Charlotte

Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web) Charlotte is the barn spider in E.B. White’s children’s classic of 1952, “Charlotte’s Web.” Beloved by children the world over since its publication, the book is a standard must-read. Charlotte saves Wilbur the Pig from slaughter for bacon by weaving praises about him into her web (“Some Pig”, “Terrific”, etc.), so that Wilbur becomes famous and ultimately takes the county fair prize as best pig. Children and adults alike are enchanted by this tale that effortlessly imparts big life truths about friendship, loyalty and even death.

Charlotte Haze (Lolita) Charlotte is the unfortunate mother of the title character of “Lolita,” the very controversial 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov. Charlotte rents a room in her house to Humbert Humbert, who promptly becomes obsessed with her 12 year old daughter, the nubile Lolita. Charlotte is at first blissfully unaware of his true affections, believing him to be interested in herself, until she reads the sordid truth in his diary. She may be said to represent conventional society as a whole, for upon this discovery, she runs out into the street in shock and is killed by an automobile.

Charlotte Lucas (Pride and Prejudice) Charlotte is main character Elizabeth Bennett’s best friend in Jane Austen’s famous Pride and Prejudice. A quiet and good young woman, she sets out to marry the pompous and rather ridiculous Mr. Collins (whom Elizabeth has spurned). She is not beautiful and she is twenty-seven years old – on the brink of permanent spinsterhood. Often rejected by modern day feminists as a mealy-mouthed dependent who settles for less than second best, she is in fact a strong, intelligent and far-seeing individualist who knows the score. As a woman of her day, her prospects are slim indeed, and only marriage can assure her a position of security and respect. She is clearly aware of the shortcomings of her husband, but she takes on the challenge with a clear eye and steady hand, and attains her goal: “I ask only a comfortable home.” She gives as good as she gets, cheerfully and determinedly, and if there were a sequel, no doubt we should find the Collins growing old together in comfortable obscurity.

Charlotte Palmer (Sense and Sensibility) Charlotte is a relatively minor character in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, a friend of the Misses Dashwoods. She seems to be all surface and superficiality, but is good hearted and kind nonetheless. She and her husband provide much levity in the novel, as he reacts to her innocent inanities with curmudgeonly humor, and she good-naturedly laughs him off. They are oddly suited to each other and share a genuine warmth in their relationship that is not always evident upon first reading.

Charlotte Sometimes - a song by The Cure

Charlotte Street - a song by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions

Charlotte the Harlot - a song by Iron Maiden

Dear Charlotte - a song by Craig's Brother

Frozen Charlotte - a song by Natalie Merchant

Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte - a song by Patti Page

Sweet Charlotte Ann - a song by Ian Corigan

Brave Charlotte (Anu Stohner) - Charlotte the sheep is anything but sheepish. She likes to climb trees and swim in fast-running rivers. Even the dog cannot keep up with her. The older sheep shake their heads in disapproval, but their opinions change when the shepherd breaks his leg and Charlotte is the only one brave enough to make the long journey to the farmer's house to get help. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Charlotte and The White Horse (Ruth Krauss) - Charlotte and the White Horse is about a girl who convinces her father to keep a wobbly legged horse so she can care for him until he can stand on his own. Recommended for ages baby to preschool.

Charlotte in New York (Joan MacPhail Knight) - Part of a series. It's 1894. Charlotte and her American family have been living in France for two years where her father has learned the new way of painting called Impressionism. Now her father's paintings are going to be featured in a show in New York and the whole family is going along. New York is a hustling, bustling city like no other in the world, and Charlotte records it all in her colorful journal. Recommended for ages 9-12.

Charlotte Sometimes (Penelope Farmer) - On her first morning at boarding school, a girl wakes up to strange new surroundings in this haunting fantasy. Recommended for ages 10-14.

Charlotte The Sunflower Fairy (Daisy Meadows) - Help save Fairyland's flowers! Every flower is bright and blossoming, thanks to the Petal Fairies! But when Jack Frost steals their magical petals, the fairies are in trouble. Flowers everywhere could disappear! Charlotte the Sunflower Fairy's petal is tough to find in a sea of sunflowers. But then things get even trickier -- the goblins are dressed up as sunflowers, too! Find the magical petal in each book and keep Fairyland in full bloom! Recommended for ages 4-8.

Charlotte's Web (E. B. White) - An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things. Recommended for ages 9-12.

ghostgirl (Tonya Hurley) - “Now I lay me down to sleep, / I pray the Lord my soul to keep. / And if I should die before I awake, / I pray the popular attend my wake.” Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she's dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn't stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal. If you thought high school was a matter of life or death, wait till you see just how true that is. In this satirical, yet heartfelt novel, Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at some times and the lengths we'll go to be seen. Recommended for ages 13+

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Avi) - On a long, grueling journey from England to Rhode Island in 1802, a 12 year old changes from a prim and proper girl to a swashbuckling mate of a mutinous crew and is accused of murder by the captain. Awash with shipboard activity, intense feelings, and a keen sense of time and place, the story is a throwback to good old-fashioned adventure yarns on the high seas. This is a Newbery Honor book. Recommended for ages 10-14.

Famous People Named Charlotte - Charlotte Brontë (English novelist); Charlotte Caffey (musician, formally with The Go-Go's); Charlotte "Lottie" Dod (tennis player); Charlotte Rae (actress); Charlotte Rampling (actress); Queen Charlotte (several European royal queens); Princess Charlotte (several European royal princesses)

Famous People who Named their Daughter Charlotte - Amy Brenneman (actress); Caroline Astor (heiress/socialite); Sarah Michelle Gellar (actress); Freddie Prinze Jr. (actor); Jill Goodacre (model); Harry Connick Jr. (musician); Henry Ford (businessman); Jane Birkin (singer); Pierce Brosnan (actor); Princess Caroline of Monaco (royalty); Rickie Lee Jones (musician); Sigourney Weaver (actress)

Charlotte Brontë (21 Apr 1816 - 31 Mar 1855) - Charlotte Brontë is best known as the author of the classic novel "Jane Eyre" published under the pseudonym Currer Bell in 1847. Her two sisters, Emily and Anne (aka Ellis and Acton Bell) also made massive contributions to English literature with Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, respectively. The character of Jane Eyre, who suffers childhood deprivations but maintains a strong and enduring dignity, is an integral part of our literary heritage, a timeless character to whom all good things come eventually. How this isolated, motherless daughter of a clergyman came up with the scenario and personages that illuminate the plot of Jane Eyre is almost unfathomable. Nonetheless, she did. And by the time she died, in 1855 at the age of 38, she had already lost her mother, four sisters and a brother, her marriage was less than a year old, and the child with whom she was pregnant died with her. Thank goodness for us she was able to manage what she did in that short, bedeviled life!

Queen Charlotte of England (19 May 1744 – 17 Nov 1818) - Charlotte was the wife of George III of England, dubbed “the mad king”. She lived from 1744 to 1818 and while enjoying some measure of respect as the namesake of Charlotte, North Carolina, unfortunately fares less well by her own adopted country. Largely overlooked, she has been the subject of recent speculation that she is of African origin. As a young princess in Germany, she was picked, sight unseen, to be the king’s consort. The couple had a solid marriage until his unfortunate descent, in 1788, into what was thought to be madness. They brought up 13 out of 15 children to adulthood. Charlotte was the grandmother of Queen Victoria. She was an accomplished botanist and helped to expand Kew Gardens. She was a patroness of the arts. She founded several orphanages and she was concerned for the general welfare and education of women. She saw to the comfort of her husband during his illness. However, the abiding notion is that she was “ugly” (Dickens wrote of her as the “queen with a plain face”) and had African forbears. So be it. In our opinion, that would give the current royal family a feather in its cap along with a little cachet – they should hope it is true.