Best known work

• Wuthering Heights, 1847

Genres

• Fiction - Novels
• Poetry

Nom de plume

Ellis Bell

Social class

Middle class

Parental background

Although their father was a clergyman and educated, the family were poor and largely home-educated. They were compelled to write for money.

At publication of best known work

• Age: 29
• Marital status: Unmarried
• Number of children: 0

Physical description

The tallest of the three sisters at 5'6''. Ellen Nussey wrote in a letter of July 1833 (her first stay at the Parsonage): "Emily was the tallest person in the house, except her father. Her hair, which was naturally as beautiful as Charlotte's, was in the same unbecoming tight curl and frizz, and there was the same want of complexion. She had very beautiful eyes – kind, kindling, liquid eyes; but she did not often look at you; she was too reserved. Their colour might be said to be dark grey, at other times dark blue, they varied so. She talked very little. She and Anne were like twins – inseparable companions, and in the very closest sympathy, which never had any interruption." (from The Brontës Life and Letters: Being an Attempt to Present a Full and Final Record of the Lives of the Three Sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë by Clement King Shorter).

Did you know?

Victorian society was of no interest to Emily. Having taken a fancy to the romantic, gigot sleeves of the 1830s - she wore them long after they’d gone out of style. On the other hand, she had no use for false embellishment. While attending Madame Heger’s school in Brussels, she was teased by the fashionable girls for not wearing a corset. Fellow pupil, Laetitia Wheelwright, recollected that Emily always answered their jokes with, “I wish to be as God made me.”

Additional information

The British Library has a very short introductory bio with more detailed information available via The Victorian Web. A family tree is available.