Books by Charlotte Bronte

Book SynopsisJane Eyre ranks as one of the greatest and most perennially popular works of English fiction. Although the poor but plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, she possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage. She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order. All of which circumscribe her life and position when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic and attractive Mr Rochester. However, there is great kindness and warmth in this epic love story, which is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Ultimately the grand passion of Jane and Rochester is called upon to survive cruel revelation, loss and reunion, only to be confronted with tragedy.

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Book SynopsisJane Eyre ranks as one of the greatest and most perennially popular works of English fiction. Although the poor but plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, she possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage. She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order. All of which circumscribe her life and position when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic and attractive Mr Rochester. However, there is great kindness and warmth in this epic love story, which is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Ultimately the grand passion of Jane and Rochester is called upon to survive cruel revelation, loss and reunion, only to be confronted with tragedy.

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Book SynopsisThe literary masterpieces of the three Brontë sisters in one volume: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.This handsome leather-bound edition includes the most acclaimed novels of each of the Brontë sisters: Charlotte’s Jane Eyre, Emily’s Wuthering Heights, and Anne’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Originally published under male pseudonyms in the 1840s, these three novels later helped give rise to the feminist literary movement of the late nineteenth century, in which women’s perspectives became more accepted by the mainstream reading public. A scholarly introduction provides an overview of the sisters’ childhood in northern England, their literary influences, and their enduring legacy.

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Book SynopsisA fine exclusive edition of one of literature’s most beloved stories. Featuring a laser-cut jacket on a textured book with foil stamping.

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Book SynopsisWith an Introduction and Notes by Sally Minogue The Shirley of the title is a woman of independent means; her friend Caroline is not. Both struggle with what a woman's role is and can be. Their male counterparts - Louis, the powerless tutor, and Robert, his cloth-manufacturing brother - also stand at odds to society's expectations. The novel is set in a period of social and political ferment, featuring class disenfranchisement, the drama of Luddite machine-breaking, and the divisive effects of the Napoleonic Wars. But Charlotte Brontës particular strength lies in exploring the hidden psychological drama of love, loss and the quest for identity. Personal and public agitation are brought together against the dramatic backdrop of her native Yorkshire. As always, Brontë challenges convention, exploring the limitations of social justice whilst telling not one but two love stories.

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Book SynopsisBased on the 1848 edition text, the Brontës’ gifted biographer provides a superlative Norton Critical Edition of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel.

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Book SynopsisJane Eyre ranks as one of the greatest and most perennially popular works of English fiction. Although the poor but plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, she possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage.She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order. All of which circumscribe her life and position when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic and attractive Mr Rochester.However, there is great kindness and warmth in this epic love story, which is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Ultimately the grand passion of Jane and Rochester is called upon to survive cruel revelation, loss and reunion, only to be confronted with tragedy.

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Book SynopsisCharlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre has gripped readers since its 1847 publication. Thousands of readers since then have been drawn by the vigour of Jane's voice and the novel's forceful depiction of childhood injustice, of the restraints placed upon women, and the complexities of both faith and passion.Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the text Select Bibliography A Chronology of Charlotte Brontë Jane Eyre Appendix A: Opinions of the Press (as printed at the end of the third edition) Appendix B: Charlotte Brontës Punctuation Explanatory Notes and Selected Variants

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Book SynopsisWith an Introduction and Notes by Dr Sally Minogue, Department of English, Canterbury Christ Church University College. Based on Charlotte Brontë's personal experience as a teacher in Brussels, Villette is a moving tale of repressed feelings and subjection to cruel circumstance and position, borne with heroic fortitude. Rising above the frustrations of confinement within a rigid social order, it is also the story of a woman's right to love and be loved.

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Book SynopsisThe Professor (1845-6), written before Jane Eyre, challenged contemporary expectations of the novel by its brevity, realism, and insistence on a working career both before and after marriage for its hero and heroine. Strikingly up to date for its period, the action begins against a background of the fight for better factory conditions in the 1830s, and finishes in the early 1840s with the spread of liberal ideas which led to the continental revolutions of 1848.This edition is based directly on the author''s fair copy manuscript, and also includes `Emma'', Charlotte Brontë''s last, unfinished attempt to write a novel after Villette. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify t

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Book Synopsis'I must have action! And if I cannot find it, I will make it.' Jane Eyre may be poor, obscure, plain and little, but she has heart and soul – and plenty of it. Chris Bush's witty and fleet-footed adaptation lays bare the beating heart of Charlotte Brontë's classic novel, whilst staying true to its revolutionary spirit. With actor-musicians, playful doubling, and a plethora of nineteenth-century pop hits, it was first produced at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, and the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, in 2022, directed by Zoë Waterman. 'One of the UK’s most exciting young playwrights' The Stage 'A writer of great wit and empathy' The TimesTrade Review'An original approach to adapting the novel... deals wittily with the entire book, but concentrates on the most telling scenes, linking the whole thing up with song and dance... the final scene is as moving as you could wish for' * Reviews Hub *'Gripping and lucid... light on its feet... a brooding study of morality and desire' * Guardian *'Admirable and impressive' * The Stage *'Fluid, fast-paced and gripping... Does a fine job of preserving the key plot elements of Charlotte Brontë's original novel... Bush is particularly good at conveying the deep affection (and erotic charge) that exists between Jane and Rochester' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book Synopsis`Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart!'Trade Review“The new Collins Classroom Classic editions are perfect for schools – clear text, bright covers, a good size for pockets and bags, and a great price that makes buying new class or cohort sets very attractive in these budget-conscious times.” de Stafford School

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Book SynopsisFollowing the death of her uncle, the orphan Jane Eyre is sent to the Lowood School, where she grows into a confident and well-educated young woman. When Jane leaves Lowood to become a governess at Thornfield, she falls in love with Mr. Rochester, her pupil's guardian.

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Book SynopsisWith an Introduction and Notes by Dr Sally Minogue. The Professor is Charlotte Brontës first novel, in which she audaciously inhabits the voice and consciousness of a man, William Crimsworth. Like Jane Eyre he is parentless; like Lucy Snowe in Villette he leaves the certainties of England to forge a life in Brussels. But as a man, William has freedom of action, and as a writer Brontë is correspondingly liberated, exploring the relationship between power and sexual desire. William's first person narration reveals his attraction to the dominating directress of the girls' school where he teaches, played out in the school's 'secret garden'. Balanced against this is his more temperate relationship with one of his pupils, Frances Henri, in which mastery and submission interplay. The Professor was published only after Charlotte Brontës death; today it gives us a fascinating insight into the first stirrings of her supreme creative imagination.

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Book Synopsis''You expected bread, and you have got a stone; break your teeth on it, and don''t shriek...you will have learned the great lesson how to endure without a sob.''Shirley is Charlotte Brontë''s only historical novel and her most topical one. Written at a time of social unrest, it is set during the period of the Napoleonic Wars, when economic hardship led to riots in the woollen district of Yorkshire. A mill-owner, Robert Moore, is determined to introduce new machinery despite fierce opposition from his workers; he ignores their suffering, and puts his own life at risk. Robert sees marriage to the wealthy Shirley Keeldar as the solution to his difficulties, but he loves his cousin Caroline. She suffers misery and frustration, and Shirley has her own ideas about the man she will choose to marry. The friendship between the two women, and the contrast between their situations, is at the heart of this compelling novel, which is suffused with Brontë''s deep yearning for an earlier time. ABOUT

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Book SynopsisA new edition of this classic from one of the greatest writers of the nineteenth century. Features the definitive Clarendon edition of Villette which is sourced from the earliest printings of Brontë's great work. The text is supplemented with a newly commissioned introduction, which gives a thorough and in depth analysis of the context of this fine example of the nineteenth century novel.

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Book SynopsisThe more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. This is a story of a defiant, fiercely intelligent woman who refuses to accept her appointed place in society and instead finds love on her own terms has become famous as one of the greatest romances ever written.

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Book SynopsisAlmost 170 years on, Charlotte Brontë's story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring as ever. This bold and dynamic production uncovers one woman's fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms.From her beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre's spirited heroine faces life's obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart.This inventive staging of Brontë''s masterpiece was first staged by Bristol Old Vic in 2014, when the story was performed over two evenings. Director Sally Cookson now brings her celebrated production to the National Theatre, presented as a single, exhilarating performance.Trade Review‘Even in what is fast becoming a very strong opening season from Rufus Norris at the National, Sally Cookson's staging of Jane Eyre still stands out.’ * British Theatre Guide *‘The book has been filleted cleverly… Inventive, moving and at times unexpectedly funny, this is an admirable piece of devised theatre.’ * The Express *‘clever, touching, minimalist yet expansive… makes you see entire new possibilities in theatre. I recommend it with a roar’ * Daily Mail ????? *‘Cookson and her company stripped Charlotte Brontë's novel down to its bones; what was left was plot and emotion… the magic, the passion, the raw pain is allowed to remain intact.’ * Culture Whisper *‘Newcomers and Brontë-holics alike will be gripped, amused and moved by a boldly theatrical show.’ * The Times *‘Sally Cookson’s production is full of wit, resource and invention.’ * Michael Billington, Guardian *'This is a production full of intelligent detail... Original, engaging and unexpectedly funny... an adaptation that Charlotte Bronte herself might have approved.' * Telegraph *‘A continually absorbing achievement.’ * Telegraph *‘A remarkable performance of startling modernity and unaffected honesty.’ * Guardian *‘A vivid two-part adaptation that combines powerful drama and unexpected humour.’ * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisInspired by a box of wooden toy soldiers given as a present to her elder brother Branwell in 1826, Charlotte Brontë created, together with her siblings, a series of tales set in the imaginary realm of Glass Town. In ‘The Green Dwarf’, against the backdrop of war, the arrogant aristocrat Colonel Percy and the enigmatic Mr Leslie are vying for the affections of the beautiful Lady Emily. Soon, with the rivals both on the front line, and with the scheming Percy hatching a plot that involves the mysterious Green Dwarf, Leslie finds himself facing danger on all sides… Full of tragedy and passion, love and rivalry, the five sweeping tales contained in this volume display the precocious talent, lively imagination and flair for storytelling of the young Charlotte Brontë.Trade ReviewWho that has known her books has not admired the artist’s noble English, the burning love of truth, the bravery, the simplicity, the indignation at wrong, the eager sympathy, the pious love and reverence, the passionate honour, so to speak, of the woman? -- William Makepeace ThackerayIt's a cracker… It is novelettish. It is Gothic. It is funny… -- Libby PurvesTable of ContentsContains: 'The Green Dwarf’, 'The Foundling’, 'The Secret’, 'Lily Hart’, 'The Spell’ and 'Tales of the Islanders’

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Book SynopsisIntroduction and Notes by Dr Sally Minogue, Canterbury Christ Church University College. Jane Eyre ranks as one of the greatest and most perennially popular works of English fiction. Although the poor but plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, she possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage. She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order. All of which circumscribe her life and position when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic and attractive Mr Rochester. However, there is great kindness and warmth in this epic love story, which is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Ultimately the grand passion of Jane and Rochester is called upon to survive cruel revelation, loss and reunion, only to be confronted with tragedy.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.

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Book SynopsisCharlotte Brontë's moving masterpiece – the novel that has been teaching true strength of character for generations (The Guardian). Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American ReadA novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre has dazzled generations of readers with its depiction of a woman's quest for freedom. 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 survivor-qualities 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? This updated Penguin Classics edition features a new introduction by Brontë scholar and awarTrade Review"At the end we are steeped through and through with the genius, the vehemence, the indignation of Charlotte Brontë."--Virginia Woolf

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Book SynopsisIn time for the 200th anniversary of her birth, a Penguin Hardcover Classics edition of the book many believe to be Charlotte Brontë''s crowning achievementWith neither friends nor family, Lucy Snowe sets sail from England to find employment in a girls'' boarding school in the small town of Villette. There she struggles to retain her self-possession in the face of unruly pupils, an initially suspicious headmaster, and her own complex feelings, first for the school''s English doctor and then for the dictatorial professor Paul Emmanuel. Drawing on her own deeply unhappy experiences as a governess in Brussels, Charlotte Brontë''s last and most autobiographical novel is a powerfully moving study of isolation and the pain of unrequited love.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.Trade ReviewI am only just returned to a sense of real wonder about me, for I have been reading Villette - there is something preternatural about its power -- George Eliot

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Book SynopsisThe hero of Charlotte Bronte''s first novel escapes a dreary clerkship in industrial Yorkshire by taking a job as a teacher in Belgium. There, however, his entanglement with the sensuous but manipulative Zoraide Reuter, complicates his affections for a penniless girl who is both teacher and pupil in Reuter''s school.

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest gothic love stories of all time, JANE EYRE tellsof a lowly, plain governess who falls in love with the dashingMr Rochester - who hides a terrible secret. An epic romance seton the Yorkshire moors, and a book that young girls will returnto again and again.

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Book SynopsisVillette is Charlotte Brontë''s powerful autobiographical novel of one woman''s search for true love, edited with an introduction by Helen M. Cooper in Penguin Classics.With neither friends nor family, Lucy Snowe sets sail from England to find employment in a girls'' boarding school in the small town of Villette. There, she struggles to retain her self-possession in the face of unruly pupils, the hostility of headmistress Madame Beck, and her own complex feelings - first for the school''s English doctor and then for the dictatorial professor Paul Emanuel. Drawing on her own deeply unhappy experiences as a governess in Brussels, Charlotte Brontë''sautobiographical novel, the last published during her lifetime, is a powerfully moving study of loneliness and isolation, and the pain of unrequited love, narrated by a heroine determined to preserve an independent spirit in the face of adverse circumstances. Helen M. Cooper''s new introduction places the novel in the context of Brontë''s life and career and argues for the importance of the novel as an exploration of imperialism.Charlotte Brontë (1816-55), eldest of the Brontë sisters, was born in Thornton, West Yorkshire. Jane Eyre was first published in 1847 under the pen-name Currer Bell, and was followed by Shirley (1848) and Vilette (1853). In 1854 Charlotte Brontë married her father''s curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls. She died during her pregnancy on 31 March 1855 in Haworth, Yorkshire. The Professor was posthumously published in 1857.If you liked Villette, you may enjoy Elizabeth Gaskell''s Cranford, also available in Penguin Classics.''I am only just returned to a sense of real wonder about me, for I have been reading Villette'' George Eliot''Her finest novel''Virginia WoolfTrade ReviewI am only just returned to a sense of real wonder about me, for I have been reading Villette... (George Eliot)"

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Book SynopsisWhen the orphaned William refuses his uncles’ proposal to become a clergyman and angrily leaves his job in the counting-house of his brother’s mill, he decides to accept a position as an English teacher at a boys’ school in Brussels. When his career leads him to take up an additional post at a girls’ school nearby, William becomes emotionally involved with the manipulative headmistress of the establishment, Mademoiselle Reuter. The tensions rise until one of his pupils and fellow teachers – for whom he has tender feelings – is suddenly dismissed and is nowhere to be found. Based on Charlotte Brontë’s own autobiographical experience in Brussels as a teacher and only published posthumously, The Professor was Charlotte Brontë’s first attempt at full-length fiction and bears all the hallmarks of her future work, with touches of genius and an unparalleled sharpness of style.Trade ReviewAt the end we are steeped through and through with the genius, the vehemence, the indignation of Charlotte Bronte ... It is the red and fitful glow of the heart's fire which illuminates her page. -- Virginia Woolf

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Book SynopsisOne of the most widely-read and enjoyed of all Victorian novels, and one of the greatest tales of a woman''s struggle for dignity and love in a hard time.Orphaned Jane Eyre endures an unhappy childhood, hated by her aunt and cousins and then sent to comfortless Lowood School. But life there improves and Jane stays on as a teacher, though she still longs for love and friendship. At Mr Rochester''s house, where she goes to work as a governess, she hopes she might have found them - until she learns the terrible secret of the attic.

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Book SynopsisThe narrator, the autobiographical Lucy Snowe, flees England and a tragic past to become an instructor in a French boarding school in the town of Villette. There she unexpectedly confronts her feelings of love and longing as she witnesses the fitful romance between Dr. John, a handsome young Englishman, and Ginerva Fanshawe, a beautiful coquette

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Book Synopsis‘A man is master of himself to a certain point …’ William ventures to Brussels in the hope of becoming a teacher. But he quickly finds that the culture of Catholic Belgians is strikingly different to that of the Victorian English. Lonely and homesick, William becomes involved with the plotting headmistress, all the while developing feelings for the shy impoverished teacher, Frances Henri.

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Book Synopsis‘If life be a war, it seemed my destiny to conduct it single-handed.’ Young and self-absorbed, Lucy Snowe travels from England in order to seek employment in a girls’ boarding school in a small French town: Villette. After facing isolation and societal pressure, Lucy desires freedom, love and balance in her life. Ultimately, Lucy must make a crucial decision that will impact her, for better or for worse.

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Book SynopsisLittle treasures, the FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library. Each stunning, gift edition features deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The unabridged text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader. Perhaps one of the most well-known books in the world, Jane Eyre follows the life of its eponymous orphaned protagonist. From her early life Jane is strong-willed, passionate and kind but comes up against a lot of struggles. She lives with her aunt and uncle during early childhood, where she suffers under her aunt’s strict discipline before transferring to Lowood Institution. The story follows her life – through heartbreaks and joys, exploring women’s rights, social criticism, madness and morality. Charlotte Brontë created a powerful and emotionally evocative novel that has lost none of its power since its publication over 150 years ago.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you!'Meek, measured, but determined, Jane Eyre is a child born into unfortunate circumstances. Orphaned, mistreated by her cruel aunt and eventually sent away to boarding school, it is not until she becomes a governess at the grand and imposing Thornfield Hall that Jane begins to find happiness, becoming powerfully drawn to Mr Rochester, her brooding and stormy master. But strange and unnerving events have been occurring at Thornfield, and the demons of Rochester's past threaten to shatter everything Jane has grown to hold dear.Originally published in 1847 under the pseudonym Currer Bell, Jane Eyre is Charlotte Br

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart!'Meek, measured, but determined, Jane Eyre is a child born into unfortunate circumstances. Orphaned, mistreated by her cruel aunt and eventually sent away to boarding school, it is not until she becomes a governess at the imposing Thornfield Hall that Jane begins to find happiness, drawn to Mr Rochester, the brooding and stormy master. But strange and unnerving events have been occurring at Thornfield, and the demons of Rochester's past threaten to shatter everything Jane has grown to hold dear.Originally published in 1847 under the pseudonym Currer Bell, Jane Eyre is Charlotte Brontë's best known novel, a Gothic masterpiece of character and emotion.

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Book SynopsisA deluxe Harper Perennial Legacy Edition, with an introduction from Mallory Ortberg, New York Times best-selling author of Texts from Jane EyreCharlotte Bronte’s final and most autobiographical novel—even more critically acclaimed than Jane Eyre during its time—is a brilliant story of repressed passion and unrequited love in the fictional French town of VilletteLucy Snowe is a young woman alone in the world after a terrible event of which she never speaks. With no home, no family, and no prospects, she sets out on her own to the small French town of Villette, where she finds work as a governess at a boarding school for girls. When a handsome doctor from her past appears in Villette, Lucy believes she may at last be free of loneliness—if her rigorous self-control doesn’t conceal her true feelings.Based on Charlotte Bronte’s own experiences at a boarding school in Belgium, Villette

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Book SynopsisJane Eyre is the inspiring heroine of one of the best-loved British novels of all time. As an orphan, Jane''s childhood is not an easy one but her independence and strength of character keep her going through the miseries inflicted by cruel relatives and a brutal school. However, her biggest challenge is yet to come. Trade ReviewNever fails to reconnect me to the spirit of real romance… Timeless story… Every page throbs with passion. * Saga Magazine *After all these years, it’s the emotions we most respond to in Jane Eyre… This is also a novel about intellectual growth, written by a fiercely intelligent writer… She has a formidable brain as well as a strongly beating heart, and so it will still seem another 100 years from now. -- Sam Jordison * Guardian *Wonderful, teasing… That her great novel of wish-fulfilment is still widely devoured is the supreme happy ending. -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Spectator *Marred only by the fact that Charlotte clearly liked Mr Rochester too much; but we can forgive her that. Often given to schoolchildren to read, but you have to be a grown-up to really get it. One of the most perfectly structured novels of all time -- Sarah WatersAt the end we are steeped through and through with the genius, the vehemence, the indignation of Charlotte Brontë -- Virginia Woolf

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Book SynopsisRead this beautiful, romantic feminist classic from the author of Jane Eyre.When Lucy Snowe leaves England to look for a new life on the Continent she has no idea what lies in store for her. This quiet, lonely girl must learn quickly when she finds herself teaching in a foreign school, with no friends or family to rely on. However, it''s not long before figures from Lucy''s past appear and she becomes involved in dilemmas which inspire new and passionate feelings in her. ''I am only just returned to a sense of the real world about me, for I have been reading Villette ... There is something preternatTrade ReviewWeird and wonderful * Guardian *So original, so transgressive in its content and so startlingly unorthodox in its form, that its 19th-century readers were dumbfounded by it...a visionary description of psychic life ...a subtle and dazzlingly inventive exploration of areas of consciousness never mapped in fiction before, and seldom since * Sunday Times *Villette has always been the most heart-squeezing of the Bronte novels...a perfect study of quiet desperation...a rich novel * Sunday Express *A novel with an unconscious mind. The deeper you dig, the more disturbing it becomes -- Lucasta Miller * Independent *Charlotte Bronte's most profound achievement * Independent *

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Book SynopsisJane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is one of the most loved English Classics of all time. Mystery, hardship - and love.Jane comes from nothing but she desires everything life can offer her. And when she finds work as a governess in a mysterious mansion, it seems she has finally met her match with the darkly fascinating Mr Rochester. But Thornfield Hall contains a shameful secret - one that could keep Jane and Rochester apart forever. Can she choose between what is right, and her one chance of happiness?***One of the most widely-read and enjoyed of all Victorian novels, and one of the greatest tales of a woman''s struggle for dignity and love in a hard time***Charlotte Brontë (1816-55) is the sister of Anne Brontë and Emily Brontë, author of Wuthering Heights. Jane Eyre appeared in 1847 and was followed by Shirley (1848) and Vilette (1853). In 1854 Charlotte Brontë married her father''s curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls.Trade Review"At the end we are steeped through and through with the genius, the vehemence, the indignation of Charlotte Brontë."--Virginia Woolf

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Book SynopsisOrphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity.Trade Review"At the end we are steeped through and through with the genius, the vehemence, the indignation of Charlotte Brontë."--Virginia Woolf

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Book SynopsisThe Penguin English Library Edition of Villette by Charlotte Brontë''That evening more firmly than ever fastened into my soul the conviction that Fate was of stone, and Hope a false idol - blind, bloodless, and of granite core. I felt, too, that the trial God had appointed me was gaining its climax, and must now be turned by my own hands, hot, feeble, trembling as they were''With neither friends nor family, Lucy Snowe sets sail from England to find employment in a girls'' boarding school in the small town of Villette. There she struggles to retain her self-possession in the face of unruly pupils, an initially suspicious headmaster and her own complex feelings, first for the school''s English doctor and then for the dictatorial professor Paul Emmanuel. Drawing on her own deeply unhappy experiences as a governess in Brussels, Charlotte Brontë''s last and most autobiographical novel is a powerfully moving study of isolation and the pain of unrequited love, narrated by a heroine determined to preserve an independent spirit in the face of adverse circumstances.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

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