3-057-421 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Volume 3 of the manuscript of "Shirley", c1849. "Shirley" was Charlotte Bronte's third novel. The chapter entitled, "The Valley of the Shadow of Death", was written in the wake of the loss of her brother Branwell and sisters Emily and Anne, who all died within two years of each other. Brontë creates a poignant opening paragraph: 'The future sometimes seems to sob a low warning of the events it is bringing us, like some gathering though yet remote storm, which, in tones of the wind, in flushings of the firmament, in clouds strangely torn, announces a blast strong to strew the sea with wrecks, or commissioned to bring in fog the yellow taint of pestilence, covering white Western isles with the poisoned exhalations of the East, dimming the lattices of English homes with the breath of Indian Plague. At other times this future bursts suddenly, as if a rock had rent, and in it a grave had opened, whence issues the body of one that slept; ere you are aware, you stand face to face with a shrouded [and unthought-of Calamity - a new Lazarus.]'.