Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855)
The oldest of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet. She was also a mentor to her sisters, Emily and Anne, who were celebrated writers in their own right. Charlotte, along with her sisters, published a poetry collection called Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell in 1846. After Emily and Anne's successive deaths in 1848 and 1849, respectively, Charlotte added their unpublished poems to this collection as parts of the second edition, which was printed in 1850.
Charlotte is often described to have been a shy, reserved woman. She took her role as a motherly figure to her siblings very seriously and was also a teacher to them. Her penchant for passionate romance and the workings of high society - in stark contrast to her nature - led her to write one of the most famous books of all time, Jane Eyre. It was her first novel to be published, followed by Shirley (1849) and Villette (1853) among others. Her juvenilia also made it to various publications over the years.
Charlotte's petite exterior belied her incisive intellect and expansive thoughts. Her unwavering confidence enabled her to turn her life experiences into an enduring repertoire of novels and poetry. Bold and confident in expression, Charlotte's literary works went on to be recognized as classics in English literature and remain so to this day.