pregnant. So sad
Emily's dog was called Keeper! A useless piece of information I know, but adds to the family picture-maybe?!!!!

Watched it last night and loved it. Had no problem with the sound or accents, as I am from that area ( which helped no doubt.)
Thought the acting and dialogue really good from all concerned, although I know it rains there a lot ( remember it well, shudder) did it have to rain ALL the time practically in the programme?
How sad that the whole family died young from TB, and even Charlotte ( married the young rector I think) died early by today's standards.It obviously was a genetic weakness , the poor Father.

I too struggled with the sound to start with, I thought they were speaking too fast. After switching on subtitles I became gripped and really loved it. I didn't fall asleep once! My favourite drama over the season.

Having got off to a sticky start,I'm glad we stuck with it as I too enjoyed it as did OH. Why it had to be accompanied by, at times, loud music when people were talking is beyond me, as you simply cannot hear what they're saying, (BBC PLEASE take note!) also the accents and whispers made following it at times almost impossible, but we both love, and know a bit about the sisters and their tragic brother which I guess made it easier to understand. Charlotte almost certainly died of severe early morning sickness, (Duchess of Cambridge!) although she could have had TB as well. Rev Bronte outlived all of them. Poor man, what a difficult, sad life he had.

I really enjoyed it but did have to have the subtitles on to keep up with the dialogue.

As to family resemblance, there's no reason they should look alike. My sister and I are like chalk and cheese! I like the fact that the sisters did argue with one another in a natural way like most families, whereas they are usually portrayed as very sedate and polite. They did argue, but no doubts that they loved each other.
It must have been very difficult for them managing their brothers behaviour. Also think their father played his part well too.

I thought it was wonderful as it epitomised the anger and frustration of clever girls reduced to playing second fiddle to the expectations heaped upon the son of the family. The women who wrote some of the greatest literature having to wallow in the filth left by the inadequate Branwell. Very taken with the opening shots of the little girls with flaming, bright halos. There is tremendous anger in their works which I felt was portrayed in this dramatisation.

There have been many talented, gifted alcoholics

I really enjoyed it. So much hinged on the actresses and I thought they brought the three sisters to life very well. Charlotte - tiny but determined, Emily striding across the moors with her dog and Anne quiet but with hidden depths. I didn't think there was too much of Branwell. He was a huge part of their lives and must have been a nightmare to live with. Imagine trying to keep up a respectable Victorian front with him lurking in the background.

The downside was the sound quality. I didn't notice anachronistic language because I missed most of what they were whispering and the music was much too loud. What is the point of spending all that time and money producing a programme that most of the audience can't hear?

I liked the fact that it was unsentimental too. I also got the impression that Charlotte was very much the ringleader, that the girls published out of economic necessity, and that Branwell, despite his alleged genius, was as much use as a chocolate teapot, drunk as a skunk and high as a kite most of the time.

Anyone read the Gaskell biography?