A BESTSELLING novelist is telling the story of Charlotte Brontë by contrasting minute details from her life in Haworth with the huge effect she had on the world.

Tracy Chevalier, the author who penned the bestselling novel Girl with a Pearl Earring, has teamed up with the Brontë Parsonage Museum to curate a new exhibition to mark Charlotte Brontë's bicentenary year.

She said: "I have always loved Charlotte’s work, and it has been a wonderful luxury while planning this show to get to know her life better.

"The place where she lived and worked, the clothes she wore, the objects surrounding her, all have a special magic that makes me feel as if Charlotte is just in the next room, nodding."

Charlotte Great and Small features tiny details of Charlotte's life, such as miniatures she drew and painted, tiny books she created and the child-size clothing she wore.

Contemporary art installations are also on display throughout the parsonage, with UK and international artists responding to the idea of the miniature.

This includes a small bed embroidered with words by and about the Brontës, as well as a knitted Jane Eyre.

The exhibition, which marks the beginning of the official bicentenary celebrations, began this weekend with talks by the curator.

Rebecca Yorke, of the Brontë Society, said: "After a short introductory talk by Tracy, guests were invited to explore the house and discover the contemporary artworks on display alongside the Brontë exhibits.

"Many were intrigued by the minute detail adorning Serena Partridge’s textiles and very much enjoyed making and unmaking Tamar Stone’s Brontë bed.

"The knitted Jane Eyre by Denise Salway, a.k.a. The Knitting Witch, was also a firm favourite."