Mary Taylor, Friend of Charlotte Brontë

Edited by Joan Stevens (1908 - 1990, former Professor of English at Victoria University), this collection of letters with historic commentary details the relationship between the early Wellington settler & entrepreneur, Mary Taylor, and her close friend and confidant, the novelist Charlotte Brontë. Mary's letters give a fascinating insight into early colonial life in Wellington from the mid-1840s through the end of the 1850s from a female perspective.

Note that while Mary & Charlotte's correspondence are in the public domain and it has been over 50 years since this out-of-print book was published, the commentary which Joan Stevens provided remains in copyright.  Stevens left no heirs and despite our efforts we have been unable to ascertain to whom copyright may have passed to receive clearance to digitise this work. We hope anyone who holds rights to Stevens' published work understands that this digitisation has been done on a non-commercial basis to help make Mary Taylor's remarkable story and her connections to Wellington & Charlotte Brontë better known. Please contact us at Wellington City Libraries if you know of anyone who may be able to formalise copyright clearance for Joan Stevens' commentary about Taylor and Brontë.  

Preface

Part 1 : Yorkshire

Part 2 : Brussels & Germany Yorkshire

Part 3 : New Zealand

Part 4 : Aftermath

Appendix A : Genealogical Tables

Appendix B : Taylor's letters to Mrs Gaskell about Charlotte Brontë

Appendix C : Martha Taylor to Ellen Nussey

Appendix D : The identity of the Chateau de Koekelberg

Appendix E : Charlotte Bronté’s letter to Mary Taylor, 4/09/1848

Bibliography

Index