Branwell Brontë 'The Afghan War'
Poem published 7th May 1842 in the 'Leeds Intelligencer'
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Lucasta Miller referred to Mrs Gaskell's biography of Charlotte Brontë and the shaping of the Brontës's reputation in the following terms :
" The legend it laid down-three lonely sisters playing out their tragic destiny on top of a windswept moor with a mad misanthrope father and doomed brother". MILLER
Whilst in the guide to The Brontës, 'The Brontethaurus', John Sutherland stated
"My brilliant boy', Patrick (Brontë) called his only son Branwell. Brilliant, but doomed. Before terminally incapacitated by drink, drugs, self pity, and sexual incontinence".SUTHERLAND
Of course the overall Brontë 'legend' is open to a challenge. Just read Anne Brontë's Tenant of Wildfell Hall and its sophisticated but quite radical view of Christianity. Or Charlotte Brontë's Villette with so many French quotes, largely set in a Belgian town, suggests that the family were not nearly as insular as they have been portrayed.Moreover, the fact that they were aware of the publishing world and who to approach for help when striving to launch their own literary careers. Most likely from reading 'Blackwood's Gazette' which the family subscribed to . The notion that the Reverend Patrick Brontë was mad and/ or a misanthrope is fairly nonsensical. But finally on to Branwell, the 'doomed brother'.
Patrick Branwell Brontë (1817- 1848), is usually known as Branwell Brontë. He was the fourth child of six siblings, and the only son. His mother died in 1821, his two elder sisters Maria and Elizabeth died of tuberculosis in 1825. Branwell himself is most likely to have died from tuberculosis in 1848, though both his physical and mental health had deteriorated due to his addictions.
Branwell's use of opium and his excessive drinking is accepted as fact though at what stage in his short life that his vices became habits is hard to place. Certainly TV and film adaptations of the Brontës's lives have used his predicament to dramatic effect. Like so many addicts Branwell could be abusive and cruel to those they love most. GASKELL He was also incurring debts in order to fund his habits. Branwell's decline becomes almost part of the spectacle where history becomes entertainment. People feel that they 'know' Branwell, as a failed Lord Byron wannabe with all the indulgences but lacking in talent. His three sisters wrote novels that have become read all around the world for generations and even got some acclaim during their lifetimes. Branwell's literary career peaked with some local newspapers publishing his work, largely under another name ('Northangerland').
To add to the Branwell myth, the legendary horror writer Daphne Du Maurier's biography of Branwell ' The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë ' in 1960. To good reviews, and poor sales, in fact the least successful of all her works. The author herself suspected that the publisher -Victor Gollancz- was not interested in promoting the book. PICARDIE
Branwell is derided by some commentators for his self belief in his own talent as if this was some sort of fault, though his contribution to creating a literary environment at Haworth Parsonage which so inspired his three famous sisters tends to get underplayed. There appears to be no record of Branwell ever discouraging his sisters even though successful lady novelists were rare.
And Branwell was not without talents. He could play flute, piano and organ and became a professional portrait painter for a while.He could translate work from Greek and Latin. BARKER .Whilst a railway employee at Sowerby Bridge, then head clerk at the station house at Luddenden, opening out to the Calder Valley in 1841-2, Branwell appeared to associate a set of young people who enjoyed art and music. They included the sculptor Joseph Bentley Leyland, and the poet William Dearden. BARKER,DU MAURIER, along with the landscape painter John Wilson Anderson, and a local poet by the name of John Nicholson. CORRESPONDENTS There is speculation whether Branwell attended Franz Lizst's legendary performance in Halifax on 29th January 1841.
Branwell was a family tutor for around a year in 1840 in Broughton in Furness, Westmorland before being sacked. It is possible that he had an affair with a servant girl whom he got pregnant. From the start of 1843- 1845 Branwell became a tutor, looking after the son of the Robinson family, at Thorp House near York, whom already employed Anne Brontë. Branwell began an affair with his employer's wife Lydia Robinson. Anne left her employment as governess to the younger children, perhaps she had found about her brother's relationship. Whilst responsible for young Edmund Robinson in July 1845, Branwell was dismissed. It is possible that his affair with Lydia was discovered, Daphne Du Maurier hinted that some other reason was involved, citing a letter from Charlotte to her friend Ellen Nussey, describing that Mr Robinson has discovered (Branwell's) "proceedings which he characterised as bad beyond expression". Warranting instant dismissal and a ban on any communication with the family. DU MAURIER
It is highly like that Lydia instigated the relationship. Branwell was left heartbroken back at Haworth , especially when Lydia did not resume the relationship after Mr Robinson's death. But the failed relationship has taken its place in the Branwell myth as promoting his demise at the age of 31.
Branwell's poetry has received its' admirers KELLY though it is hard to find his work in any anthologies of Victorian Verse. It is worth remembering the Reverend Bronte would not send Branwell to school, but taught him at home. And a resulting lack of discipline and criticism did not help Branwell in his creative work. Looking at his novel And the Weary are at Rest ,(available in James T Kelly's collection cited below) and not published until 1924, one gets the feeling that the prose is raw material that needed to be bashed into some sort of shape.
Interest in Branwell as a poet is comparatively recent. DUCKETT Tom Winnifrith's Poems of Branwell Brontë was published in 1990. And in 2020 James T. Kelly's The Life and Work of Branwell Brontë appeared which is vital for anyone researching Branwell. One third biography,the rest consisting of Branwell's poems, a novella and letters. I am most grateful for this author's help in reproducing this poem below.
The background to 'The Afghan War' poem concerns the conflict now referred to as The First Anglo-Afghan War 1839-1842: British and Russian interests were on a collision course, particularly with Britain wanting to keep its hold on the Indian sub-continent. In December 1838 British and allied Indian forces invaded Afghanistan, supporting what we would now call 'regime change'. Initially successful a British -Indian garrison, with servants, families, was installed at Kabul. However, this force became increasingly unpopular, and resistance began. The garrison and its followers retreated on 6th January 1842, facing the impact of Winter, limited supplies and ammunition, attacked by numerous local Afghan forces who never accepted the British presence. Few survived death, or being held prisoner to be traded as hostages, or sold into slavery.
Branwell's poem combines patriotism, disturbed the suffering caused by war, and dark hints of retribution. He had no first hand knowledge of conflict, and it is not known if Branwell met and talked with war veterans. Any knowledge of the Afghan War may have been taken solely from West Yorshire newspapers.
Poem -'The Afghan War'
Rain showers shakes each window pane;
Still-if nought our household sunder-
We can smile at wind and rain.
Sickness shades a loved one's chamber;
Steps glide gently,to and fro;
Still-'mid woe, our hearts remember
We are there to soothe that woe.
Solemn tolls the funeral bell;-
And we fell, that no returning
Fate allows to such farewell;
Still, a holy hope shines o'er us.
We, wept by the one who died;
And 'neath earth,shall death restore us-
As round hearthstones-side by side.
Circle round the flickering light,
While December's howling weather
Ushers in a stormy night:
When each ear, scarce conscious, listens
To the outside winter's war,
When each trembling eye-lash glistens
As each thinks of one afar,-
Ceases story, song, and smile;
Thought asks-"Is the loved one lying
Cold, upon storm-beat isle?"
And, with death-when doubtings vanish,
When despair still hopes and fears;
Though our anguish toil may banish,
Rest brings unavailing tears.
Of thy funeral bells I hear,
Though thy dead a host are mourning,
Friends and kindred watch each bier.
But,alas Atlantic waters
Bear another sound from far!
Unknown woes-uncounted slaughters-
Unwept deaths -inglorious war!
Stand like it as thou has stood;
While a spring greets grove and meadow,
Let not winter freeze they blood.
'Till this hour St. George's standard
Led the advancing march of time.
England! Keep it streaming vanward;
Conqueror over age and clime. "
ENDS
First Picture Credit 'The Last Stand' -William Barnes Woollen (1898) (In the Public Domain courtesy of 'Wikipedia')
Credit for poem . Have taken the poem' The Afghan War' from the 'Life and Work of Branwell Brontë' by James T. Kelly with author's kind permission.
Second Picture Credit: 'Remnants of an Amy' by Lady Elizabeth Butler (1879) (In the Public Domain courtesy of 'Wikipedia'). Portrays William Brydon at the gates of Jalabad as the apparent sole survivor of the evacuated garrison and its followers from Kabul in 1842. Thank you to Jason from 'The Disappointed Man' Youtube channel for suggesting this picture.
NOTE
As always I am touched by all the visitors to this blog from around the world. Hope that you are staying safe during these crazy times.
Wish to point out that any errors and/or schoolboy howlers that appear in this post are my responsibility to own, and are not reflection on the works of writers that I have cited.
Taking a break from this blog until mid November 2024 .
Michael Bleak
Brighton
26th September 2024
Books
'The Brontës', Juliet BARKER, Abacus 1994, ( Second edition 2010)
'The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë', Daphne DU MAURIER, 1960, Virago Modern Classics edition, 2005 ( with introduction by Justine PICARDIE)
''The Life of Charlotte Brontë' , Elizabeth GASKELL (1857), Penguin Classics, 1975/1985
'The Life and Work of Branwell Brontë', James T. KELLY, Skerry Books Ltd. 2020
'The Brontë Myth'. Lucasta MILLER, Vintage Books 2002
'The Brontësaursus, An A-Z of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte (& Branwell ) " John SUTHERLAND,Icon Books, 2016
Recommended novel about Branwell Brontë
'Oblivion the Lost Diaries of Branwell Bronte' by Dean De La Motte, Valley Press, 2022.
Links
Bradford Local Studies 'Branwell Brontë's Published Poems', Bob DUCKETT
Bronte Babe Blog 'Branwell Brontë's Misery'.
Bronte Society Webpage on Branwell.
James T Kelly author website, 'The Poetry of Branwell Brontë ' James T KELLY (web)
Leeds University Library CORRESPONDENTS in the life of Branwell Brontë.
National Army Museum 'First Afghan War' webpage.
From this Blog
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
Related Blogs
A Burnt Ship 17th century war & literature.
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Picture Credit
'Cross at Sunset' Thomas Cole, unfinished painting 1848 , in public domain.
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