It seems likely that most readers have at least heard of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and her sister Emily’s Wuthering Heights. Many also know that Charlotte and Emily had two other talented siblings who grew to adulthood: Anne, author of the novel Agnes Grey, and the only male heir, Branwell—whose early promise evaporated in a haze of alcohol and opiates. Still, it seems likely that Branwell’s affair with his employer—Lydia Robinson, a wealthy, married woman eighteen years older than he—has received far less attention. This affair, the exact parameters of which have not been determined, is the subject of Finola Austin’s lovely debut novel, Brontë’s Mistress (Atria Books, 2020).

Although advantaged in many ways, Lydia has many reasons for complaint when we meet her. Her mother has just died, and her father suffers from senility. At forty-three, she fears the effects of approaching middle age on her beauty and her ability to bear children, the things that have defined and given value to her life. She worries about her daughters’ futures while fending off the encroachments of her mother-in-law. She still mourns the unexpected death of her fifth child, two years before the novel begins. And the loss of that youngest daughter has irreparably damaged Lydia’s long and once-satisfying relationship with her husband, Edmund, who neither offers comfort to nor accepts overtures from her.

So when the Robinsons’ governess, Anne Brontë, recommends her brother, Branwell, for the position of tutor to Lydia’s only son, it is perhaps not surprising that Lydia’s initial attempts to keep a proper distance soon evaporate in the face of the attraction she feels for this Byronic young man who pays her compliments, shares his poetry and his art, and listens to her woes. As Finola Austin notes in our interview, Branwell “sees” Lydia, and the consequences of that instinctive emotional connection drive the action of this psychologically sophisticated and always engrossing novel.

My interview with the author will appear on New Books in Historical Fiction and be referenced on GoodReads and my blog sometime in December 2020.

Written in the vein of beloved favorites like Jennifer Chiaverini’s MRS. LINCOLN’S DRESSMAKER and recent releases like Gill Hornby’s MISS AUSTEN, BRONTË’S MISTRESS is a seductive and alluring novel of passion and literature from newcomer Finola Austin.

The year is 1843, and Lydia Robinson --- wife, mother and mistress of Thorp Green Hall --- is feeling her life slipping through her fingers. She has lost her mother and beloved youngest daughter, her husband no longer visits her bedchambers, and she has discovered that her children’s governess, Anne Brontë (yes, that Brontë), finds her cold and condescending. Feeling stifled under the watchful gaze of her hateful mother-in-law and scorned by her rebellious daughters’ tempestuous moods, Lydia retreats further into herself at a time when she longs for so much more. For years she has dreamed of resuming a glorious married life after finally producing a male heir and becoming somewhat of a role model to the young women she employs, but grief, loneliness and pain have taken everything from her. Although she is still beautiful and adept at entertaining and hostessing, her life has lost its luster, and she has grown restless as a result.

One day, Lydia catches sight of her children playing in the yard with a young man, her son’s new tutor, Branwell Brontë. At 25, he is 18 years her junior, but she cannot ignore the allure of his youthful head of reddish curls and his dreamy, impassioned way of approaching life and its conundrums. But even more intoxicating is the way he returns her attention. He does not see a grieving, fanciful widow, a disappointing daughter-in-law, or a cold and hawkish employer. Instead, he sees a gorgeous woman coming into her prime sexually --- and, inviting her into the world of poetry and music, he encourages her to see the same.

At the same time, Branwell is battling his own insecurities. His sisters are seemingly far more talented than he will ever be, and his darkest demons always seem to find him at the bottom of a bottle. Drawn in even further by the mystery of the Brontës, especially gifted Charlotte and wild Emily, Lydia soon finds herself giving in to Branwell’s heady mix of youth, passion and freedom from social inhibitions. But with Lydia’s husband ignoring the truth, the two lovers grow far too comfortable in their dalliances, resulting in an explosive and far-reaching end to a flaming, passionate love too quickly burned out.

The Brontës have delighted readers for years with their classic works and even more fascinating family life. While much is known about Charlotte and Emily, Branwell has largely avoided the same historical notoriety. When he is mentioned as a side note, he is often presented as a bit of a rogue, a hapless young man with a penchant for the drink. Although Austin stays true to history, the Branwell of BRONTË’S MISTRESS is layered and complicated, and as misunderstood as he is reckless. Fueled by his endless search for love and acceptance, he enters into a doomed relationship set against the backdrop of an austere society heavily guided by strict morals.

But even more interesting is Lydia, who, as written by Austin, is bursting with potential --- for love, family and sexual passion --- but has been delegated by life to follow her husband’s lead, ensure good matches for her children, and deny herself her own happiness for the good of the family. Still, she maintains a steadfast hold on her own dignity, resulting in a powerhouse of a woman who makes for a stellar protagonist, especially when combined with a famous family.

An unconventional coupling is always dishy and scandalous, but for me, the highlight of Lydia and Branwell’s poorly planned affair is the uncoupling. As Branwell grows more enamored and erratic in his passion, Lydia --- who was so swiftly and easily swept off her feet by the young man --- begins to lose her ability to see him through rose-colored glasses. Where she once saw passion, she now sees impetuousness; where once there was endless conversation, there is now the gaping silence of a young man unable to truly listen or empathize. It is easy to imagine a love affair between two lonely, desperate people, but Austin proves that she can do so much more when she effectively breaks off their relationship, tracking the repercussions through the rest of their lives and the lives of their families.

BRONTË’S MISTRESS is beautifully written, seductive in its tone even when the more amorous scenes are pages behind you. Austin weighs out the chemistry between Branwell and Lydia just as deftly as she weaves in historical tidbits about his more famous sisters. The result is a truly intoxicating combination of literary mystery and passionate love affair that will appeal not only to Brontë fans and scholars, but to historical fiction and romance lovers alike. Whether or not you were already familiar with Lydia Robinson prior to reading this novel, you are sure to be swept away by Austin’s dazzling prose and creative imagining of the truth behind Branwell’s spectacular downfall --- and his mistress’s role in it.

I can only review a book as I come to it, and as a person with a degree in English literature I have to tell you, I geeked out hard reading this. The plot and characters parallel multiple Bronte stories while telling the feminist perspective of a possible historic affair.
It’s freaking amazing and the narration was spot on. I was lost in the characters and setting.
Piece of advice, the authors note is a must read because Finola Austin gives the reader some mind blowing perspective. Just awesome.

#Author Finola Austin has a wonderful new novel. My blog on Instagram #Maddie_approves_book_reviews has a review. Please take a look.🌼💜💛💜🌼 After all #Bronte's Mistress is a novel that the publisher might even send copies if I can get enough views.😉🐾🐾
Thank you,
#Netgalley, #Finola Austin and #Atria Publishing 💜🐾🐾🐾

For fans of the Bronte sisters this will be a delightful view into their family and the events that quite possibly inspired some of their novels. It’s the story of the rumored affair between the Bronte brother and his older, married employer, Lydia. Much of the story is from Lydia’s point of view and while she’s not always likable she is sympathetic. The author very cleverly illustrates how confining society was for women. Such themes resonate in the novels of the Bronte sisters. I wish that I had taken the time to read (Or re-read) some of the Bronte novels before I read “Bronte’s Mistress” as I think it would have enhanced my enjoyment of this book. I’m inspired to read them now!

Finola Austin’s “Bronte’s Mistress” is a page-turning read full of passion and fire. The life stories of the famous Bronte siblings, Charlotte, Emily, Branwell, and Anne, have been chronicled in depth by countless biographers, and now and then in works of fiction. But an important aspect of Branwell Bronte’s life—his life-altering, doomed love affair with the infamous Mrs. Robinson, an older woman whose son he was tutoring—has never been examined in such depth before, and makes a tantalizing read.

Many historians view Lydia Robinson a predatory woman who took advantage of Branwell’s youth and innocence to satisfy her lust, with no concern for his heart and feelings. In my own novel, “The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte” (Avon books), the story of Charlotte’s life and journey as an author, and her relationships with her siblings and the two men she loved, I shared a similar view of Mrs. Robinson. I was worried, when I began Austin’s novel, that she would try to redeem Lydia Robinson—and I'm glad that she did not.

Austin’s novel is incredibly well researched, sticks to the facts of the true story almost religiously (with a few interesting additions), and thoughtfully and vibrantly imagines the rest, bringing Mrs. Robinson (and Branwell) to life as never before. She dares to give us a main character as flawed as Jane Austen’s Lady Susan and Margaret Mitchell’s Scarlett O’Hara—a real, hot-blooded woman who has desires and passions and isn’t afraid to act on them. And yet, while we can’t, in the end, like Mrs. Robinson (nor should we), from the first moment that we become privy to her private thoughts and personal anguish, we come to understand her wants and needs, and we sympathize with her lot in life. It wasn’t easy to be a woman in Victorian England, and being rich didn’t guarantee happiness—you were still a prisoner in a gilded cage.

The author’s beautiful language, lyrical descriptions, and deep, thoughtful characterizations will sweep you away to another time and place, and make you feel as though you’ve walked in Lydia Robinson’s shoes and lived her life. Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction and women’s fiction.

i really liked this historical novel, the character were great and I really loved the characters in this novel. It was interesting to read and I really enjoyed the time period.

Bronte's Mistress tells the story of a hidden manuscript that is found which details an illicit affair between the Bronte sister's brother and a married woman. This piece of historical fiction gives you a look inside the Bronte family from a different perspective than you might have read before. I found it a good read and would recommend it to all Bronte fans.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

In Brontë’s Mistress, author Finola Austin, aka the Secret Victorianist, takes the gossip surrounding Branwell Brontë’s affair with the older, married Lydia Robinson, and develops a complex and compelling tale that gives Lydia a voice. The novel opens (deliciously) with the discovery in a Yorkshire school’s “storage room” of a manuscript written by Lydia that describes her scandalous relationship with Branwell, the ne’er do well brother of novelists Charlotte, Emily, and Anne—all of whom would certainly have blushed to read this account of their illicit romance.

Bronte’s Mistress tells the story of Branwell Bronte, the lesser-known brother of the famed Bronte sisters. This tale weaves the story of the affair between a married forty-three year old woman, Lydia Robinson, and her young son’s twenty-five year old tutor, Branwell Bronte. Their torrid affair ignites a passion inside Lydia, who was stuck in a lackluster marriage and the confines of being a respectable member of the community.

It is apparent that Austin thoroughly researched the story of the Bronte family before undertaking writing this novel. Her take on these historic figures offers some insight into what could have been. The story Austin weaves paints a vivid picture of life in 18th century England where propriety and reputation ruled.

Bronte's Mistress was a historical fiction novel about a forbidden affair. This novel was interesting and passionate. Thank you NetGalley for the e-reader for my review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Everyone knows the Bronte sisters/authors but this story is about the Bronte brother, a young, handsome, aspiring poet , who becomes a Tudor for a well off (ish) family, the Robinsons. Lydia, the mother, is feeling underwhelmed by her life which is filled with a family of daughters, a loss of a baby daughter, and a 25 year marriage that has become stale. She feels unloved, unappreciated, and completely bored..until a spark that can’t be stopped unravels with Bronte.
“I should go back and hide under my sheets, resolve to set aside my foolish cravings, and not condescend to speak to Branwell again. But then the weight of my loneliness would suffocate me as it had before I’d known him.”
This book has moments of intrigue, moments of vulnerability, moments of what good be a great read but falls short. Slow going, characters that don’t fully develop or engage the reader (and actually can be a tad annoying!), and a predictably that never goes away. However, if you are a deep Bronte lover, like I am, then this is a book that will give you another side to their families story, a side that isn’t often told, a glimpse into the brother that often isn’t talked about. Plus you get an old fashioned, steamy, poetic love tryst.
“...but I believe that some of us have souls that are ageless, timeless, and when two such souls meet—” He faltered and blushed. “Have you never felt that there is, or ought to be, something of you beyond you? And if you found that, well, the sheer force of it would wipe all other considerations aside, right every wrong?”

Confession: I never liked "Jane Eyre." I didn't read "Agnes Grey" either.  I DID enjoy "Wuthering Heights"... when I was in high school. Which for me was enough reason to NOT like "Bronte's Mistress." Instead I was pleasantly surprised.

Lydia Robinson has recently lost her mother and her youngest child. Her remaining three daughters would rather be around their governess, Anne Bronte. Her husband has given her the cold shoulder and no matter how she tries to get some love and affection out of him, he just doesn't show any interest in her. Her son's new tutor though... well, Mr. Bronte is tall, dark, and sexy.

For the most part, I knew how THAT was going to end. As a teenager, I would have hated this book. Adulteress mother fancying a much younger man, younger man that's too passionate for his own good, and a horrible family life? There doesn't seem to be much that it has going for it with that kind of summary. But I loved the glimpse into Lydia's life. Her emotions, her disappointments, her 19th century lifestyle, her feelings of superiority that she often can't get past. It's complex, it is interesting, and it's a wonderful read. Author Finola Austin did exactly what I think should be done in a historical fiction: she brought historical people to life in a realistic way that was interesting but not over the top. She obviously has done a lot of research and I'm sure that there are a lot of easter eggs in this book for fans of the Bronte sisters.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful debut novel. Based on the alleged affair between Branwell Bronte (sister to the famous Charlotte, Emily and Anne) and his employer Lydia Robinson. Lydia Robinson is grieving the loss of her mother and youngest daughter and feels that her husband has abandoned her emotionally. Hired by Lydia's husband as a tutor for their son,.Branwell soon begins to work his way into the mind and emotions of Lydia. Lydia is drawn to the romantic and tragic aura that surrounds Branwell, and the two soon become involved in a passionate liaison, risking Lydia's marriage, Branwell's precarious sanity, and livelihood as well as the fate of his sisters.

This is an moody and intriguing work of biographical fiction. With well drawn characters and a wonderful sense of the time and place, as well as the social structure of the time period it will appeal to fans of the Bronte's as well as fans of the Victorian time period.

Just as the synopsis promises, Bronte’s Mistress was a highly seductive debut!

I love historical fiction and so I read quite my fair share of this genre, but I always love when I find something new to me.

This is one of my favorite for this genre so far this year and I highly recommend this to those looking for something new.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for the free copy. All opinions are my own

I really enjoyed featuring this debut novel on my Bookstagram, and the "drama" surrounding the Bronte family was really fascinating to me. I have never heard of this intriguing story, and although I realize Austin used alot of her imagination to elaborate and fabricate this story, it made for a fun, interesting, engaging read. Thank you for allowing me to review it!

Author Finola Austin was studying for her master’s in nineteenth-century literature when she came upon Charlotte Bronte’s biography cited multiple times, piquing her curiosity regarding the Bronte family. She spent two years meticulously researching her beautifully written first novel.

Lydia was not a kind woman and I so disliked her. Vain, bossy, unkind to her staff, I could understand why her husband Edmond was not enthusiastic being in her presence. Austin has penned an interesting portrayal of Branwell Bronte, his scandalous love affair with Mrs. Lydia Robinson and the atmospheric Victorian era.

This is a must read if you love the Victorian era. I found this book hauntingly good. It is not a happily ever after but a raw and honest story of a mature woman trying to find her way through life.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria publishing for the advance copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I likely read some of the Bronte sisters’ works in high school and college, but dismissed them as old fashioned. In more recent years, I have grown fond of classic authors like Jane Austen and have wanted to revisit the Brontes. I hadn’t realized they have such a storied pasts themselves!

Bronte’s Mistress is a work of historical fiction based on an affair that Branwell Bronte, brother to the famous sisters, had with a married woman. The author reimagined the relationship and told a rich story that revolved primarily around the life of the mistress, Lydia Robinson.

Lydia was not a lovable character. She was abusive and dismissive toward her children and servants. Similarly, Lydia was also verbally assaulted by her mother in law, and her husband was completely withholding of all love and affection after suffering a family tragedy. Lydia’s motives always seemed selfish, but her behavior only seemed to backfire and lead her to more trouble and heartache.

Bronte’s Mistress shared fascinating details about the Bronte sisters. My curiosity is sufficiently piqued! I will be reading some Bronte works in short order.

The author told a beautiful story that was immersive and well-paced. I am certain it will be well-received by those interested in Bronte, as well as those who enjoy historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for access to this e-book in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed it!

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I went into reading this novel with no knowledge of Bronte’s family history. I was not aware of the affair between Branwell and Lydia or the quick demise of the Bronte’s siblings. However, after reading Bronte’s Mistress, I am now caught up with their history and I have a better understanding of what happened to them.

This novel is a character driven story written in a captivating style, which allowed me to transport into the Victorian countryside and enjoy its many exquisite landscapes. This book explores gender inequality and paints women as temptresses and men as the unknowing victims of women’s clever ways of seduction and although I found most of the characters flawed and quite irritating at times, I still rooted for them all and wanted them to have their perfect ending.

I recommend this book to all historical fiction fans especially if they want to know more about the Bronte’s family history.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.