Mothering and Wuthering: Maria and Emily Brontë

Part of Leeds Lit Fest 2026. See the full programme at https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/

Biographer and journalist Sharon Wright and award-winning poet Emma Conally-Barklem discuss their work, including the relationship between Emily Brontë and her mother Maria`s legacy.

Sharon's 'Mother of the Brontës: The Life of Maria Branwell' is the bestselling biography of the Cornish mother of genius and Emma's latest collection is 'The High Flight: 50 Poems Inspired by Emily Brontë's Hawk', published this spring.

With readings from their books and an audience Q&A.

Sharon Wright wrote the bestselling biography of Maria Branwell, mother of the Brontës. She writes for magazines and newspapers including The Guardian, The Times and Woman & Home and has appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Today. In 2024 she won a correction to the Brontë memorial in Westminster Abbey.

Emma Conally-Barklem is an author, poet, grief worker, workshop facilitator and yoga teacher based in Yorkshire. In 2023, she was New Northern Poet for Ilkley Literature Festival. Her chapbook collection 'The Ridings' was curated into an exhibition at South Square Gallery in her hometown, Bradford. 'Hymns from the Sisters' was written after a residency at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Emma won the Black in White Poetry Prize 2024. Her first novel, 'Yoga Homicide' was shortlisted for the 2025 Book Edit Writers' Prize. She featured in BBC 2's Robson Green's Weekend Escapes and is part of Marie Curie's ITV 'Legacies' TV advert. She was a core poet for the BBC's Contains Strong Language Poetry Festival 2025 as part of Bradford City of Culture 2025 and a guest on BBC Radio 4's flagship arts magazine Front Row discussing the Brontës and their lives. Emma won The Society of Young Publishers First Chapter Award 2025. 'The High Flight: 50 Poems Inspired by Emily Brontë's Hawk' is her first full collection.