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| Jane Eyre (Penguin Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: Charlotte Bronte
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Category: Book
List Price: $8.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 1899
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 624
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 0141441143
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.8
EAN: 9780141441146
ASIN: 0141441143
Publication Date: August 15, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW
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Product Description
A new edition of one of Penguins top ten Classicsthe novel that has been teaching true strength of character for generations
(The Guardian)
A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre has dazzled generations of readers with its depiction of a womans quest for freedom. This updated edition features a new introduction discussing the novels political and magical dimensions. Having grown up an orphan in the home of her cruel aunt and at a harsh charity school, Jane Eyre becomes an independent and spirited survivorqualities that serve her well as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer, Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him whatever the consequences or follow her convictions, even if it means leaving her beloved?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
 Love Story Sublime April 23, 2007
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
There is so much to be said for this novel that it's difficult to know where to begin. It is a superb evocation of a time and place; it is a complex, detailed character study; it has a believable and compelling plot; and, more than anything else, it is a magnificent love story.
Of course, love stories are the common denominator of human existence and have been the subject of literature since mankind first put charcoal to rock, so the fact that Jane Eyre is a love story is nothing terribly significant. No, what makes this novel so special is the thoughtfulness with which its narrator, Jane Eyre herself, documents her love affair. She is extremely intelligent, she carefully analyzes her feelings and actions, and she is scrupulously honest with both herself and her reader. This is what sets it apart: it is the depth of these thoughts and feelings that make the novel interesting. Beyond that, though, it is the character of Jane, slowly revealed, that makes the novel a delight.
The plot is Jane's story. Orphaned, she is sent to live with her cruel aunt and cousins. At the age of ten she is sent away for good to a charity school, at which she gets her education, but which is run in such a miserly fashion that many of the students there actually die of disease and starvation. Jane survives, and at the age of eighteen, is able to secure a position as a governess to a child in a great house of England: Thornfield Hall. It is owned by Edward Rochester, the man who will become the centerpiece of her life.
How the two begin to slowly realize their affection for one another, how they then cautiously begin to act on their feelings, and how they must then surmount the obstacles in their path--both societal and self-inflicted--are what make up the bulk of the novel. There are at least a few surprises along the way. The strong-willed Jane's moral code requires that she respond to these difficulties in certain ways. It is to the novel's and the author's great credit that these decisions are never simply made; Jane agonizes over them in heart-wrenching fashion. As in life, the standards one chooses to live by can be difficult to maintain.
This defining tension is what drives the novel, but that it is delivered in such a skillful and assured way is what raises it to its lofty status. The dialogue, particularly, is fantastic. It is the stuff of an actor's dream: much of it can be interpreted in several different ways. Jane describes Rochester as being moody and tempestuous, and he often is, but at the same time--particularly after Jane agrees to marry him--he is hilariously wry and bemused. Jane comes across as being earnest and pleading, but she can be very playful and is often flirtatious. As mentioned above, these are deep, achingly human characters.
The setting is also very evocative. The English countryside, class system and moral understanding were obviously familiar to those who read the book in Ms. Bronte's day, and probably familiar to many of us in this day and age. Nevertheless, Ms. Bronte took the time to document these things carefully. The descriptions of Rochester's home, the lanes in front if it and its orchards and fields; the destitute and grimly cold school for girls; and the small country town where Jane makes the acquaintance of a small group of benefactors towards the end of the novel are all a testament to life as it existed at this distant time and age.
The novel is looked upon as a classic and should be. Ms. Bronte not only created a beautiful piece having to do with the nature of love--personal to her but universal in nature--but did so in such a spectacular way that she actually makes the reader feel this love, both for her creation, and for her.
Jane Eyre: A Marriage of Popular Appeal and Literary Value, by Alicia Garff November 9, 2007
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
A passionate romance set in the rugged Moors of England, a strong female protagonist that conquers trial after trial, a dark mystery hiding in the confines of a lonely mansion, and similar elements fill the pages of many books marketed to the general masses. They also constitute the plot line of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel. Jane Eyre, however, is not your run-of-the-mill romance novel meant merely to keep readers glued to the page and to then be forgotten amidst numerous other stories of love and adventure. Bronte rewards more careful readers with a depth of content that elevate her work from average romance novel to enduring classic.
Jane Eyre is an appealing book for readers of various skill levels because it involves elements of an exciting plot (suspense, emotion, and satisfaction) as well as elements of complex and thought-provoking literature (theme, imagery, diction, and figurative language).
An Exciting Plot
Suspense
Few things motivate readers, especially those not as interested in the literary value of a work, more than suspense, and the plot of Jane Eyre has plenty of it. This passage describing the mysterious laughter Jane repeatedly hears at Thornfield Hall is a good example. "This was a demoniac laugh...uttered, as it seemed, at the very keyhole of my chamber door...As I still gazed, the unnatural sound was reiterated: and I knew it came form behind the panels." The reader encountering this and other passages cannot help but wonder where the laughter comes from and how it is related to Jane and Mr. Rochester. Suspenseful plot elements in Jane Eyre keep readers interested and excited enough to continue reading the book.
Emotion
Another aspect of literature that makes a novel appealing to all types of readers is emotion and especially emotional attachment to and identification with its characters. Bronte is able to appeal to the pathos of her readers to keep her readers engaged and interested. One of the best examples of a passage that involves such an appeal to pathos occurs at the point where Jane must decide whether to give into her love for Mr. Rochester or take the higher moral path and leave him. "My very conscience and reason turned traitors against me, and charged me with crime in resisting him. They spoke almost as loud as Feeling: and that clamored wildly. `Oh, comply!' it said... `Soothe him; save him; love him; tell him you love him and will be his. Who in the world cares for you?'" This passage is bursting with emotion, emphasized by the choice of dramatic words such as "clamored" and "wildly". Readers vicariously feel Jane's anguish in the battle she fights for herself. This intensity, along with the pitiable situation Jane is in, causes readers to feel enough sympathy for her to continue reading to find out exactly what choice Jane makes and what the consequence is.
Satisfaction--SPOILER ALERT
Many readers become frustrated and impatient with novels that, in maintaining their theme and artistry, end ambiguously or tragically. Jane Eyre provides readers with a satisfying happy ending. Few readers could be frustrated with Jane's description of her wonderful marriage. "I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blest--blest beyond what language can express; because I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine." This is the perfect ending to a reader's escape into Jane's journey. After enduring Jane's hardships with her, readers come away feeling contented with the outcome of the story and optimistic about human nature in general.
Literary Elements
Theme
Jane Eyre explores several themes make the book interesting to a reader who has more experience with great works of literature. One example is the idea of conflict between passion and moral responsibility. Jane is forced to decide whether her commitment to her religious beliefs is strong enough to withstand the entreaties of Mr. Rochester. The same example previously used to illustrate the emotion in the novel also illustrates this theme. Although "conscience and reason turn traitors" against her, Jane ultimately chooses to stay true to her values. "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." During her stay with St. John, Jane is also forced to make a decision between emotion and "moral responsibility". St. John asks Jane to travel with him as a missionary's wife, telling her, "God and nature intended you for a missionary's wife...You are formed for labor, not for love." Here Jane is faced with an influence opposite of that she had previously struggled with. She must decide whether she is really meant to give up any hope of love in marriage and lose herself in missionary work. In the end, Jane realizes that she is needed with Mr. Rochester and that she does not need to abandon her feelings entirely in the way St. John wanted her to. These experiences show the fine line between emotion and duty and are worthy of appreciation by a well-read individual.
Imagery
Bronte does a beautiful job of adding imagery to Jane Eyre, making it an enjoyable read for those who appreciate the artistry of literature. A good example is the passage where Bronte describes Jane's feelings after she finds out that Mr. Rochester is married to another woman. "Jane Eyre...was a cold, solitary girl again. A Christmas frost had come at midsummer; a white December storm had whirled over June; ice glazed the ripe apples, drifts crushed the blowing roses; on hayfield and cornfield lay a frozen shroud: lanes which last night blushed full of flowers, to-day were pathless with untrodden snow." Cold imagery, such as "ice, frost, storm, and frozen," is paired with images of joy and warmth, such as "June, apples, roses, and flowers," to show the immense change in Jane's emotions. A work of less literary quality could have expressed the same idea in a much less interesting statement such as, "I became very depressed when I found out that Mr. Rochester was already married." It is details like the wonderful imagery used here that set Jane Eyre apart from the average and make it much more enjoyable and fulfilling for a person who enjoys the beauty and poetry of language.
Diction
The diction in Jane Eyre is chosen to add to the overall dark and foreboding mood of the novel. This masterful use of diction enriches the experience of the reader as the book progresses. When Jane first meets Mr. Rochester, he is described using words such as "dark," "stern," "ireful," and "thwarted." These words fit with the ominous nature of the scene and also characterize Mr. Rochester. The use of the word "thwarted" is especially interesting in its indication that Mr. Rochester has been somehow broken or disappointed. Another example of excellent use of words occurs in the passage quoted in the previous section. Beyond cold and warmth imagery, active verbs such as "whirled" and "crushed" are used to show the violent change that has occurred in Jane's life. Bronte's diction make Jane Eyre more meaningful and enjoyable.
Figurative Language
Along with a wealth of imagery and artistic use of words, Bronte also adds figurative language to her novel, increasing its depth and complexity and making it more rewarding for lovers of great literature. The passage used to demonstrate emotion is, once again, a good example of how figurative language is used. Rather than merely saying that Jane faced a conflict between her emotions and sense of duty, Bronte personifies conscience and reason. The idea of "conscience and reason" turning "traitors," speaking, and "charging with crime" makes Jane's choice seem all the more desperate and the pull toward life with Mr. Rochester all the more convincing. Personification in the phrase "Feeling that clamoured wildly" accomplishes the same purpose. This and other passages that use figurative language make Jane Eyre more memorable and admirable for careful readers.
Jane Eyre is an extremely well-crafted novel that is able to appeal to people interested in reading for light enjoyment without sacrificing literary integrity. Anyone can enjoy this novel, whether they are looking for an escape from reality, an exciting story, or a rich literary experience. Jane Eyre will leave anyone who reads it at least with satisfaction if not with literary inspiration and food for thought. I highly recommend it to anyone who takes pleasure in reading.
An unconventional heroine September 5, 2008
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
In many ways, `Jane Eyre' can be seen as an autobiographical novel. Certainly, Charlotte Bronte drew on her experiences as both pupil and teacher in shaping the character of Jane Eyre. The story of Jane Eyre is a triumph of character and spirit over circumstance. Jane herself is depicted as small and plain and with an independent spirit. She believes, fundamentally, in equality and, absolutely, in the healing power of love.
The story can be read on a number of different levels: as a triumph of `good' over `evil'; as a claim of a woman's independence; and as a love story. I have read it three different times over the past 40 years and have formed different impressions each time. Perhaps on a fourth read I may form another impression altogether different.
`Jane Eyre' is a wonderful mixture of the conventional and the unconventional. Jane is a survivor who uses her strength of character to survive the adversities which form part of her life. Many of the views expressed through the characters had critics arguing about the relative morality of the work. Some of those debates would be viewed with astonishment through our late 20th and early 21st century eyes but in the context of the 19th century it was not accepted that women could be the equal of men.
Charlotte Bronte wrote `Jane Eyre' in 1846, and it was accepted for publication in 1847. Charlotte outlived her younger sisters Emily and Anne and had a number of other novels published: each of her novels is worth reading.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Good book, not good edition for first-time readers February 11, 2007
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
I bought this edition (Penguin Classics), and was very disappointed. I knew only a little bit about the story, and I hate having plots ruined ahead of time. The notes in the back, however, did just that - I was hoping they would explain a few things that I didn't understand (old usages, etc), but they just notes about how Bronte was referencing other works or about how there was something that showed up later in the book as well.
This book is a classic that's remained popular for a reason, though. I recommend reading it, but if you haven't read it before, use a different edition than this or don't look at any of the notes.
I enjoyed this so much more the second time around March 16, 2007
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
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. The version I read is Selected Works of the Bronte Sisters (Wordsworth Special Editions) (Wordsworth Special Editions), so I did not have the distraction of the foot notes to refer to, and I don't feel that I missed much without them. Highly highly recommended, one that should be taken off the shelf and reread every couple of years or so.
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