Charlotte Brontë was born in 1816 as the third of six children to Patrick Brontë, an Anglican clergyman, and his wife Maria Branwell Brontë. After their mother's passing in 1821, Charlotte and her sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, were sent to Cowan Bridge Clergy Daughters' School, which would later serve as the inspiration for the brutal Lowood school in Charlotte's novel "Jane Eyre".
Conditions at the school were so harsh that both Maria and Elizabeth contracted consumption, a form of tuberculosis, which ultimately claimed their lives in 1825. Charlotte was deeply affected by the loss of her sisters and would go on to develop a strong bond with her remaining siblings, Anne Brontë, Branwell, and Emily Brontë.
The Brontë siblings were known for their vivid imaginations, and they spent much of their childhood creating elaborate make-believe kingdoms, including Angria and Gondal. This creative outlet also led to a passion for writing poetry and stories, with the sisters publishing a collection of their poetry, "Poems", in 1846.
Charlotte's most famous work, "Jane Eyre", was published in 1847 under the male pseudonym Currer Bell. The novel tells the story of a young woman's journey to independence and love, and it has since become a classic of English literature. Tragedy struck Charlotte's family once again in 1848, when her brother Branwell and sister Emily both passed away due to their struggles with addiction and illness, respectively.
Anne, the youngest of the Brontë sisters, succumbed to consumption in 1849, leaving Charlotte alone. She was devastated by the loss of her siblings and became a lifelong hypochondriac. Despite her grief, Charlotte continued to write and eventually made the acquaintance of William Makepeace Thackeray, a renowned author and critic.
In 1854, Charlotte married Reverend A. B. Nicholls, the curate of Haworth, against her father's wishes. However, her marriage was short-lived, as she became pregnant not long after and struggled with poor health. Charlotte died on March 31, 1855, at the age of 38, leaving behind a legacy of beloved literature and a family torn apart by tragedy.
