After years of delays, a memorial to the Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Emily, and Anne – at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey in London has finally received its accent marks. The memorial, which was unveiled in 1947, originally lacked the accent marks on the sisters’ names, sparking criticism and calls for the proper punctuation to be added.
The campaign to add the accents was led by author Claire Harman, who wrote a biography of Charlotte Brontë. Harman argued that the lack of accent marks on the sisters’ names was a sign of disrespect and erasure of their cultural heritage. She launched a petition in 2019 calling for the accents to be added, garnering over 1,000 signatures.
The Dean of Westminster, Dr. David Hoyle, supported the campaign and worked with Harman to have the accent marks added to the memorial. The work was completed recently, with the accent marks now properly displayed on the plaque honoring the Brontë sisters.
The Brontë sisters are celebrated for their contributions to English literature, with works such as “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë, “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë, and “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Brontë. Their novels continue to be read and studied around the world, inspiring generations of readers and writers.
The addition of the accent marks to the memorial at Poets’ Corner is seen as a fitting tribute to the Brontë sisters and a recognition of their enduring legacy in literature. The news has been welcomed by fans and scholars alike, who see it as a step towards greater recognition of the sisters’ cultural significance.
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