I tread the same cobblestones the Bronte sisters once trod. |
The Bronte sisters represent something of a conundrum to
me. For while I have seen TV and movie
adaptations of their work, I have never read their stories, novels, or
poetry. Yet watching an adaptation is
not the same as reading the story that inspired it. For even screenwriters and directors who
endeavor to make their productions as true to the original works as possible
cannot capture the magic that a writer creates when he or she puts pen to
paper. Viewing is not the same as
reading: they are two entirely different ways of interacting with Fiction. While I do not claim the superiority of one
medium over the other, neither can I ignore how differently the two interact
with my brain and resonate with my soul.
I find candy of more recent vintage. |
I have also heard, from those closest to me, that for
various reasons they have given up on reading the Bronte sisters’ novels. While this seems a shame to me, it is only
now, as the gray hair encroaches, that I feel truly prepared to read such
classic works. For decades, I have kept
hardcover editions of the classics my father suggested I should read. My family urged me, more than once, to get
rid of them so I could make way for all the other books I’ve collected. Yet, even if I knew I was not then ready to
read them, I nonetheless yearned to do so.
A Final Resting Place. |
Part of what drew me to Haworth was a desire to understand
the magical spell these sisters have woven.
For their Fiction brings so many people here each year. Walking through the city and surrounding
countryside, I sought a foothold or handgrip: something that would help pull me
into their worlds. Perhaps this coming
year will bring a concerted attempt to find the same truth and beauty in the
Brontes’ works that I look for in all the stories I read.
"Come in, come in, for the ultimate Bronte experience!" |
Others are not so demanding as I. In the Bronte Museum Gift Shop, I noticed
numerous illustrated children’s editions of their stories, along with beautiful
graphic novel adaptations. While I smile
at such offerings, and recognize that such items have their place, I held
myself back. For I want to experience Charlotte, Emily, and Anne's work first hand, to read their stories in their own words.
This blog entry will conclude with Paying Homage to the Brontes: Part 2.
Thanks for exploring with me,
Dragon Dave
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