Last night I attended the monthly meeting of my local writers group (ACFW-Minnesota). Everyone shared what they were working on or celebrating, we discussed plotting, and then we hung out and talked for an hour after the official meeting ended. It’s so satisfying to spend time with people who “get” you!
ACFW-MN friends
ACFW meeting. Photo by Gabrielle Meyer.
Then today, I stumbled across something I’d somehow missed before. I learned that two of my favorite 19th century authors were friends. I know I talk a lot a lot about Jane Austen, but I admire the work of Charlotte Brontë and Elizabeth Gaskell as well. They were both clergymen’s daughters, both went on to marry clergymen, and both were writers in Victorian England. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote one of my favorite novels/mini series, North and South (as well as Cranford and Wives and Daughters). Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre had a strong impact on me as a girl and no doubt influenced what I write today.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Charlotte Brontë
Mrs. Gaskell was acquainted with several authors. Guests to her home in Manchester, England, included Charles Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and others. We know that Charlotte Brontë stayed with the Gaskell’s at least three times. The two became close friends, although Charlotte was often shy around other people. On one occasion, Charlotte hid behind the Gaskell’s drawing room curtains because she was too shy to meet an unexpected visitor to the house. (Many writers are introverts, after all.)
When Charlotte died at the age of 38, her father asked Mrs. Gaskell to write her biography, and Elizabeth did so. The Life of Charlotte Brontë was published in 1857. The biography focuses more on Brontë as a woman than as a writer, perhaps evidence of how well Elizabeth knew Charlotte personally. Gaskell has been accused of idealizing her friend, but I think there’s something endearing about one novelist writing an affectionate biography of another.
“If we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must love our friends for their sakes rather than for our own.”
― Charlotte Brontë
These women knew what I have learned during the course of my writing journey: It is good to share life with like-minded friends.
Writing can be a solitary existence―in the past, and now. But friendship is the antidote. Learning about the relationship between these two women makes me realize how grateful I am to share this writing life with friends–the authors on this blog, all of you who read it, as well as others I have come to know online or in person. So, I’m sending you all hugs and thanks today!
Who are the friends you wouldn’t want to travel without through this life?
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Hugs (and thanks!) back at you, Julie. Wish I could have been at that meeting last night—even if you were talking about plotting, a subject about which I know nothing. 😉 But I agree about the wonderful friendships I have with other writers, and with readers. As an extrovert, I’d never survive as a writer without them!
Ha ha, Deb. I KNOW that’s not true! 🙂 Yes, I’m really enjoying getting together with local writers, and I also had a great time at the national conference this year. Do you have writer-friends near where you live?
I value our friendship, Julie. Wish we lived closer to each other!
I know, Lynn. I miss you,lady! Must figure out a way to get together soon.
That is an interesting post, Julie. It is amazing to find that there are connections between our favorite classic authors. I have always love Hans Christian Andersen. After I purchased my first Nook, I discovered that he was a contemporary of Dickens, as well. I surprised to discover that he actually “overstayed” his welcome, while visiting Dickens and his family. I had always thought that Andersen was earlier than Dickens and surprised to discover that he was not.
Hope you have a great day and are staying warm.
Wow–I had no idea about Hans Christian Andersen and Dickens either! I, too, would have guessed Andersen was earlier. Thanks for sharing that. And yes, a little warmer here today–20s. That’s tropical for Minnesota. 🙂
I’m not a writer but I love to read and blog with writers and consider them friends.
To answer your question, I would never want to walk through this life without Jesus. He is the first and most important friend to me. The Bible says he considers us as friends.
Next there’s my church family. Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Finally my husband of 46 years would be my best friend. Then I have 2 very good Christian friends. One is my Christian mentor. Friends make life a richer experience, don’t they?
Blessings
Shirley
Oh you’re so right, Shirley. I’m amazed to think that Jesus considers us friends. And so thankful! I’m also grateful for friends and my church–I really do consider them family.
Hi Julie, thanks for this fun post. I agree, sharing the journey with other writers is very special. I feel blessed to have a small local group. Those women have become good friends. Then there are a few who live farther away, but we have connected heart-to-heart and enjoy going away for writers’ retreats and on research trips. I treasure those time and friends. They make the journey so much more sweet!
Hi Carrie–I thought it was so neat that you were able to do a research trip together. Maybe someday! My local writers group is doing a retreat in May. I’m already looking forward to it. Glad you are blessed with many writer-friends, too!
Loved this, Julie – – and sending warm hugs to you from Georgia (not that we’re having *warm weather* by any means, LOL). 😉
I am still super close to my 4 very best friends from high school, and the five of us still get together as often as possible (even though we live in 2—and soon to be 3—different states). I cannot imagine my life without these “besties”! 🙂
Something I love about my favorite Christian fiction authors is that many of them have actually become friends and have
blessed my life beyond measure.
Thank you for sharing with us today – – and if you ever decide to move to Georgia I’d give you a BIG southern welcome!!
Hi Patti Jo, So happy for you that you still get together with your best friends from high school. I haven’t been as good about that as I’d like, though I do stay in touch with one via Facebook. Hope to see you again one of these days! Georgia is sounding pretty good right about now… 🙂
Julie, I didn’t know Charlotte and Elizabeth were friends. That’s so neat!
Who wouldn’t I want to share my life with? My family (parents and sis) and my friend Amanda. And of course my husband-to-be, but he isn’t here yet. Someday.
Blessings,
Andrea
Oh good, Andrea. I wasn’t sure if I was the last to know or not. I’d heard about the biography Elizabeth Gaskell wrote, but hadn’t read about their friendship. Pretty neat. Glad you are close with your family and Amanda. Hope Mr. Right (Mr. Darcy?) finds his way to your side soon. 🙂
Thanks, Julie! I’d take a Mr. Darcy, if he was the guy God intended for me. 🙂
What a lovely discovery, Julie. Charlotte Bronte is one of my all-time favorite authors. How wonderful to see how her life was blessed by another author. My writer friends are precious indeed. I’m especially blessed by this blogging group. Nothing is better than getting together at conference time and getting that face-to-face time with online friends. Makes the relationship that much more real.
That was a wonderful surprise today. A special “sigh” of knowledge. I loved Jane Eyre, too. Thanks for sharing that with us.
I have a few friends I would hate to live without. They are far away but we are true sisters in the Lord. What I don’t have are close writing friends which I know will come eventually but looking forward to that camaraderie I see in so many. I am not in a place that has Christian Writer’s groups.
I think I’ll go read a Charlotte Bronte book…I have 3 in my iBooks I haven’t read.
What a wonderful post. I love Charlotte Bronte’s works. I have enjoyed her works since it was required reading in high school. I am glad that my high school lit teacher introduced me to this author.
As for who I wouldn’t want travel this journey without, my first and obvious answer is my dear hubby of over 40 years. I have a friend that I call my sister-of-the-heart. I would hate to not have her in my life.
We all need friends! And its so great to have the support of those that are like minded. I scrapbook and I have a great group of friends that do it with me once a week at or church.
I do a bit of writing, and I love doing it with my National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) friends! We get together once a month for breakfast on a Saturday and we do writing challenges. Of course in November we support each other all month with online chats and we get together twice a week. My son also writes (19 years old) and we have lots of interesting conversations about writing.
People inspire me, and encourage me, and God works through them!
Benita