First published in 1908, this two-volume collection was prepared by journalist, critic and Brontë enthusiast Clement King Shorter (1857–1926), following the appearance of Charlotte Brontë and her Circle (1896) and Charlotte Brontë and her Sisters (1905). Building on the research of Elizabeth Gaskell, the volumes document through correspondence the remarkable lives and literary careers of Charlotte (1816–55), Emily (1818–48) and Anne (1820–49). The use of previously unpublished manuscripts and letters served to broaden significantly the scope of the work. Volume 1 covers the family's background, the sisters' experiences at Cowan Bridge and Howarth, and the development of their literary talents. The volume concludes with the death of Branwell Brontë in 1848. Presenting a wealth of source material, this collection remains a treasure trove for those seeking to understand how classics of English literature came to be shaped by the world their authors inhabited.