A drunk. A drug addict. A wasted talent. These are often the words used to describe Branwell Brontë. But did you know that Branwell was a published poet long before his sisters?
Not many do. Branwell didn’t help himself (he rarely did) by publishing under a pseudonym: Northangerland. This name belonged to his favourite character from the stories he wrote with Charlotte as a boy, and he used it to sign off all but one of his poems.
Here’s a full list of the poems Branwell had published. You can click on the links to read some of them.
Heaven and Earth – 5th June 1841
On the Melbourne Ministry – 14th August 1841 (published under his initials P.B.B.)
On Landseer’s Painting – 28th April 1842 (published again with amendments 10th May 1845)
On the Callousness Produced by Cares – 7th May 1842
The Afghan War – 7th May 1842
On Peaceful Death and Painful Life – 14th May 1842
Caroline’s Prayer – 2nd June 1842
Song – 11th June 1842
An Epicurean’s Song – 9th July 1842
On Caroline – 14th July 1842
Noah’s Warning over Methuselah’s Grave – 25th August 1842
The Emmigrant – Two Sonnets – 7th June 1845
Black Comb – 10th May 1845
Real Rest – 8th November 1845
Penmaenmawr – 20th December 1845
Letter from a Father on Earth to His Child in Her Grave – 18th April 1846
The End of All – 5th June 1847
You can find all of Branwell’s published poems, as well as some of his unpublished works too, in The Life and Work of Branwell Brontë.
The story of Branwell Brontë has been plagued by misconceptions, lies, and misunderstandings for decades. This incredible new volume seeks to set the record straight.
Discover the truth behind the myths of Branwell’s life, decline, and death. Find out why he doomed himself to anonymity by writing under a different name. Read his work, alongside critical analysis that reveals him to be both the ‘Problem Poet’ and the ‘Byron of Haworth’. And read his letters, collected here for the first time.
Learn the forgotten truth behind the Brontë brother.
★★★★★ “I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the Bronte family and especially in the much maligned Branwell. It explains how some of the myths about him.”
★★★ “The book is very good indeed, and I think offers something for everyone. Certainly, Kelly's exploration of theological themes was very interesting, and has given me plenty to think about with my own work.”
★★★★★ “If you are interested in the Brontë writing family, then you must buy this book. It's interesting and informative.”
