Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë : with classic drawing picture (Illustrated)

Rochester upon discovering his secret -- he is already married -- or the story of how she eventually returns and they live happily ever after. The story is now the haunting union of powerful words and stunning illustrations. Darcy's work ranges from small black-and-white drawings adorning pages' corners to full-page colored illustrations. Her most impressive feat is the way her drawings perfectly denote the characters' essential inner qualities.

Jane's lovable oddness, for example, is shown through the irregular shape of her head and the unearthly slenderness of her body, while her deeply contemplative nature is apparent from the wide expressiveness of her eyes. Picture after picture, Darcy captures the strange charm of Jane more vividly through illustration than if she were a living person. And as for Mr. Rochester, the sharp angles of his figure, his pointed cheekbones and jawbones, and his dark deep-set eyes are the perfect visual representation of his fierce, brooding personality.

Darcy's ability to bring the intangible to life is evident throughout her illustrations of the novel's major moments. The first full-page colored illustration shows a spindly young Jane, who has been locked in a room by her uncaring aunt, sitting beside a window. She holds one deathly pale arm up to the icy panes, gazing out into what seems to be the darkness of her own thoughts. She sees a burning ship sinking, she sees the devil guarding over the evil souls of hell -- and Jane, a fragile girl in a light pink dress, can only look, her mouth fallen open in aghast wonder. Darcy could not have better portrayed this moment of recognition, the moment when Jane fully grasps, for the first time, the concept of sin and all it entails.

In another key illustration, Jane and Mr. Rochester stand together in the garden, the moment before he asks her to marry him. Jane, who thinks Mr. Rochester wants to marry someone else, is weeping frenziedly, her body leaning backwards as though she might crumple. Rochester, with a characteristically dark expression upon his face, looms towards her, his hands clasped behind his back in an effort to restrain the passion he feels for her.

Darcy's interesting artistic details highlight the scene, as an unnaturally large moth -- half the size of Jane -- hovers in the upper left corner of the page, and a dark storm cloud in the opposite corner lets loose a bolt of lightning that splits into two branches, reaching down on either side of Jane -- a warning of the perils to come. But the most moving illustration of all comes at the novel's end. This black-and-white drawing is the last full-page illustration of the book, set moments before Jane and Mr. As Jane approaches the house, she sees Mr.

Jane peeks up at him from the bottom left corner of the page, hidden by bushes and tree branches. Rochester's face, haggard in grief, is bent downwards in Jane's direction, but being blinded, he cannot see her. Raindrops fall like tears all around him, and he dejectedly extends one finger to catch a droplet. Jane looks at him with a mixture of sorrow, yearning, and love that Darcy conveys beautifully. In this case, what you see on the cover is what you find inside: Darcy's illustrations of Jane Eyre transform this classic work into a modern artistic masterpiece.

Nate Chinen's treatise on the subject of jazz in the 21 st century, Playing Changes , is erudite, passionate, and downright inspiring. Between the Buried and Me vocalist Thomas Giles recently released a new solo album and in this video, he takes us through each track. He considers her an elf, a witch, an improbable woman that has captured his desire, his heart, his soul, his life. He knows he will never be the same again. She had grown bored with her governess role, and when she sees the approach of Rochester and his dog Pilot, she sees the gytrash myth; she wants to see something fantastical instead she finds her heart, which is something much rarer.

Then there are also the feminist elements. Jane transgresses the boundary associated with her gender in the Victorian age. For a woman to be recognised as having equal intellect to that of a man was sadly a rare thing. Women could actually attend university, but the downside was they could never get the full degree. They could spend months studying, though never be recognised as actually having gained the qualification. This book received a whole host of negative reviews at the time of its publication for this element alone.

Reader, I love this book. I really could go on, but this is getting kind of long. Blog Twitter Facebook Instagram Academia View all 60 comments. Currer Bell had a much better chance of being published than Charlotte Bronte and, with reviewers and readers assuming that she was in fact a male writer, allowed the novel a chance to be weighed properly without prejudice. Jane Eyre became a bestseller. Would readers have bought it?

Hopefully, word would have trickled out about how compelling the plot was, and people would have overcome their natural prejudice for reading a novel by a woman. She did not confess her efforts to him until she had become successful. Even writing these words, I have a smile on my face thinking of this successful bamboozlement of publishers, editors, and readers. The story, of course, is larger than the book.

Most people with any kind of inquisitive nature have been exposed to the bare bones of this novel without ever reading the book. Maybe they watched a movie based on the book, or maybe they have heard it referenced. Once read, it is impossible for people not to use aspects of this novel as common reference points for other readers. Edward Fairfax Rochester himself, the master of Thornfield Hall. He is a brooding, complicated, dark, and intelligent creature. He is a force of nature who conforms the world around him with every stride he takes or every word that drops from his lips.

He is the embodiment of the Lord Byron character. Women swoon in his presence and, after a carefully administered smelling salt, might start calculating what he is worth a year. Rochester is completely taken by Jane Eyre, practically from the moment they meet.

The drama of their meeting is one of those great cinematic scenes in the history of literature. Bronte incorporates many scenes into the novel that are, frankly, gifts to future movie renditions. Rochester has never met anyone quite like her. He is not alone. Everyone who comes into contact with Jane Eyre knows they have met a unique person.

She is a kind and pleasant person, but she will not brook any discriminations against her character.

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Reed her aunt , Mr. Brocklehurst director of Lowood School attended by Jane , Mr. St John Eyre Rivers minister who asks to marry her , and even Mr. Rochester, all attempt to conform Jane to the acceptable, deferring Victorian woman of the time. To call this a feminist novel does put it in a box which constrains it too tightly.

I found her ideas of female equality, embodied so wonderfully in the character of Jane, inspiring. Can you imagine the impact of such words on your typical, Victorian housewife? A woman who has lived her whole life being the daughter of her father, the wife of her husband, the mother of her sons. She has been passed from the care of one man after another.

If she were fortunate enough to be born pretty, she has that brief moment of power when suiters contend for her hand, but probably, ultimately, her father would decide who was best for her to marry. How about the impact of reading this novel on the typical, Victorian man? Did he look up from this book and peer over at his wife, she looking rosy in the firelight, knitting away at some frivolous thing, and think Or maybe he sees his pretty daughter enter the room on the verge of womanhood, and does he consider the possibility that she wants or deserves more?

There is no spark of revolution inspired by this book, but I do hope that this book may have chipped away at some of the archaic ideas of inequality. Maybe a few women readers realized that some of those secret desires they have harbored their whole life were not such strange concepts.

When Jane stands up to the conformists she encounters, she is willing to take the punishment because she knows in her soul that what she believes about herself is incontestable. He wants to marry her but only for the sake that he believes she will make a wonderful, useful, missionary wife. Jane refuses to compromise, but there is this moment where she is teetering in the balance. I felt his influence in my marrow--his hold on my limbs. I can assure everyone this did not happen. When Jane is residing with Mrs. Like Harry Potter, she is also an orphan but still with a rebellious streak because she is also sure that she is supposed to be someone other than who she is currently perceived to be.

The Illustrated Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, illustrations by Dame Darcy

Though I must say Harry, despite the trials and tribulations he experiences, draws a better straw than Miss Jane. I really enjoyed the gothic elements; those were, to a degree, completely unexpected. It was a discoloured face--it was a savage face. I wish I could forget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments! Shall I tell you of what it reminded me? There is an unknown tenant locked away in the rafters of the house. There are unexpected fires.

There are scandals waiting to be known. The Bronte family was very close. They grew up conceiving their own stories and fantasies and acting them out in impromptu plays. All three girls and the brother, Branwell, were writers. Tragically, they all died young. Charlotte outlived them all, dying in at the age of 38 with her unborn child. Branwell 31 and Emily 30 both passed away in , and Anne died the following year at the age of Can you imagine having to bury all your siblings?

It must have felt like the spectre of death was stalking nothing but Brontes. What makes Rochester unique is that he does eventually see Jane the way she sees herself. She is a hidden gem in rooms full of people. I would talk about the love story, but what is there to say. It is one for the ages. He was married to someone else, and when Elizabeth Gaskell wrote the biography of her friend, she carefully edited out those very revealing letters of a love that could never be. Jane Eyre, may you always find the readers you deserve. If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http: View all 46 comments.

I am a very pretentious person. Just last night I shuddered at the idea of popular music, like some kind of eight-hundred-year-old gremlin. And also it is important background information for you, dear Reader, going into this review. That direct address to yo I am a very pretentious person. That direct address to you as an audience member was me emulating this book, not an example of my pretension. What I need to explain is that this book is excellent, and also a classic. It is very very old but sometimes old stuff is still worth it!

I have the mannerisms of the type of grumpy old man that gets endearingly profiled in Scandinavian bestsellers. It is very, very slow, and very wordy, and the language takes some settling in. But also this book is a literal gem. But this book is jarringly feminist when the constraints it and Jane were working in are taken into account. So much of this is unique, by the standards of then but also even the standards of today. Three of the five Bennet sisters get married over the course of that book. But not lil Jane Eyre. She does not allow marriage to be the only prospect for her!!

She goes away and makes a life for herself and then decides whether she wants to follow that path. She also lacks the nineteenth-century version of a lot of those traits. And on top of all that, the language in this book is so gorgeous I want the whole manuscript tattooed on me. Which would be wild, because this is about a million pages long. And speaking of, yes, it is very slow and hard to get into and basically you have to adjust to a whole new reading experience.

But I would recommend getting into nineteenth century fiction solely for the purpose of reading this book. View all 23 comments. May 30, Cecily rated it it was amazing Shelves: Child neglect, near death, a dash of magical realism, the power of love, the powerlessness of the poor, sexual rivalry, mystery, madness and more. It is as powerful as ever - but is it really a l ov e story, given Rochester's Svengali-tendencies, or is it a l if e story? His downfall and her inheritance make them more equal, but is it really love on his part?

I'm not sure, which is what makes it such a good book just not necessarily a love story. I also like the tension between it being very Victo Child neglect, near death, a dash of magical realism, the power of love, the powerlessness of the poor, sexual rivalry, mystery, madness and more.

Happy 200th birthday Charlotte Brontë: illustrating Jane Eyre – in pictures

I also like the tension between it being very Victorian in some obvious ways, and yet controversially modern in others: It's often heavily cut from film, TV and stage adaptations, but despite the fluff about this being a great love story, I think there is merit in paying attention to her formative years as an essential element of explaining what makes Jane the person she becomes.

The Red Room, where young Jane is banished shortly before being sent to Lowood, is a very short episode in the book, but its significance is probably greater than its brevity implies. Is it also some sort of reference to Bertha's attic? Jane endures dreadful hardships: So, she is sent to Lowood, where she sees the hypocritical tyranny of Brocklehurst, survives cold and near starvation and witnesses her best friend's death. Nevertheless, "I would not have exchanged Lowood with all its privations for Gateshead and its daily luxuries.

Christianity gets a very mixed press in the book: Mr Brocklehurst is cruel and comically hypocritical curly hair is evil vanity in poor girls, who "must not conform to nature", but fine for his pampered daughters ; St John Rivers thinks his devoutness selfless, but is actually cold and selfish his motive being to gain glory in Heaven for himself ; Helen Burns is a redemptive Christ figure who accepts her punishments as deserved, helps Jane tame herself "Helen had calmed me" and, of course, dies.

Jane's own beliefs or lack are always somewhat vague though she's very moral and controversially feisty. When, as a small girl, the nasty Brocklehurst asks her what she should do to avoid going to Hell, she replies, "I must keep in good health, and not die"! Aspects the way Christianity is portrayed may make it more accessible to modern readers from more secular backgrounds, but might have been shocking to devout Victorians. Perhaps they were placated by the fact that despite the cruelty, Jane forgives Aunt Reed for trying to improve her errant niece, even though "it was in her nature to wound me cruelly".

However, Bronte does subvert that to some extent by making Jane so assertive, determined and independent. The story of Jane Eyre has parallels with the story of Bluebeard, albeit with a very different ending, in which the woman takes charge of her own destiny. Bluebeard was well-known in Victorian fables as a rich and swarthy man who locked discarded wives in an attic though he killed them first. He took a new young wife and when she discovered her predecessors, he was about to kill her, but she was rescued by her brothers, rather as Mason wants to rescue Bertha.

Jane even likens an attic corridor to one in "some Bluebeard's castle", so Bronte clearly knew the story and assumed he readers did too. Despite her minimal contact with men, right from the outset Jane instinctively knows how to respond to the man she describes as "changeful and abrupt". When they first meet in the house and he is quizzing her, she consciously mirrors his tone "I, speaking as seriously as he had done" and "His changes of mood did not offend me because I saw I had nothing to do with their alteration". Like many bullies, he enjoys a bit of a fight, rather than the nervous, prompt and unquestioning obedience his manner normally elicits, and Jane isn't afraid to answer him back and speak her mind.

It isn't long before she can say "I knew the pleasure of vexing him and soothing him by turns". When Blanche arrives, Jane realises "he had not given her his love" and that "she could not charm him" as she could. At this point, she realises her self-delusions in overlooking his faults and merely considering them as "keen condiments". What should modern women make of this book? Bronte is radical in that neither Jane nor Rochester is conventionally attractive it is personality that matters and Jane is fiercely independent and assertive, even when she gives the impression of being submissive.

She even says, "Women are supposed to feel very calm, generally: Does disappointment and disability truly changed him, and does that, coupled with her independent wealth make them equals? Will they live happily ever after?

Why does he insist that Jane appears in the drawing room every evening while Blanche and friends are staying, even though he fully understands and comments on how depressed it makes Jane? And would Rochester have married Blanche if Mason hadn't turned up, making a big society wedding impossible? If so, was Jane always in his mind as a mistress and backup in case marriage to Blanche was not possible, or did he only decide to marry her much later? What sort of basis for a happy marriage is that, and can the equalising effect of his later disability and her inheritance really conquer it?

It's true that Rochester tells Jane "I feigned courtship of Miss Ingram, because I wished to render you as madly in love with me as I was with you", but that is after Mason's visit, so is it true? Rochester's treatment of Bertha is even more problematic: In a funny sort of way, he might have felt he was doing the right thing by her, or at least, not the wrong thing. In a society which condemns divorce and cohabitation, is Rochester's planned bigamy justifiable?

As Rochester hints to Jane early on, "Unheard-of combinations of circumstances demand unheard-of rules". He also knows that Jane's integrity means she must be unaware of the details if he is to be with her he says that if he asked her to do something bad, she would say "no sir I cannot do it, because it is wrong" , though in fact there is a bigger tussle between her head and heart than he might have expected. Later, he ponders the fact that she is alone in the world as being some sort of justification, "It will atone" and extends to the more blasphemous and deluded "I know my Maker sanctions what I do.

For the world's judgement - I wash my hands thereof. His proposal is positively alarming, "You are formed for labour, not for love. A missionary's wife you must - shall be. You shall be mine: I claim you - not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign's service"! Under the guise of serving God and man, he is irredeemably self-serving. The strangest element is the small but hugely significant ethereal message from Rochester that might now be called magical realism. It sits oddly with the rest of the book, but I can never decide whether this is it a strength or a weakness.

A constant theme is "who knows what? Is Aunt Reed ignorant of how awful Lowood is and has she truly convinced herself that her treatment of Jane is appropriate? How much does Mrs Fairfax know and tell about Rochester's wives, current and intended? Does Rochester know whether or not Adele is really his daughter, and what does Jane believe? Blanche appears to know very little, but is she only seeing what she wants to see?

Overall, there is so much in this book, it is well worth rereading, but I am not convinced that it is a love story. It is the easiest label to apply, and although Jane certainly finds love, I am not sure that love finds her. They're intellectually well-matched, and the sparring and physical attraction bode well. On the other hand, my doubts about his motivations when he was juggling Blanche and Jane make me uneasy. Incidentally, I first read this book at school a naive mid-teen enjoys and appreciates it for very different reasons than an adult. One day, we were at a point when Jane was with the Rivers and possibly being courted by St John.

We were told to read to page x for homework, so I turned to that page to mark it and saw the famous words not that I knew they were , "Reader, I married him" and was shocked to assume it referred to St John. Coming with no preconceptions, other than knowing it was a classic - so I had a couple of big surprises in the plot. Being at a boarding school myself at the time - though fortunately not much like Lowood. Questioning my faith and the role of religion - then and since. Questioning the roles and rights of women - then and since. That's a major one. The fact the book is daringly subversive for its time most of the Christians are bad, and Jane is fiercely outspoken and independent - most of the time.

I get something new from it each time. Like many, I first read this at school. I was captivated from the outset. Jane was wild, and brave, and rebellious - all things we weren't supposed to be, and yet we had to read and write about her. I vaguely knew about the wedding scene, but everything about her time with the Rivers was new and unexpected. For all that I had doubts about Rochester, I felt in a naive, teenage way I shared a passion for him.

The actual ending was a happy relief - all the more so because it had been unexpected. I thought I understood the book, and got good marks for essays about it apart from the injustice of being deducted marks for a comment a teacher refused to believe I hadn't copied from Brodie's Notes - a brand I'd never actually seen! But like all great works of art, it speaks differently on each encounter, and the more I've read it, aided by a bit of maturity along the way, and now discussions with GR friends, the more I've seen in it.

So no, this not a love story - on the pages. But there is a love story: View all 90 comments. View all 3 comments. I'm bumping Jane Eyre up to the full five stars on this reread. It has its Victorian melodramatic moments horrible aunt! And it really is a great romance, at least in my book, but it's just so much more than that.

Reasons I Love Jane Eyre: Jane is no beauty. There's no Cinderella moment. Her beauty is all on the inside. Rochester is not gorgeous. This is not going to change either. In fact, his outward appearance gets worse in the end. And it doesn't matter! When's the last time you read a romance where neither the heroine nor the hero was good-looking? Rochester makes sarcastic comments to Jane all the time. She sasses him right back.

Though there's definitely physical attraction here too. Jane maintains her pride and self-respect. She sticks to her principles, even when the pressure's on, even when it would be much easier, and would bring her much more short-term happiness, to let those principles go hang. Jane Eyre takes a very nuanced view of religion: There are hard, cold people who sometimes use religion as a tool, or an excuse for what they do. There are saintly characters who always turn the other cheek. And there are believers, like Jane, who are imperfect but are doing the best they can. Jane teaches us that we have a great power to take control of our lives and decide our own destiny, even when the cards are all stacked against us.

It's up to us to take action to change our lives, not wait for someone else to change it for us. Jane Eyre empowered women, written at a time when in so many ways we were considered second-class citizens. It still empowers us now. The Kindle version available for free at Project Gutenberg has wonderful pencil drawing illustrations. View all 78 comments. I read this book back in High School. I thought it was boring and stupid and all I wanted to do was spread the word that this book was terrible and no one should read it. I had it marked one star on Goodreads and it had a home on my least favorite shelf.

Well, I have been waiting years to find the perfect place to use this gif: I reread in late August, early September I have to say that I should probably reread everything I read bank in High School to get a better perspective. I I read this book back in High School.

I enjoyed the book quite a bit this time. The story in intricate and dark. Jane Eyre is a tragic hero who does her best through the whole book but keeps encountering unfortunate situation after unfortunate situation. The story held my interest a lot more than some other classic novels I have read. My only complaint was a few times certain plot points were belabored. I found myself saying, "Okay, I get it, let's move on.

You never know what you might find! View all 72 comments. Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge Notes: A book from the Rory Gilmore Challenge. View all 11 comments. This is a very beloved book, that stars an orphan girl name Jane that is trying to figure out the world around her. When she is very young, she is forced to live with her not-so-nice aunt, who is absolutely terrible to her. But soon, her aunt sends her off to an all-girls boarding school, but Jane starts to learn who she is and who she wants to be, and after getting her education, she begins to teach at this school that she now considers her home.

But at nineteen, she decides that she would like to try to be a governess so that she can travel and see the world that she has learned so much about. Jane gets a job teaching a young girl at Thornfield Hall, but soon meets the master of Thornfield Hall, none other than Mr. Rochester is distant, and rude, and a bit grumpy, but the more and more time Jane and him spend together, the more and more they realize they have a lot in common. And they develop quite a strange and unconventional relationship, while many spooky and mysterious things are happening at Thornfield Hall.

This book is very protofeminist. Jane has so much rage and anger inside of her, because of the gender roles and expectations that are always set on her. On top of always being sent to places where she is forced to live and be molded into what is expected of her. Jane finally gets to live for herself at Thornfield Hall, and she does so unapologetically. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. From classism, to marriage, to gender roles, to witchcraft, to slavery, to abuse, to power dynamics, and to so much more. And the things brought up in this book?

That was first published in ? May your eyes never shed such stormy, scalding, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine. May you never appeal to Heaven in prayers so hopeless and so agised as in that hour left my lips: But Jane always puts herself first, and even though she wants to be loved more than anything, she will constantly fight for her own place in the world where she lives on her own terms for her own beliefs.

Jane loves herself, and in turn it made me love Jane, and this masterpiece of a story. Overall, I fell completely in love with this. This was so intelligently crafted and so expertly woven! And the dark feelings and vibes throughout really makes this such a unique and amazing reading experience.

And I think this is a book that I will be able to read and reread over and over for the rest of my life. You also best believe that if I ever have children, this will be required reading once they get a bit older, because this book seriously has an immense amount of power. And I truly believe this is my favorite classic of all-time now. And I never want any woman to feel like a bird trapped in a cage. View all 35 comments. Nov 09, Ellen rated it it was amazing Shelves: In December , on a radio show with an audience of I want you to understand that I'm talking about the evolution of American culture here, and not so m [The picture disappeared which made the comments rather irrelevant.: I want you to understand that I'm talking about the evolution of American culture here, and not so much Mrs Clinton," Limbaugh told his audience.

Interestingly and at the same time, we have John McCain, another presidential prospect, who was 71 years old [11 years older than Hillary Clinton: Somehow this is different. Society has agreed that women age, and men grow more distinguished. McCain looked plenty old and acted like an irrational coot. However, the more important point is how little we've changed. Women still must be beautiful. And, for the most part, beautiful women still populate contemporary fiction. The impact of presenting such a heroine may be gauged by a male critic a 19th century Limbaugh in the Westminister Review , who writes, "Possibly none of the frauds which are now so much the topic of common remark are so irritating, as that to which the purchaser of a novel is a victim on finding he has only to peruse a narrative of the conduct and sentiments of an ugly lady" Showalter From the opening scene, Jane's personality dominants the horizon.

Having endured the young master's abuse for some time, Jane strikes back and, as punishment for her passion, is banished to the red room. The room is chill, garish, and where Mr. Jane's cries to be released are ignored, and she falls into unconsciousness. Although Jane suffers no lasting harm, her thoughts before she is thrust into the room isolate well why her path will be harder than fate had dictated already: I know that had I been a sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping child—though equally dependent and friendless—Mrs.

Reed would have endured my presence more complacently; her children would have entertained for me more of the cordiality of fellow-feeling; the servants would have been less prone to make me the scapegoat of the nursery. Again and again, Jane cannot sit back and depend on the free pass beauty often accords, but must choose to give up or to fight her way through. Jane chooses to fight, and it is her passion, wit, and intelligence that make her an unforgettable heroine. View all 87 comments. Feb 03, Ana rated it really liked it Shelves: I, Ana, take you, Mr. Rochester, to be my lawful wedded husband I'm sure my boyfriend won't mind.

Back off fangirls, he is mine. I needed something to make me stop thinking about Heathcliff and Catherine and their horror love story. So, naturally, I chose Jane Eyre.

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Yes, it's dark but nowhere nearly as scary as Wuthering Heights. It's actually quite romantic.

Happy th birthday Charlotte Brontë: illustrating Jane Eyre – in pictures | Books | The Guardian

Ok, he locked his wife in the attic. In those days people didn't get divorced. If you had a crazy spouse, you locked them in the attic. That's how it was done. I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you; their expression and smile did not strike delight to my inmost heart so for nothing. View all 50 comments. May 31, Nayra. View all 43 comments. Aug 09, Dana Ilie rated it it was amazing Shelves: For years I've been saying that Jane Eyre is my favorite novel of all time-- and that it is. The character of Jane is, to me, one of the most admirable and appealing fictional characters of all time.

Poor and plain she may be, but her spirit is indomitable. In an era when women were expected to be brainless and ornamental, Jane through the words of Charlotte Bronte refused to bow to those expectations.

View all 18 comments. I often think of classics as "required reading," usually accompanied by a barely suppressed groan. Because, surely, they can't actually be any good. I'm not sure why I've always associated well-known and well-loved classics as such, but I suppose it must be the expectation to love it just as much as the world. It's silly, I know. A person can't be expected to love all books, classic status or not, but still, I wondered if I would enjoy it.

Jane Eyre is one of those novels that proves me completel I often think of classics as "required reading," usually accompanied by a barely suppressed groan. Jane Eyre is one of those novels that proves me completely wrong and I'm glad of it. It is not beloved simply due to its age or progressiveness or pretentious nature, but because at its heart it's a damn good book. And the best part is that you delight in every moment. At the same time, while I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic aspect, I was also equally intrigued with Jane Eyre's life in general.

While at times she lived under horrible circumstances, her resilience was nothing short of admirable. She never let her hardships define her as a person or let it compromise her morals even when she was at her lowest. In the end, her luck does turn around and she finds happiness, which at times I felt was way overdue.

Thandie Newton's narration was even better than I expected. Her voice brought the novel to life and at times, I could have sworn several different people narrated instead of just her. It felt like her voice said, "These words are amazing, this prose is magic, this story enchanting. I'm thrilled to be reading them to you. I was very impressed and believe listening to this version was the best decision for me. I never was once bored because Newton demanded all my attention. This is the first time that I've read Jane Eyre and I'm glad I did at this point in my life where I'm fully able to appreciate the various themes conveyed.

That's not to say I wouldn't have understood certain things, but I'm sure there are lots of books where we come away thinking, "Wow, this was exactly what I needed right now. Ah, the joys and magic of literature! All the things that I love in a good book was here and more: I could have read an entire book composed of Jane and Mr. Definitely an oldie, but goodie for sure. More reviews and other fantastical things at Cuddlebuggery. View all 16 comments.

A perfect blend of passionate romance, gothic mystery, romantic description of nature, soci Now I know why Charlotte Bronte said this of Jane Austen: A perfect blend of passionate romance, gothic mystery, romantic description of nature, social commentary and humor, all rendered in vivid, gorgeous prose. One cannot help to admire Jane Eyre, the little governess who could. She rises above her harsh upbringing to become a governess, poor but ever fiercely independent. Even the promise of love and comfort with the man that she worships is not enough to sway her from the path of integrity.

One cannot help to admire Charlotte, who makes her intensely human; a woman of virtue, yet one who is not above jealousy and doubts, and who constantly struggles with the personal cost of her decisions. A deeply felt, and ultimately moving story of love and redemption that will linger long after the last page is turned. View all 47 comments. Jane Eyre makes me want to be a better person.

Her goodness, her humility, her frankness, her passion, her fierce will and her moral compass are all inspiring. And yet, I also love her faults. Jane has a temper, she gets jealous, she fights back, and at times she is too obedient, especially when given orders by overbearing men. What is it about this gothic novel that still makes it a compelling read more than years after it was published? I first came to this story, as I suspect many have, thr Jane Eyre makes me want to be a better person. I first came to this story, as I suspect many have, through the various movie and TV versions of the book.

John, and some who twisted the Bible for their own gain, such as Mr. Brocklehurst and Aunt Reed. As the daughter of a stern clergyman, I am sure Charlotte had some strong opinions on the ways and people of the church. I loved this book, and I will continue to love it. I'm already looking forward to the next time I read it. Update March When Donald was elected U. President over Hillary, my heart broke. I was depressed and anxious, and decided to seek comfort from my old friend Jane Eyre.

This was the first book I grabbed after the November election, and I savored the reread. I chose Jane because she always tried to do the right thing, despite being forced to deal with people of inferior moral character. Jane's goodness was indeed a comfort, and I was grateful for the companionship.

During that post-election reread, one quote in particular struck me as especially relevant: February Second read: January Third read: Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally; but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer, and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags.

I had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate at the first renewed view of him, they spontaneously revived, green and strong!

He made me love him without looking at me. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad -- as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation; they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. As I see it, casting is everything.

It is not enough to take a famous actress, put her in a dowdy gray dress and do her hair in an elaborate bun. No, you have to find the right actress. And if you are lucky enough to find her, then you have to find the right man to play Mr. And then, by jove, the two have to have on-screen chemistry. A film version of Jane Eyre with no heat between Jane and Edward is a waste of everyone's time.

So here are my rankings of the versions I have seen: A fantastic script, incredible actors, steamy chemistry and beautifully filmed. One of my all-time favorite period dramas. The script moves quickly through the book and changes the original timing to in media res , which works OK. Both actors gave good performances and the mood was very gothic, but the chemistry wasn't as great as with Wilson and Stephens.

Mia and Michael were just on slightly different levels. Fine script and beautifully filmed, the problem with this version is William Hurt, who seems half-asleep.

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Charlotte is a good Jane, but I wish Franco would have found a more impassioned Mr. A total mismatch of actors. Just frustrating to watch. This movie made me cringe. The problem with Orson Welles is that no matter who he's playing, he's always Orson Welles. He is a terrible Mr. Rochester -- he just bellowed and stomped around. I generally enjoy classic Hollywood films, but this was unwatchable. View all 36 comments. Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte is composed of many wonderful dialogues. The author likes it very much because it is wonderful, alive and intense in my mind.

This book is highly recommended for all readers who love to read love stories and have a fascination with historical styles. Aug 27, Gabriella rated it did not like it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read Jane Eyre for the first time as an adult and I can't help but feel sorry for every junior high or high school student who was forced to read this book.