Exploring the Irish heritage of the Brontës and the influence it had on their work"Has it ever been sufficiently recognized that Charlotte Brontë is first and foremost an Irish woman?" asked Mary Ward in 1899. The answer to this question, even in 2015, is no. This book tries to set the record straight by exploring the Irish heritage of the Brontës. Emily, in particular, seems to have had Irish concerns close to her heart. Based on new and extensive research, this revised edition traces their Irish heritage and suggests ways in which this is seen in the Bronte sisters' output.