Walking The Invisible: A literary guide through the walks and nature of the Brontë sisters, authors of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, and their beloved Yorkshire

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Of course, then (although Michael and I are yet to meet in real life!), I was excited to read his latest (non-fiction) book, Walking the Invisible, which was published last year. Part memoir, part history book, part hiking guide, Walking the Invisible is hard to categorize. It’s a book born out of Stewart’s love of nature and the Brontës, and as much about our century as it is about the nineteenth. He doesn’t shy away from talking about the social challenges and changes facing many of the towns, big and small, the Brontës lived in, and moves between education, political commentary, and personal anecdote seamlessly. This is a literary study of both the social and natural history that has inspired writers and walkers, and the writings of a family that have touched readers for generations. Finally we get to understand the ‘wild, windy moors’ that Kate Bush sang about in ‘Wuthering Heights’, see the imposing halls that may have inspired Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre, and learn about Bramwell’s affair with a real life Mrs Robinson while treading the same landscapes. As well as describing in vivid detail the natural beauty of the moors and their surroundings, Walking the Invisiblealso encompasses the history of the north and the changing lives of those that have lived there. Wheeler, Olivia (30 December 2016). "To Walk Invisible viewers left annoyed over 'bad sound quality' ". OK! Magazine . Retrieved 4 January 2017. But one must approach this with a keen understanding that this saga is not as much about the titular Bronte Sisters as it is heavily devoted to the story of their troubled brother Bramwell, and the devastation he often imposed upon the family, the sacrifices they had to make on his behalf and the struggles they endured dealing with his addictions.

What comes in between the introduction of the book and this delightful appendix of maps, is a sprawling narrative, in which Stewart intersperses his personal wanderings along the various Brontë trails, with memories and asides, bits of Brontë biography, conjecture about characters in the novels, historial fact and analysis, and random anecdotes about the people he meets on his travels. It is a confusing, though lively approach, which might flummox any reader not as intimately connected with the local geography – and the lives of the Brontës – as Stewart is himself. A more conventional, contextual overview, both of the landscape and of the lives of the main protagonists, would have been helpful. But there is plenty here to delight and to intrigue. Thanks to HQ Stories for my proof copy of this book – and grovelling apologies for not having reviewed this earlier. As always, opinions are my own regardless of how I acquired the book. This is a love letter to the people and places of Brontë country, but at the same time a fascinating bottom-up social, historical and political commentary on the landscape that shaped the life and writings of all the Brontës. At the end of the book Stewart includes several walks inspired by each of the siblings. Ranging from an easy 4-mile loop around Thornton to a bracingly strenuous 14.5 mile romp across the moors, there’s something for everyone and come complete with well-illustrated maps and clear step-by-step instructions. The majority of the walks take in at least one of the Brontë Stones, as well as many of the other places said to have inspired the family’s writings.

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I’ve been captivated by the Brontës since I was a child, and have travelled all over the north of England in search of their lives and landscapes. Now, I’d like to invite you into the world as they would have seen it. This is a brilliant book which is both a discussion of the lives and legacies of the Bronte family and an exploration of the urban and natural settings that inspired them. When they return home Emily reveals that Branwell is deeply ill and has been vomiting blood. Branwell never recovers and eventually dies.

The physical locations are explored with links explained to the Brontës works such as ‘𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕠𝕗 ℕ𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕙 𝕃𝕖𝕖𝕤 ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕝, 𝔸𝕘𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝔸𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕥, 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕, 𝕨𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕡𝕒𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕞 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖.’ I love this connection to Jane Eyre and the inspiration for Thornfield Hall. Through the eyes of Stewart I saw Haworth, the pub Branwell frequented, the school Emily taught, and Ponden Kirk.Michael really knows his Bronte's, and better still he covers them all in this book. Bronte fans will get a chance to revisit passages of the some of the work, learn so much more about them as people and challenge perceptions too (the Jane Eyre queer theory section to mention but 1). Overall, I highly recommend Walking the Invisible. It would make a great gift for Brontë fans, and I can see this one flying off the shelves at the parsonage bookstore for years to come.

Another highlight of the book for me were the sections talking about areas that I am familar with – I loved the chapter on Mr Earnshaw’s walk to Liverpool (from ‘Wuthering Heights’) in particular as I know the city well and could picture some of the walk. This would be a great book if you are already familiar with Bronte country. In the United States, it aired on 26 March 2017 on PBS as part of Masterpiece Theater, under the title To Walk Invisible: The Brontë Sisters. [3] Title [ edit ]If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure about Walking the Invisible when it first landed on the doormat. Whilst I have a passing interest in literary lives, I wasn’t sure how much a part-memoir, part-biography, part-walking guide of the live of the Brontë family would resonate with someone who can only claim to have set foot in Yorkshire a handful of times and generally prefers my walking to be by way of a good tea room. The book is thoughtful and humorous and perfectly evokes the character and landscapes of the places described. The Brontes are discussed not in a detached, academic way, but through a number of walks covering large parts of the north of England in which their lives and works were rooted. For those who have read Michael Stewart's novel Ill Will, which re-imagines the story of Heathcliff, this book is its perfect non-fiction counterpart. Mangan, Lucy (30 December 2016). "To Walk Invisible review – a bleak and brilliant portrayal of the Brontë family". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 January 2017. I believe this is an impartial book (for the most part). However, Stewart does not like or agree with the book written about Charlotte Brontë by Elizabeth Gaskell. Stewart knows that many of the questions he raises have no answers. As he writes, ‘ Walking the Invisible is in some ways, about recording an absence. It’s about what happens when you attempt to walk in the footsteps of literary figures.’ He may have walked the same paths – the same earth – that they did, but nothing is the same at all, because time, and the world, has moved on. Despite the wealth of speculation that continues to surround the Brontës, they remain stubbornly unreachable. Even their own novels are wrapped up in mystery and intrigue. As Michael Stewart’s latest contribution to the ever-growing Brontë canon proves: they are a puzzle and a fascination that will simply never be solved.

Walking the Invisible is a must read for every book/literary enthusiast with a love of the great outdoors. It may help if you are familiar with the Brontës’ work but it can still be appreciated without this knowledge. The content is fascinating along with some very thought-provoking theories. It is accompanied by some interesting notes, poems, sketches and walking routes. The author clearly shows his depth of knowledge and has researched the subject in considerable depth. It may even tempt you to revisit the work of the Brontës and perhaps look upon it in a slightly different light. A fabulous book and I learnt so much. The drama was filmed mostly in Yorkshire with Haworth being used extensively during filming. [7] A replica of the Parsonage at Haworth was constructed on the moorland in Penistone Hill Country Park, just west of Haworth. This allowed external scenes to be filmed away from the real Parsonage in the village. The replica parsonage was also added to with other buildings and a street to make a small set of how Haworth looked at the time of the Brontës, with at least one local councillor pointing out that in their time, the Parsonage was not shaded by trees as it is now. [8] The programme also attracted numerous comments on social media, with many viewers expressing their displeasure about a fine performance ruined by what they felt to be the poor quality of the film's sound recording. [14] I read this to accompany a recent trip to Bronte country. Subtitled, 'Following in the Bronte's footsteps,' this is both a guide book, but also an inspirational read. Stewart states, 'I don't believe that anyone can really connect, can really understand, the Bronte's literary oeuvre without experiencing this uniquely bleak countryside.' Previously, I may not have agreed, but on my second trip to Bronte country, I think I know what the author means. It is beautiful, remote, bleak indeed. Rolling moors, no agriculture, just endless, unfolding moorland. BAFTA-winning writer Sally Wainwright, whose other credits include crime drama Happy Valley and comedy-drama Last Tango in Halifax, both set in Yorkshire, said she was "thrilled beyond measure" to have been asked by the BBC to "bring to life these three fascinating, talented, ingenious Yorkshire women". [6] Filming [ edit ]

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Walking The Invisible does not focus on a certain experience or memory for each of the Brontë family members. I consider this book to be a broad view touching on each of them. I’d absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the life, times and inspirations of the Brontes. This is so much more than a book about walking – and also so much more than a simple memoir or straightforward collection of literary criticism. Indeed, there is a lot to enjoy in this interesting and quirky book.