A review by zealforneil
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

emotional funny mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Jane Eyre is a vast autobiographical-fiction tale, of a journey of love, self-doubt and growing. I have now read in the last few months Rebecca, widely acknowledged to be inspired by Jane Eyre; Jamaica Inn, and now Jane Eyre. As a triptych they span in setting over a century and are placed in opposite ends of England. But as a collection of stories about women, by women, they have been fascinating to consume, analyse and compare. Jane Eyre is not as psychological as Rebecca or swashbuckling as Jamaica Inn and places much more emphasis on Christian messaging. But its gentle titular protagonist is the most absorbing, her narrative style the most evocative of her experiences. I can clearly see how this has become a classic, a key part of the evolution of English-language fiction.
This is the second story I have listened to through BBC Sounds, and the first ‘feature-length’ novel. The narrator of this book, Katherine Press, is superb, with fantastic enunciation of each character’s mannerisms. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings