The Postmistress, by Sarah Blake

Characters:

Iris James - Postmaster

Harry Vale – mechanic, nightly patrolled coastline for Germans

Frankie Bard – radio gal

Harriett Mendelsohn –Frankie’s roommate

Edward R. Murrow

Billy – 6 year old boy, mother killed by bomb

Jim Tom Winthrop

Maggie Winthrop – died in childbirth

For discussion:

1. Edward R. Murrow’s three questions for reporting the news were:  1) what is happening? 2) how does it affect Americans?  and 3) what does the Common Man say?  Do you think current news reporting is following these guidelines?  Why or why not?

2. Discuss Will Finch and how the events of his life affected his decisions.  For example, what effect did his father’s behavior during the bank crash and the death of Maggie in childbirth have on him?

3. Discuss Will’s death.  It was commonplace compared to other deaths caused by the war.  Why do you think the author had him die in such an undramatic way?

4. Frankie reported on some boys as heroes who, “…wept and picked themselves up and went on…”   How does this agree or disagree with your idea of a hero?

5. Frankie did not tell Emma about meeting Will or the letter.  Was this the right thing to do?  Why or why not?

6. Did you like the writing style?  Did you like the mix of real and fictional characters?

The Brontes: Charlotte Bronte and Her Family, by Rebecca Fraser

People
Rev. Patrick Bronte: born 1777 (fear of fire, did not allow house curtains) Wife Maria Branwell:  died 1821 Maria: died 1825 (model for Helen Burns) Elizabeth: died 1825 Charlotte: born 1816 Patrick Branwell Emily Anne: born 1820 Mrs. Gaskell: Charlotte’s biographer Miss Elizabeth Branwell:  Maria’s older sister, came to take care of Maria and stayed for rest of life
Timeline
1820	Moved to Haworth Rev. Bronte became Perpetual Curate
1824	Maria, Elizabeth and Charlotte went to Clergy Daughter School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire Carus Wilson - Director
1826	Branwell and Charlotte invented imaginary world of Glass Town (also called Angaria) Emily and Anne invented imaginary kingdom of Gondals
1831	Charlotte went to Roe Head School to prepare for occupation of governess Margaret Wooler – headmistress Mary Taylor – friend Ellen Nussey – friend
1835	Charlotte (age 19) asked to teach at Roe Head School with full tuition for Emily included Emily did not stay, went home and Anne came as student Branwell applied to Royal Academy of Arts in London – not accepted
1839	Henry Nussey proposed  to Charlotte– rejected (Charlotte was second choice in one day) Mr. Bryce – Irish clergyman – also proposed to Charlotte and rejected Charlotte took temporary governess post with Sidgwich family (children 6 ½ and 4) Willie Weightman hired as clerical assistant to Rev. Bronte
1841	Charlotte became governess to White family
1842	Charlotte and Emily to Brussels to the Pensionnat de Demoiselles Anne – return to governess post (will be governess for 5 ½ years total) Madame Heger Monsieur Heger – Charlotte’s feelings toward him are questionable but nothing confirmed, wrote him numerous letters over the years Deaths: Willie Weightman Martha Taylor Miss Branwell
1843	Anne – governess post Emily – stayed at home with father Charlotte – back to Brussels
1844	Rev. Bronte’s health poor - Charlotte and Emily back to Haworth Tried to start school at Haworth but no students enrolled
1845	Charlotte decided to stay at home to nurse father Arthur Bell Nicholls hired – curate from Ireland Anne and Branwell returned home mid June Branwell fired from tutoring position with Robinsons
1846	Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell published in May Branwell declined – receiving money from anonymous source – suspected romance with Mrs. Robinson The Professor (rejected), Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey (both published) sent to publishers Charlotte started to write Jane Eyre Rev. Bronte cataract surgery successful, able to resume pastoral duties
1847	Jane Eyre published October 16 William Smith William – first reader at publishing house George Smith – publisher
1848	Third edition Jane Eyre published Anne’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall published September 24 -  Branwell died December 19 - Emily died
1849	January 5 – confirmed that Anne had TB May 28 – Anne died October 26 Shirley published
1850	Identity of Currer Bell became known Charlotte met Elizabeth Glaskell
1851	Charlotte in poor health, traveled
1852	December 13 – Mr. Nicholls proposed
1853	Villette published
1854	Married Arthur Bell Nicholls
1855	March 31 – Charlotte died
1857	Mrs. Gaskell’s biography of Charlotte Bronte,  Life, published Charlotte’s The Professor published
1861	Patrick Bronte died Nicholls left ministry and moved to Ireland, became a farmer
1864	Nicholls married cousin
1906	Nicholls died