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Brenda was created by Herr Frankenstein to be the bride of his monster. (PROSE: Brenda Has Risen from the Grave)
Brenda was built up of various human bits and pieces that had been stitched together. Although she had a long life, Brenda didn't possess a good memory and thus had trouble remembering much beyond her recent history. (PROSE: Fellowship of Ink) Over the years she claimed to have been a grave robber, a vagabond, a woman of ill repute, a warrior, a witch, a handmaiden to a Queen, a Sorcereer's assistant, and a lady pirate. (AUDIO: Brenda Has Risen from the Grave)
Brenda had many acquaintences over the years including; the elephant man Joseph Merrick, (PROSE: Fellowship of Ink, AUDIO: Brenda Has Risen from the Grave), Professor Henry Cleavis, (PROSE: Fellowship of Ink, et al.) and most notably Effie Jacobs. (PROSE: Talented Witches, et al.)
History
In 1868, Brenda was working as a maid at Beatrice Mapp's house at Tavistock Square in London. When the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa held a Block Transfer Computation seance there in an attempt to summon the TARDIS, Brenda sat between the Doctor and Quandry and repeated "1010". The seance resulted in the Doctor, Nyssa, Mapp, and Rupert Von Thal being transported to Adric's kingdom in the distant past, leaving Brenda alone to take care of the house. Brenda was overjoyed when Mapp returned six weeks later. As Brenda was bringing Adric tea, she heard him using Block Transfer Computations to transport himself to Thomas Brewster. She informed the Doctor, Nyssa, and Mapp of Adric's disappearance in time for them to come to Adric's room and witness his death. (AUDIO: The Boy That Time Forgot)
In the 1890s, Brenda performed in Diodati's Circus as "The Discombobulated Lady". Each night, she would pull herself to pieces in front of a live audience to the rhythm of a "sensuous dance". When the Circus visited Paris, Brenda had an adventure involving hunchbacks, Phantoms, and undead in the catacombs. She ran away form the circus with Joseph Merrick while they were touring in northern England.
In the 1930s, Brenda was Reginald Tyler's maid in Darkholmes. She helped Tyler and Henry Cleavis during the hubbub that arose when the Very Fabric of Time and Space wore a bit thin. (PROSE: Fellowship of Ink)
On May Day 1972, Brenda went to Iris Wildthyme's party at Hobbe's End with Effie. (PROSE: From Wildthyme with Love)
On the 12th of December, 2009, Brenda sent out a letter to the readers of the book series about herself and Effie, which were penned by Paul Magrs. (PROSE: Brenda's B&B)
Other information
While dealing with a supernatural yellow bottle from the far future, Iris Wildthyme considered getting the help of Brenda and Effie. (PROSE: The Shape of Things)
Behind the scenes
Brenda originates from Paul Magrs' 1998 short story "Never the Bride", written for BBC Radio 4's Afternoon Reading. She features in the six book series Brenda and Effie. (A prose adaptation of this story would be released in the Twelve Stories anthology.) Brenda is the bride of Frankenstein's monster who runs a bed and breakfast in Whitby. She is played by Anne Reid in Bafflegab Productions' Brenda and Effie audio series.
Brenda's time as a maid in Beatrice Mapp's household is expanded upon in the fifth Brenda and Effie novel, The Bride That Time Forgot, although the circumstances in the two stories are irreconcilable.[which?]