As a bold & gifted child Branwell Brontes promise seemed boundless to the three adoring sisters over whom his rule was complete. But as an adult the precocious flame of genius distorted & burned low. With neither the strength nor the resources to counter rejection unable to sell his paintings or publish his books Branwell became a spectre in the Bronte story in pathetic contrast with the astonishing achievements of his sisters. Daphne du Maurier concentrates all her biographers skill on the shadowy figure of Branwell Bronte & no reader could fail to be intensely moved by Branwells final retreat into laudanum alcohol
- & death