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Villette
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Villette

novel by Brontë
Written and fact-checked by
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

Villette, novel by Charlotte BrontĂ«, published in three volumes in 1853. Based on Brontë’s own experiences in Brussels (the “Villette” of the title), this tale of a poor young woman’s emotional trial-by-fire while teaching in a girl’s school in Belgium is one of the author’s most complex books, a fine example of psychological realism laced with Gothic romance. Depressed by the oppressive atmosphere of the school and unable to find an outlet for her turbulent emotions, Lucy Snowe suffers an inevitable nervous breakdown. The fiery Paul Emanuel, another teacher in the school, proves to be her saviour when he recognizes her passionate nature in spite of the many barriers she has erected to hide it.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.