Classic
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë
Summary
Orphaned and mistreated as a child, Jane Eyre grows into a fiercely principled governess who falls in love with her brooding employer, Mr. Rochester, only to discover a devastating secret locked away in his house. Brontë gives Jane a first person voice that insists on her own worth and independence at every turn, even when it costs her everything. The novel's fusion of romance, Gothic mystery, and moral conviction made it a landmark in the history of the novel.
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Historical Context & Significance
Brontë published the novel in 1847 under the male pen name Currer Bell to avoid the prejudice facing women writers. Its passionate narrator and its challenge to social convention made it both a sensation and a lasting influence on English fiction.