The Brontës and Religion

This is the first full-length study of religion in the fiction of the Brontë s. Drawing on extensive knowledge of the Anglican church in the nineteenth century, Marianne Thormä hlen shows how the Brontë s' familiarity with the contemporary debates on doctrinal, ethical and ecclesiastical issues informs their novels. Divided into four parts, the book examines denominations, doctrines, ethics and clerics in the Brontë s' work. Lucid and vigorously written, it will open up new perspectives Brontë specialists and enthusiasts alike on a fundamental aspect of the novels greatly neglected in recent decades.

This is the first full-length study of religion in the fiction of the Brontës. Drawing on extensive knowledge of the Anglican church in the nineteenth century, Marianne Thormählen shows how the Brontës' familiarity with the contemporary debates on doctrinal, ethical and ecclesiastical issues informs their novels. Divided into four parts, the book examines denominations, doctrines, ethics and clerics in the work of the Brontës. The analyses of the novels clarify the constant interplay of human and Divine love in the development of the novels. While demonstrating that the Brontës' fiction usually reflects the basic tenets of Evangelical Anglicanism, the book emphasises the characteristic spiritual freedom and audacity of the Brontës. Lucid and vigorously written, it will open up new perspectives for Brontë specialists and enthusiasts alike on a fundamental aspect of the novels greatly neglected in recent decades.

Introduction; Part I. Denominations: 1. A Christian home in early nineteenth-century England: Evangelicalism, Dissent and the Brontë family; 2. Charlotte Brontë and the church of Rome; 3. An undenominational temper; Part II. Doctrines: 4. The Brontës in the theological landscape of their time; 5. God and his creation; 6. Faith and redemption; 7. This life and next; Part III. Ethics: 8. Forgiveness and revenge; 9. The enigma of St John Rivers; Bibliography; Index.

This is the first full-length study of religion in the fiction of the Brontës. Drawing on extensive knowledge of the Anglican church in the nineteenth century, Marianne Thormählen's lucid and vigorous book shows how the Brontës' familiarity with the contemporary debates on doctrinal, ethical and ecclesiastical issues informs their novels.