Afterlives of the Brontës: An online, six-week course
How have the Brontës and their works survived into the ‘afterlife’?
This online course, led by Gothic literature expert Dr Sam Hirst, will explore different aspects of this question. We’ll examine the histories of publication and discovery, looking at the ‘afterlives’ of the Brontës in biographies and biopics – as well as claims of the Brontës’ afterlife return!
We'll also look at how the Brontës' novels have inspired whole genres, rewrites and reimaginings, novels that speak back to the Brontës both critically and admiringly, and transformative works. This course will also include a book discussion group (with the text to be chosen by the class from a shortlist) and will have an optional creative element, working on our own concepts for adaptation.
Sam Hirst completed their PhD on the Theology of the Early Gothic and since then has worked as a lecturer in Romanticism, Nineteenth Century literature and the Gothic at universities around the UK. They published their first book Theology in the Early British and Irish Gothic in 2023 and have run a number of courses for the Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Breakdown of each weekly session:
| Week 1. Afterlives and Curated Legacies | This week, we'll explore how the sisters' legacies were curated in the years after their deaths, including contemporary biographies, Charlotte's control over her sisters' legacies, and histories of publication. We'll also look at how their early work was collected and published and investigate some of the gems of the Parsonage juvenilia collection. We'll finish by exploring the 'literal' afterlives of the Brontës in the work of spiritualists claiming to have seen their spirits and even claiming to have received a whole novel from Charlotte! |
| Week 2. Brontë Heroes and Reimagined Romance | This week, we'll explored the lasting impact of the Brontës on romance, exploring, particularly, their influence on Gothic and historical romance. We'll look at the legacy of the Bronte heroes and heroines and how they changed the course of hero history. |
| Week 3. In Conversation with the Brontës | This week, we'll explore work which reimagine or 'speak back to' the Brontës. We'll think about works like Wide Sargasso Sea and Rebecca and look at how these works offer new readings of the Brontës. |
| Week 4. Transformative works | This week, we'll be exploring works which reimagine the Brontës' novels from children's editions to supernatural mash-ups, from graphic novels that explore the paracosmic worlds of their juvenilia to futuristic retellings and dinosaur romance! |
| Week 5. Adapting the Brontës | In this session, we'll explore the history of different adaptations of the Brontës' work to the stage and screen. This session will also include a creative opportunity to plan and imagine our own retelling. |
| Week 6. Book discussion group | We will decide as a group which book (discussed during the course) to read together. This session will include a led book group and extra critical resources for those interested in exploring different perspectives on a specific work. |
Please note, this ticket is only refundable if the event is cancelled, in which case we’ll contact you. We reserve the right to make changes to our programme. All information is correct at the time of booking.
