Anne Brontë Books

The Bronte Collection. Includes Jane Eyre, The Professor, Shirley, Villette, Wuthering Heights, Agnes Grey, Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Cottage Poems and more.

What a great value, and a wonderful way to rediscover some old favorites, and perhaps to find some new ones, along with comparing the different writing styles of the authors.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the whole range of writings by the Bronte family to those who may only have heard of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. Even those who are familiar with the works of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte may find quotations which are new to them and may be encouraged to read more of their poetry and letters, as well as perhaps the works of Branwell and Patrick which have never received the credit they deserve.

A secondary purpose, though no less important, is to attempt to dispel the popular misconception that the Brontes led tragic and miserable lives, dogged at every step by death and disaster. It is quite clear from their own writings that the Brontes enjoyed normal lives and that it was only in their ability to write so powerfully and movingly that they were different.

The quotations are arranged according to the day on which they were written, but not in chronological order. As the Brontes were almost fanatical in their habit of dating their written work, it is thus possible to find a quotation for almost every day of the year. Many of these are actually appropriate for the season or the incidents of that particular day and their wide range gives some idea of the variety of the Brontes' writings.

For those who wish to follow up particular quotations, the notes at the end of the book give the year in which the piece was written, and the source from which it was taken. I hope, in this way, to introduce more readers to the Brontes, whose works have never failed to give me pleasure.

The Bronte sisters' (Charlotte, Emily & Anne) very first published works are in this book, published under their pseudonyms of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell in 1846. A thousand copies were printed, privately funded by the Brontes themselves, but the 'Poems' were a commercial failure, with only 39 copies being bought or (mostly) handed out to reviewers and friends. This is a reprint of these original poems with a new introduction by Mark Seaward.

I found this book at my University's library. An admirer of Anne's novels, this new study of her life and works was a pleasant surprise. Beware: The text of the biography and the footnotes are set in small print. I found the substance to be well-researched, erudite and charming. Chitham takes the "Bronte myth" propounded by Charlotte, E. Gaskell, et al, as it applies to the youngest sister, and compares it with factual records, reminisences, and her poems.

As Chitham argues, the poetry cannot be read as auto-biography; Anne wears a "mask" in her art. Chitham breaks new ground: Where "Thorp Green" is; Anne praised her father's first curate for his cheerfulness, yet, subtly hints that she knew he had many admirers!! The long, introspective "religious" poems are here, too. It is a pity that Charlotte found them *after* Anne's death. They reflect the struggles of a courageous and hopeful soul with despair, lonliness, disillusionment, and finally, the long painful illness of tuberculosis.

Chitham's "Poems..." is a book for the general reader. A sibling of the Byronic-Romantic Brontes was a satirist and Realist. It happens. :) Preferably to be read after Chitham's biography of Anne Bronte.

What a great value, and a wonderful way to rediscover some old favorites, and perhaps to find some new ones, along with comparing the different writing styles of the Bronte sisters.

One thing in this printing is you will not find the endless footnotes that you would in some of the other printings available now. I don't feel I missed out on anything, but if you feel you need to understand every word and nuance you might want to get a different version of the book(s).

Jane Eyre -- which I enjoyed much more the second time around. It's always good to take time to reread those required books from school once you've obtained some years and maturity. This is a lovely and somewhat autobiographical tale of Jane Eyre, orphaned and raised by self-centered and uncaring relatives until they send her off to school. Eventually she is hired as a governess to a young girl and meets the girl's guardian Mr. Rochester, and of course they fall in love and plan to marry. But, there is a mystery about the house that once it is discovered destroys the wedding plans.

A lovely tale, and Bronte has such a wonderful prose that makes you want to slow down and savor it and the story like a fine red wine or chocolate. Highly highly recommended, one that should be taken off the shelf and reread every couple of years or so. Five stars.

Wuthering Heights -- The dark and brooding tale of Cathy & Heathcliff. What a great experience to finally reread this classic as an adult. Emily Bronte depicts a very gothic and depressing story of two star-crossed (but not terribly likeable) lovers, Cathy & Heathcliff, and the love between them that transcended the grave. Added to that a wonderful depiction of the dark English moors and the local characters with their strange dialects. This was also told in a very unusual style, like a tale within a tale within a tale, adding more layers and perspectives to the story.

How unfortunate that one's upbringing can so affect a person that their grief and bitterness turn what could have been a fine young man into such a hateful and vengeful person as Heathcliff became. And fortunate that Cathy's daughter and Hareton could overcome their dark upbringing to bring a happier light onto the dark moors of England.

It's one book you have to read at least twice in your life -- of course in school as required reading and then again as an adult to add that perspective of age and experience in life so that one can more fully appreciate a such a classic tale. Four stars.

Villette -- another semi-autobiographical tale from Charlotte Bronte, based upon her time spent teaching in Belgium. This is not a novel of page turning excitement, but a lovely tale of one woman's battle to maintain her independence. It's very interesting how the author brings characters in and out of her tale, and ties them all together in the end. Along with that, Bronte's gorgeous prose and all those large words that make you want to go running for the dictionary.

A lovely tale, but this one had much more french than Jane Eyre and I would have appreciated some footnotes to interpret those phrases to enjoy the tale more. Five stars.

Anges Grey -- This was a simple, albeit enjoyable tale of Agnes Grey, a younger daughter who seeks her way in the world employed as a governess. I understand this tale is based upon Ms. Bronte's own experiences and brings to light the snobbery of the upper class along with the often degrading way that the servants are treated by the same.

The first family literally has the children from h***, the second family being not quite as abusive, but still treat the servants as second class people. The young Misses Murray and self centered and thoughtless, particularly the elder (who gets what she deserves in the end).

It's been interesting to compare the sisters' writing styles. Anne's is much closer to Chartlotte's, with the gorgeous flowing prose, but not quite so littered with the large words and the smattering of french.

Well worth your time checking out for a pleasant, short read. Four stars

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall -- This is a very different novel from the other of Anne Bronte's that I've read, Agnes Grey. The story is told mostly from the first person viewpoint of Gilbert Markham as he and his fellow villagers meet the mysterious new tenant of Wildfell Hall, the widowed Mrs. Graham, who has a bit of a mystery about her and her young son.

As feelings grow between the two main characters, the story is shifted to the viewpoint of Mrs. Graham as retold through a diary she wrote, and about her life married to an abusive, unfaithful alcoholic, and her efforts finally to extricate herself from the marriage.

An interesting tale, and I give the author marks for tackling what in her time would have been a most controversial topic (women just did not leave their husbands, no matter what the reason). Some of the melodrama is more than a tad bit over the top, Helen was just too pure and good natured, and having a woman writer write in the first person viewpoint of a man was a bit of a stretch for me. Gilbert was at times too emotional in a womanly sort of way -- I mean throwing himself down on the wet ground and having a good cry over a broken heart was way over the top for me. He was also a bit too brutish and rough at times for my taste, and not always very likeable, but that is the author's choice as to how she wrote her characters.

Other than those quibbles it was a very entertaining read and some very thought provoking topics to take with you when finished with the book. Four stars.

This was truly one of the best books I have ever read. I was enthralled from the first page. What I found most interesting was the story's relevance for today's woman, even though it was written so long ago. Anne Bronte was ahead of her time. Many of the issues we hear about today, like co-dependancy and abusive relationships, are included in this story. I think it is fascinating. This was a story that I was sorry to have end. I wanted every woman that I know to read it!

I often like to read other readers' reviews before writing my own. In reading reviews of The Tenenant of Wildfell Hall there are several common themes. One is surprise that Anne Brontë is as good or an even better writer than her sisters. Another is admiration for her gutsy depiction of alcoholism and marital strife from a female perspective.

There is no doubt that this book is powerful. It inspires even more admiration for portraying taboo and uncomfortable subjects. Brontë begins the book as a letter by a prosperous farmer, Gilbert Markham, to a friend. He relates the beginnings of his friendship with Helen Graham and her son, the new tenants Wildfell Hall. The first part of the narrative passes quickly, and just as it comes to a climax we pass to the second part: Helen's diary of her life before moving to Wildfell Hall. I found this part of the story most engrossing. Helen describes her courtship and marriage to Arthur Huntingdon. We see their first meetings, their mutual attraction, her Aunt's portentous warnings, their marriage, and the birth of their son. Then things get interesting. Brontë apparently had the opportunity for first-hand observations of alcoholism and abuse.

The story within a story narration works wonderfully. Helen's narrative ends precisely where the first part of the story picked up. The last part is also told through letters, both Helen's and Gilbert's, and brings the story to a close. If the ending seems almost too happily wrapped up, she more than makes of for it in the middle section.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a story that will stay with you, perhaps requiring subsequent readings. Another common theme among reviewers was astonishment that such an accurate portrayal of marital strife should come from a young woman who never married. Be sure you read Brontë's excellent preface, as she makes several important remarks on how the book was received upon publication and the defense of her chosen subject matter .

How explain literary genius? How pinpoint the DNA which made three Yorkshire girls living in a rundown parsonage world famous authors? "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" author is Anne the youngest of the Bronte sisters. This novel is little known but is still an excellent example of Victorian fiction at its best. The novel is set in the Regency period and deals with a mysterious widow who becomes the tenant of the rundown estate called Wildfell Hall. She is the subject of gossip in the small town close to the old estate. Gilbert Markham falls in love with her.
The book begins with a glance backward to 1827 by the first person narrator Gilbert Markham who is a farmer. We meet Gilbert, his siblings Rose and Fergus as well as their grumpy mother. This first 115 pages show us social comedy as Gilbert is the romantic beau ideal of a fatuous preacher's daughter. He sees Markham becoming friendly with Helen and her young son Arthur. Gilbert sees Helen with a man thinking she is proving untrue to their burgeoning romance. Later we will learn that the enigmatic stranger is none other than her brother! Helen gives Gilbert a diary which consists of about 300 pages in the novel. In this diary she tells her sad tale. After his all night perusal of the diary the fiery Gilbert is convinced Helen is worthy of his love and protection.
Helen was wed to a rakish, drunk named Arthur Hunington who takes her to his home at Grassdale. Arthur lives a dissolute life. He is lazy, unkind to animals and socializes with sleazy aristocrats. He carries on an affair with the stupid Annabella leading to Helen's leaving him.
The novel is a love story, an indictment against alcoholism and a story well told with well sketched characters to hold your attention.
I thought it interesting that "Wildfell Hall" has the same "WH" as does Emily Bronte's more famous "Wuthering Heights." I also noted that the heroine of Anne's novel is "Helen". Did this remind the youngest Bronte of elder sister Charlotte's memorable tragic child "Helen Burns" a student at Lowood School in Jane Eyre? The novel is also influenced by the 1700 page eighteenth century letter novel "Clarissa" by Samuel Richardson.
Anne Bronte died at the young age of 29 with her potential unrealized. She did produce this fine book and her other classic "Agnes Grey." She is worth a read! A good book to curl up with on a dark and stormy night!

I loved this story. I was a bit surprised by the content, considering the time the book was written. The story went deeper than I had thought it would, very enjoyable read. If you like Charlotte's books, you will love this one.

The romantic ending was much too brief after the long story leading up to it, but it was a good read.

I agree, having read the book, that Gilbert was brutish and at times overyly "girlish" in expressing his emotions. The ending was rather abrupt. But because it's just from letters, that's to be expected.

The elaborate Victorian prose style of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall does not obscure a story that is recognizably modern--that of an idealistic young woman who wants to save her brutish, alcoholic husband from himself.

Reviled for its "morbid love for the coarse, not to say the brutal," The Tenant of Wildfell Hall continues the theme Brontë began in Agnes Gray--that nurture's role in shaping in a person's character and future is more important than parents and other authority figures realize or take responsibility for. As Helen says of Arthur, she wants "to do my utmost to . . . make him what he would have been if he had not, from the beginning, had a bad, selfish, miserly father . . . and a foolish mother who indulged him to the top of his bent . . . doing her utmost to encourage those germs of folly and vice it was her duty to suppress."

Helen's background is also revealing. Raised by her uncle and aunt, she exemplifies the modern concept of the adult child of an alcoholic--self-righteous and controlling. Knowing that Arthur is flawed, she marries him with the objective of changing him and saving him for God. It can be speculated that Arthur, intrigued by Helen's youth, beauty, passion, and apparent demureness, envisions making her a more worldly woman. Neither knows the other beyond the surface, and each seems to want to transform the other into his or her own image. This is not the basis for a happy or durable union, as Helen learns.

Failing to control the father, Helen turns her attentions to her son. Quite rightly, she is horrified when Arthur makes his son a pawn in their marital battle, teaching him the manly Victorian arts of sport and predation, love of drinking and carousing, camaraderie without friendship, and disrespect for and the subjugation of women. Even Brontë seemed to be aware that Helen's approach is also disturbing in its own way, for the child-rearing debate between Helen and her new neighbors is the basis for an entire chapter before we learn her history. While many of Brontë's contemporaries would have agreed with the vicar's argument that experience builds character, Helen slowly reveals how experience of the wrong kind without a moderating influence can destroy character.

The structure of the novel is undoubtedly awkward; it is unlikely that anyone would share such intimate details and thoughts as well as another person's entire personal journal with even the dearest friend without a compelling reason. Gilbert, who is introduced, perhaps symbolically, as a hunter of predators (hawks), disappears from the story as he reads Helen's tale. This diminishes him, relegating him to Helen's redemption and reward. On occasion, for example, in "Domestic Scenes," Brontë's tense changes and irregularities make Helen's journal lose its currency and distract the reader with lapses into a novel-like tone.

The structure does, however, allow the reader (and Gilbert) to meet the reclusive, protective, guarded, almost-grim Helen before we find out about the life that has shaped her and her inflexible opinions. The revelation of her character, and the strength she has to flout convention when her conscience and sense of duty require it, helps to complete Gilbert's growth from sarcastic village wit to the kind of mature man more worthy of her.

Brontë's stated purpose was "to tell the truth, for the truth always conveys its own moral to those who are able to receive it . . . Let it not be imagined, however, that I consider myself competent to reform the errors and abuses of society, but only that I would fain contribute my humble quota towards so good an aim . . . ." Helen's story, like that of Agnes, reveals the uglier aspects of Victorian family life, usually idealized, that resulted when women had few rights, men abused theirs, parents did not take responsibility for instilling healthy values (such as respect for life) in their children, and divorce was out of the reach of most. Beyond the impressive gates and parks, within the stately estates, behind the closed doors, lurked family and social problems that could not be hidden or denied away. Helen's story was disturbing not because of her depiction of Arthur's demeaning, childish, and amoral behavior, but because she exposes the falseness of the idyllic family life her society held dear and because she is willing to abandon what society considers her duty to her marriage to perform her real duty to herself and her son.

Anne Brontë's work has been compared unfavorably to that of her sisters, Charlotte and Emily. Yet its psychological insights, including the very coarseness and brutality of which contemporary critics complained, make up for Brontë's lack of literary finesse. Her portrayal of Arthur, the fun-loving, amoral, pettish, selfish hedonist, and his boorish social circle resonates today. Despite his country gentleman status and his debt-supported wealth, Arthur is recognizable in all times and classes. Helen, too, is familiar as the long-suffering wife who finally takes action when her child is threatened.

Although much has changed since Brontë's time, her characterizations and insights on family life hold true today, making The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a classic in its own right.

Agnes Grey, the daughter of a clergyman who's had a reversal of fortunes, determines to get a job working as a governess to make ends meet. Her first post is as the governess to what must be literature's most spoiled brats, the Bloomwood children of Wellwood House. After being subjected to employers that would put Miranda Pristley in The Devil Wears Prada or the Xs in The Nanny Diaries to shame, Agnes is fired (her gain, I think) and seeks another post, this time at Horton Lodge, where her charges are Miss Rosalie Murray and Miss Miranda Murray. While there, Agnes becomes acquainted with the village's curate, Edward Weston. Its not difficult to guess what happens there.

Anne's sister, Charlotte, glamorized and romanticized the life of a governess somewhat in Jane Eyre. Apparently, Anne's description of the tribulations Agnes goes through are nearly true to life. The first few chapters are devoted to Agnes's complaining about the treatment she receives at the hands of the Bloomwood children, but the story picks up when she arrives at Horton Lodge and Rosalie has her coming-out party. Rosalie Morton is another spoiled, selfish brat, but her personality is more fleshed out than those of the Bloomwoods. She provides the perfect contrast to Agnes's demure, subdued demeanor. If you've read Wuthering Heights and/or Jane Eyre, be prepared for the fact that Agnes Grey is a lot more down-to-earth and provincial--it actually reminded me a bit of George Eliot's Middlemarch, or The Mill On the Floss. But its not without its merits. It's too bad that Anne Bronte is so often overshadowed by her sisters, because this is a very fine novel.

After reading this, I am now quite surprised that Anne Bronte is the least known of the three Bronte sisters. In my opinion, this short novel is as much a literary superlative as Jane Eyre and very superior to the depressing Wuthering Heights. The fact that Anne wrote this book based on her own experiences made it very believable and made the character of Agnes appear very down to earth. Overall, I would recommend this book because it is not as fluffy as the works of Jane Austen, but not as heavy as Wuthering Heights.

Agnes Grey holds the same quality and charm of many a dusty classic. It's a pleasant read, and not too long to bog down the reader. Agnes Grey provides a window into life during Anne Bronte's time, and seems like a combination of the life Anne lived and the life she wanted to live.

Agnes Grey is, for the most part, predictable, but pleasantly so. The plot is simple, as are the characters.

Any fan of the Bronte family will find this book just what can be imagined coming from sweet Anne. It may be a fascination and love of the story of their family that makes me recommend this book. Or perhaps it's the innocent sweetness of this book.

Poor Anne Bronte. Her legacy will forever be overshadowed by the greater success of her elder sisters; Charlotte Bronte, the author of "Jane Eyre", and Emily Bronte, who gave the world "Wuthering Heights". I would love to be able to say that Anne is the hidden gem of the Bronte family, but the fact is that her work is simply not as good as that of her sisters'. She writes vividly and sympathetically, but ultimately her stories are rather forgettable, especially when compared with the trials and tribulations of Jane Eyre and the violent and passionate love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine in "Wuthering Heights" (okay, I'll admit it - it's my favourite book. I'm hopelessly biased).

Anne Bronte's most famous book "Agnes Grey", is without the timeless appeal of her sisters' novel, since it is a novel meant for her contemporary Victorian audience, one that underlined the trials and difficulties faced by governesses of the time. At this point in British history, economical and social problems had driven many young women to seek employment as governesses, and because of the influx of potential governesses, families could naturally whittle down the price of a teacher for their children (Charlotte Bronte for example, had to accept twenty pounds a year for her services as a governess). Being one of the first novels to address the hardships and indignities faced by governesses, Anne Bronte's book provided a valuable window into this world; and it did this so well in fact that one critic said of the author: "he must have bribed some governess very largely...to reveal to him the secrets of her prison house, or, he must have devoted extraordinary powers of observation and discovery to the elucidation of the subject."

In this critic's defense, Anne (along with her sisters) published their books under masculine pen names, but it is a testimony to her skill that the conditions of the governess were captured so vividly. Being a governess herself (with many similarities to her title character, as we shall see in a moment), Anne was in the prime position to `spill the beans' on the plight of the governess. By today's standards "Agnes Grey" provides a vivid and interesting history on this aspect of life in Bronte's time period, but it is more valued for its glimpses into the Bronte sisters' lives than its compelling story.

Agnes Grey is the story of a young heroine who - because of her family's financial struggles - advertises herself out as a governess. Stepping out into the world from a life surrounded by a loving family is trial enough, but Agnes is looking forward to achieving her independence and helping her family in its time of need. She is sadly disillusioned, as her new position in the Bloomfield household is not at all what she expected. The children are unruly and spoilt, the house servants are unfriendly and the master and the mistress hold Agnes responsible for their children's wild behaviour. Her second position is only moderately better; treated as little more than a servant; she is only gradually accepted by her two new charges: the flirtatious Rosalie and the tomboyish Matilda Murray. Her only spark of light is the sensible young curate Mr Weston, a man whom Rosalie is determined to add to her list of conquests before her upcoming marriage is made public...

The similarities between Agnes and Anne's lives are numerous: both are the youngest and adored little sisters of their families (and although all but one of Agnes's siblings are dead, six were born - the same as Anne's family), both had two positions as a governess at two different households and were unfairly dismissed for incompetence from the first one, both are the daughters of North England clergymen, and both are nineteen when they take up their first post. What makes Agnes especially unique in the large canon of literary governesses (of which she was one of the first), is that she is actively enthusiastic about going out into the world and earning money - a trait that is admittedly coupled with a real need to help her family, but one which is rare (most book-governesses are forced reluctantly into their positions). Agnes's situation as the adored little sister of the Grey family is akin to Anne's own place in her family (a position that scholars now believe Anne rebelled against), perhaps accounting for the unique characteristic of Agnes's initial desire to become as a governess - that she actively goes out in search of a job, rather than being helplessly driven to it solely by poverty.

There is nothing wrong with Bronte's writing technique - her language is crisp and concise, her heroine realistic and sympathetic, and her social commentary on the plight of the young unmarried Victorian woman's chances at a career is as thought-provoking as ever (though naturally a bit dated by today's standards). The problem lies with the story itself, which is somewhat uneventful. Bronte is particularly good in capturing the frustrations of being governess to a pack of ungrateful children; their naughty behaviour, their disinterestedness and the unfair treatment accorded to her by her employees, but ultimately nothing is done with it. Because it is predominantly an exposition on the requirements and hardships of governesses, we never really get any satisfactorily comeuppance to any of Agnes's pupils, save one, whose unhappy marriage is almost *too* tragic. Anne Bronte's novel is more didactic than that of her sisters', as Agnes is a paragon of virtue and patience in the face of ongoing frustration. Yes, her temper is worn at times, but she is remarkable in her ability to withhold her emotions and keep in place her calm exterior. Just once I would have liked one of the little brats to get slapped! Also, I don't think I'm alone in thinking that Agnes's romance with Mr Weston is a little flat - we never really get to know him very well, and Agnes's falling in love with him is as much a leap of faith on his perceived goodness then any real meeting of minds and hearts.

But "Agnes Grey" is certainly worth the read, for the historical insight as well as a comparative text for Anne Bronte's second novel, the much more rich and accomplished "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall."

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Oxford World's Classics)

As much as I love Tenant of Wildfell Hall I can't say that I loved this work as much. If anything it does give the reader a good insight to the miserable life governess endured. However, if the coachman was to write a book, or day labour of those times were to write a book, I can't imagine that their lot in life was much fairer. So the complaint is the same complaint that holds true today: rich people have it so easy. But of course upon closer inspection, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Rosalie learns this lesson well. Though the book picks up after Rosalie's "coming out", the story I'm most interested in, Agnes and Edward feel more like a rush job within the last seven pages of the novel. I wanted to know about them than whole chapters of a sermon from a temporarily blind person. In all, I feel this a very padded story, since Agnes doesn't really go through an metamorphis and she requires the man of her heart with no effort at all and any chancy spirited adventures. Overall: Wildfell will remain my favorite from this author.

Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" was never one of my favorite British novels. However, I finally revisited the book after many years and enjoyed it much more this time around.

Jane Eyre is a young, determined girl who is determined to find her proper place in the world. As an orphan who was brought up by her cruel aunt, Jane is sent away to boarding school at a young age, where she and the other students suffer under the hand of an evil headmaster. Things improve at the school when the institution's poor conditions are brought to light following a typhus epidemic, and Jane finishes her schooling and then remains at the facility as a teacher for several years.

Although she's content working at the school, Jane still thinks that life has something else in store for her. She accepts a governess position at Thornfield Manor, where she is employed by the dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite his rather surly disposition, Jane finds herself falling in love with Rochester, and is stunned when he returns her affections and proposes marriage. Unfortunately, the wedding never takes place due to a massive secret that Rochester unsuccessfully tries to keep hidden. Jane ultimately flees Thornfield and arrives at another manor called Marsh End, where many surprises await her. Another man eventually proposes marriage to Jane, but she must listen to her heart and return to the one place where she's ever truly felt at home.

Jane possesses great strength, self-worth and personal dignity. She's a woman who stays true to her principles throughout her entire life, regardless of the many challenges thrown into her path. Also, "Jane Eyre" is a love story of sorts, and it has a very romantic ending, which I always enjoy.

I still think there are parts of this novel that really drag, but I appreciate it a lot more than I did when I was younger. "Jane Eyre" doesn't come close to "Wuthering Heights," in my opinion (Emily was SO the better Bronte!), but it definitely stands on its own as one of the first truly feminist novels ever written.

How can I put into words how much I love this book? I read it for the first time when I was 12, and at 26, it still has the power to stir me as it once did. It has everything one could possibly want in a book. Romance, lust, horrid relatives, a brooding hero, near-death experiences, and to top it off, a mad woman in the attic. I have read literally hundreds and hundreds of books, some more than once, and still Jane Eyre remains my favorite. It is , in my opinion, a must-read in everyone's lifetime. The best of the Bronte sisters work, let alone Charlotte's, you cannot possibly be disappionted at reading this book.

Three authors who greatly influenced the direction of the English novel also happened to be sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte. Charlotte's "Jane Eyre," Emily's "Wuthering Heights, and Anne's "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," extraordinary novels all, comprise this Oxford University Press edition. The people, events and settings which marked these young women's lives, as well as their vivid imaginations, impacted their writing significantly.

Charlotte Brontë consciously tried to achieve financial success from the family's literary efforts. She wanted to make her living as a writer, and her goals were the most professional of the three. Her novel "Jane Eyre," a dark gothic romance, is the story of a governess and her passionate love for her Byronic employer, Mr. Rochester. It is ranked among the great English novels. There are many recurring themes here, some of which are repeated in other works by Charlotte Bronte: relationships between men and women and their different roles and limitations in society; relations between social classes; religion and morality; the need to fulfill the desires of others versus the necessity to maintain one's personal integrity; the conflict between reason and passion, and, of course, Jane's deep need to love and be loved. However, primary to the tale is the magnificent, complex character of Jane herself.

Long before the women's suffrage movement, Miss Bronte created, in the character of Jane, an intelligent, independent, strong-willed female, determined to make her place in the world. Equality between the sexes is not brought up in the novel, neither legally nor politically. What the persona of Jane addresses here is obvious in the following very famous lines: "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. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex."

Emily Bronte is said, by many literary critics, to be the undisputed genius of the family. An uncompromising, enigmatic, almost reclusive personality, she produced only one novel and a few poems, yet she is ranked among the giants of English literature. "Wuthering Heights," her masterpiece, is the wild, passionate story of the intense love between Catherine Earnshaw, another intelligent, independent, strong-willed heroine, and the gypsy-like foundling Heathcliff. This novel, however, is much more than a love story. "Wuthering Heights" is about hatred, cruelty, delusion, frustrated yearning, deep despair and vengeance. At times its very darkness is depressing and painful. Yet love and faithfulness, which endure beyond death, bring hope and much needed light to this tale; as does a second love story, born from the seeds of the first. The author also addresses the issues of social class here. Emily's powerful prose, its very beauty and energy, make the book such a literary classic. Charlotte published "A Biographical Notice of Ellis and Acton Bell" in 1850, in which she explained the morbidity of Emily's work by referring to the "horror of great darkness" in her life.

Of the three extraordinarily gifted Brontë sisters, Anne has been judged the least talented. I say, look at her competition, and her short lifespan. I also think her novel "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," about a young woman's marriage to a dissipated, villainous rake, is brilliant. Some of the behavior described in the narrative is apparently taken from events which Anne witnessed when she worked as a governess. She openly stated that in "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" she, "wished to tell the truth, for truth always conveys its own moral to those who are able to receive it." This well written, extraordinary tale can most definitely hold its own against the works of her sisters, and those of other noted authors of the period. Both "Agnes Grey" and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" have been wildly praised for their realism and integrity.

All three girls were born in Thornton, England in the early 1800s. Their father Patrick, was a poor Anglican clergyman. He and his wife had six children. The two oldest daughters, Maria and Elizabeth died before reaching adulthood. Their brother Patrick Branwell, was just a year older than Emily. Shortly after Anne's birth their father accepted a position in Haworth, located within the Yorkshire moors, a wide, wild, vast, uninhabited wilderness which was to have a major effect on all three women's writing. Emily loved walking the moorlands with her dogs, so much so, in fact, that she became desperately unhappy when away from home. She was extremely introspective, and preferred the outdoors to the company of her peers. Thus she made few friends. Her intensity of character is evident in "Wuthering Heights."

When Mrs. Bronte died, soon after reaching Haworth, the children were cared for by their maternal aunt. Charlotte and Emily were sent to Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire but they returned within a year. The treatment at Cowan Bridge was very harsh, and Charlotte later modeled Lowood School, ("Jane Eyre"), after it. "The food was poor and insufficient and they were treated with inhuman severity." The two oldest sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, actually died as a result of the conditions and the sickness contracted there. Charlotte's fiction is full of motherless and orphaned heroines whose loneliness is frequently the driving force behind their search for a place of belonging

For the next several years, the Bronte children were taught at home. They were extremely inventive and creative with their games and imaginary stories. Charlotte attended Miss Wooler's school at Roe Head for one year in 1831, then returned home and taught her sisters. She went back to the Wooler's school to teach in 1835, but after bouts of depression and poor health, she resigned from her position. Again, Charlotte draws material from this experience to use in Jane Eyre.

Charlotte, Emily and Jane collaborated on a book of poems, published at their own expense, entitled "Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell." The pseudonyms were chosen to match the first letter of their names. In 1847 Anne's "Agnes Grey" and Emily's "Wuthering Heights" were published together in three volumes. Although her first novel, "The Professor" was rejected, Charlotte's "Jane Eyre: An Autobiography" was an immediate success. Oddly, Currer Bell was identified as the editor rather than the author. The subtitle was dropped in subsequent editions.The popularity of the Bronte novels allowed Anne's "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" to be published shortly thereafter. The sisters' identity as authors was at first unknown, even to their publishers. It was not until after the publication of Charlotte's "Shirley" in 1849 that the truth was made public. By the date of this last publication, the Bronte's family life was to be tragically destroyed.

Branwell Bronte, an unstable man with a history of alcohol and opium use died in September 1848. Emily then fell ill and died of tuberculosis December 19, 1848. Anne soon followed, contracting tuberculosis that same year and dying May 28, 1949. Charlotte continued to live virtually alone at Haworth. The three sisters are almost as famous for their short, tragic lives as for their novels.

Charlotte published "Villette" in 1853. During this period, Charlotte also accepted an offer of marriage from her father's curate Arthur Bell Nicholls and on June 29, 1854, she and Nicholls were wed. She became quite ill with toxemia during pregnancy, complicated by the Brontë susceptibility to tuberculosis. She died March 31, 1855. Her first novel "The Professor "was published posthumously in 1857, and a fragment from an unfinished work entitled "Emma" was published in 1860.

Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte were writers destined to have a tremendous impact on English literature. I cannot recommend their novels highly enough.
JANA

OK, I'm no smarter than you are, and I read Jane Eyre and thought it was great. The book has so many themes to it, its not just about love, or money, or whatever- a lot of things are touched on. The main character is someone you'll never forget, just as I write this I'm mentally going over the book and I have that warm feeling in my stomach, thats how I know its a great book, so read it..... and keep me updated!

Just to correct some other comments, the present book is only "Jane Eyre." It is not a collection of books by the Bronte sisters as implied in the spotlight comments above.

This is a great read. I bought this Oxford Classic after reading some very negative comments by Virginia Woolf in her polemic "A Room of One's Own." There she thought that Charlotte Bronte had gone overboard mixing fiction with her own conservative views of feminism. So, I was eager to see how bad this book was.

This is a great read and I read the book almost non-stop for two days. It is hard to put down. This was Charlotte Bronte's first successful book and it is her best. I am reading her next book written after "Jane Eyre", "Shirley," and it is not as clearly structured. The present book is similar in some ways to that great classic "Madame Bovary" in that it is compact, concise, and consists of a well formulated plot; and, it has one strong central protagonist. It is a clear and compelling read. By the way, the character is almost the complete opposite of Madame Bovary in terms of morals.

One can quibble about parts of the story since it relies to some extent on coincidence and luck. Those parts lack realism.

The book was attacked by Christians at the time of publication almost 160 years ago and later by feminists. But that is secondary.

This Oxford version has a good analysis. It has a biography of Charlotte Bronte and comments on her sisters. The Oxford introduction by Sally Shuttleworth places the book in histrical context. Also, extra notes are included on the text. I read the comments after reading the book, and the less you know about the plot before reading the book better off you will be.

This is simply a great read.