THE ‘WOMAN Question’ attracted Brontë scholars and literature enthusiasts from around the world to Manchester to mark Jane Eyre author Charlotte’s 200th anniversary.

Speakers presented a variety of papers on the position of women in the mid-19th century including feminist author and keynote speaker Germaine Greer.

The ‘Woman Question’ was a hot topic in the mid-1800s when the Brontë sisters were writing their famous novels.

Speakers explored Charlotte’s response to the issue in her own writing during the conference at the Midland Hotel last month.

Kitty Wright, executive director of the Brontë Society, said the successful conference attracted 120 Brontë scholars and literature enthusiasts from around the globe.

She said: “Delegates heard papers on a fascinating range of topics including Charlotte’s early writing, her time in Brussels and a bold and slightly controversial interpretation of Jane Eyre by Germaine Greer.

“It was a very stimulating weekend and we are already looking ahead to our conference in 2018 to celebrate Emily’s bicentenary.”

The event also saw the launch of a new book published by the Brontë Society to mark the bicentenary, entitled Celebrating Charlotte Brontë and written by Christine Alexander and Sara L Pearson.

The book can be bought from the Brontë Parsonage Museum shop in Haworth.

The Brontë Parsonage Museum will host a talk entitled Charlotte And The Woman Question on Tuesday (September 6) at 2pm. The talk is free with admission to the museum.

There will be further 2pm talks at the museum to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charlotte Brontë, focusing on Charlotte’s relationship with her father Patrick (October 4), early responses to Charlotte’s published writing (November 1), and the changing perceptions of Charlotte since her death (December 6).

Visit no Brontë.org.uk/what’s-on for further information about all Charlotte Brontë centennial events.