Charlotte Brontë's Love Letters to her "Master"
These love letters, though perhaps not of the type of passion exhibited these days, were certainly vivid enough. They made their recipient rip them up. And they made his wife sew them back together.
Charlotte Bronte as a young woman Photo: Mary Evans Picture Library / Alamy
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Charlotte Bronte's lost love letters revealed
Love letters which reveal Charlotte Brontë's infatuation with her Belgian professor are to be published.
The letters were sent by the Jane Eyre novelist to Professor Constantin Heger, an older man with a wife and children.
Heger tore them up in shock, but they were retrieved from a rubbish bin by his wife who sewed them back together and preserved them.
One, composed in French, reads: "If my master withdraws his friendship from me entirely, I shall be absolutely without hope."
Another, with a postscript written in English, reads: "I must say one word to you in English - I wish I would write to you more cheerful letters, for when I read this over, I find it to be somewhat gloomy - but forgive me my dear master - do not be irritated at my sadness - according to the words of the Bible: 'Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaketh', and truly I find it difficult to be cheerful so long as I think I shall never see you more."
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