Book Description
'It is in every way worthy of what one great woman should have written of another.'Patrick BronteElizabeth Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Bronte (1857) is a pioneering biography of one great Victorian woman novelist by another.Gaskell was a friend of Charlotte Bronte, and, having been invited to write the offical life, determined both to tell the truth and to honour her friend.She contacted those who had known Charlotte and travelled extensively in England and Belgium to gather material.She wrote from a vivid accumulation of letters, interviews, and observation, establishing the details of Charlotte's life and recreating her background.Through an often difficult and demanding process, Gaskell created a vital sense of a life hidden from the world.This edition is based on the Third Edition of 1857, revised by Gaskell.It has been collated with the manuscript, and the previous two editions, as well as with Charlotte Bront'e's letters, and thus offers fuller information about the process of composition than any previous edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

What was left unsaid...
While the definitive overall Brontes biography is Juliet Barker's 'The Brontes', and the various Bronte-related works of Edward Chitham are invaluable in their own right, this still stands as an important contribution to understanding the Brontes, and Charlotte above all.

Despite its flaws, and I agree with other reviewers, that this is a rather dark picture of events, Elizabeth wrote a detailed and very sympathetic account of Charlotte's life and her relationship to her family. Her inclusion of letter content, epecially in relation to Ellen Nussey, was somewhat self-edited, and the lack of references to the romantic friendship that so clearly existed between the two women, was probably Elizabeth's attempt to protect them.

For anyone who is interested in the truth of their passionate relationship, I highly recommend Elaine Miller's detailed essay 'Through All Changes and Through All Chances' from the book Not A Passing Phase, compiled by the Lesbian History Group. The letter excerpts that Elaine includes clearly indicate that Charlotte and Ellen not only loved each other, but that they jointly expressed a long-term desire to live together 'until Death'.

When Ellen Nussey wanted to publish her own 'The Story of the Brontes' which would have included many excerpts from the hundreds of letters that Charlotte had sent her, Arthur Nicholls blocked permission, as he owned copyright to the contents of the letters, even though Ellen owned the letters themselves. Nicholls - Charlotte's husband of only nine months - also destroyed all of the literally hundreds of letters from Ellen to Charlotte, and even tried to insist that Ellen destroy all of Charlotte's letters to her, during Charlotte's lifetime.

Elizabeth is clearly no fan of Nicholls, but that is hardly surprising in view of his destruction of so much of Charlotte's personal writing material.

For an insight into the lives of Charlotte and her family and the Haworth area in that time period, this is still and always will be an important book.

The Life of Charlotte Bronte? What life?
Have tried to read Elizabeth Gaskell's biography of Jane Eyre several times but found it so depressing that I couldn't get through the first chapters.I thought it would be easier on tape which, to some extent it is. However, the content is no less depressing and tragic. The family live at Howarth Parsonage, an isolated place in the north of England. There are six children, two of whom die from tuberculosis and consumption in their school years; the mother dies young;the brother dies of alcoholism and Emily and Ann both die in their 20s. The tragedy is that of extraordinary talent snuffed out so early in life.
The majority of the book is taken up with the the lonely life of Charlotte and her selfish father, which, try as she might, Elizabeth Gaskell cannot make interesting. Charlotte's trips outside the confines of Howarth are few and far between but one very rarely hears her complain. She finally has a few years of married life before she too dies young. I have alway loved reading the Bronte sisters novels - this autobiography shows to what extent these girls live in their imagination and how rich those imaginations are. Being so isolated from society, reveals why their novels are so dark and and sinister - herein lies a book,but Elizabeth Gaskell is no psychoanalyst. A great friend and admirer of Charlotte Bronte, she prefers to emphasize her virtues and forebearance in the face of adversity and gives us little more than a hagiography of her friend. There is very little analysis, if any, of Charlotte's works; thankfully, later scholarship delves more deeply into the intricate minds of Charlotte, and her two sisters.
Being from the North of England myself, I would have perhaps felt more "connected" if the narrator had been English. Elizabeth Gaskell was from Manchester, England, and to hear Flo Gibson (as good a narrator as she might be otherwise) trying to get across the English northern accent was quite painful.
I would not recommend this work, especially if one is looking for any kind of critical analysis of Jane Eyre, Shirley or Villette.

At the intersection of time and eternity
Mrs. Gaskell understood a man's or woman's life to be lived within a social and natural context -- and her deployment of anecdotes and impressions of the North of England in the early pages of this book is captivating.But she also understood us to be souls, present to but distinct from God.Hence, even though in a few instances Gaskell's facts may been correctible (which the editor has done for us in this Penguin Classics edition), she is concerned with truth, and this gives readers the opportunity (rarely offered by modern entertainments) to escape from the trivial.

A Beautiful Biography!
A very nicely written biography by Mrs. Gaskell about the life of her friend Charlotte Bronte, although most of the content was made up of letters written either by or to Charlotte Bronte rather than Mrs. Gaskell's own writings. Still this is a very concise book containing mostly everything that an ordinary reader, or well, a beginner of the Bronte novels, should know about this famous family. Nonetheless at some point of the book, I do find Mrs. Gaskell a bit too subjective, especially when it comes to the depiction of Charlotte's brother Branwell Bronte and his downfall. But consider the fact that this book was written only within one and a half year, with Mrs. Gaskell herself alone traveling all the way from Manchester to Haworth, and then to Brussel, doing all the necessary researches and interviews on her own, I must say that this is just an awesome piece of work!! And just as what Patrick Bronte himself had said about this biography, 'It is every way worthy of what one Great Woman, should have written of Another...it ought to stand, and will stand in the first rank, of Biographies, till the end of time'.

One more word though. From a more scholarly point of view, however, I think so far the 'best' biography on the Brontes should be Juliet Barker's 'The Brontes'. If, after reading this biography written by Mrs. Gaskell, you still want to know more about the Brontes, then I will say: go and buy this other book by Juliet Barker and you definitely will never regret it!

SAD BUT BRILLIANT
Such sad lives were led by the the Bronte's, loneliness, loss, despair, all were experienced and fed into the imaginations on charlotte, emily and anne. This book is a brilliant book by E C Gaskell (who i normally dontreally like), it is basically a collection of letters by charlotteand agreat narrative, when speaking of the deaths of emily, anne and charlotte,i actually felt tears in my eyes! ... Read more

Book Description
Jane Eyre, Shirley, Villette, and The Professor by Charlotte Brontë and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë are included in this new addition to the Library of Literary Classics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Such beautifully woven paragraghs
After reading classic novels on and off in school until I got out of college and in my own free time, I have to say Charlotte Bronte's writing style is the most intricately and splendidly crafted masterpiece. Her sister is quite talented as well. It's a great deal to have this collection that you can pick up and just start reading one of the shorter stories, or go over some of the most powerfully written sentences in Jane Eyre.

Charlotte & Emily Bronte: The Complete Novels
What a beautiful book!This is a hardbound book with gold leaf and a red ribbon bookmark.Beautifully put together.It contains ALL of the works of the two Bronte sisters, so if you love 19th century "trashy" romance novels, (which I do!) this is the collection for you!Would definitly recommend this edition over any of the paperback bound editions.Cost more, but it's worth it.

Charlotte and Emily Bronte: The Complete Novels
Great collection of Bronte sisters' work at a good price. Nice hardcover, with dust sleeve. Big prints. Love it.
If you are a Bronte sisters fan, definitely get this book. The novel I like the most of course is "Jane Eyre". I read some of the dialogues between Jane and Rochester several times, and every time I read, I got something new out of it. I love Gothic romance, and the Byronic hero of the English literature.

The Genius of the Bronte Sisters
This one book collection of Charlotte and Emily Bronte's five novels seems quite a deal indeed - and in hardcover! Anne Bronte's novels are must reads alongside this book of works to complete the genius circle of the Bronte sisters. As an ardent fan of all the Bronte sisters, not only for their storytelling brilliance but their high literature skills, I often find myself reading a sentence over and over again in order to absorb something profound or so perfectly worded. Even if you do not prefer the melodrama of Wuthering Heights or dramatic romance of Jane Eyre; as with all Bronte sisters' novels, they are worth the read just for the amazing literary food to be found therein. The bulk of the Bronte sisters' books also illustrate pages from their own interesting and challenging lives of 150 years ago.
Kerri Bennett Williamson, Author

Have not had time to read this book
There is no review at this time. ... Read more

Book Description

"Villette! Villette! Have you read it?" exclaimed George Eliot when Charlotte Brontë's final novel appeared in 1853. "It is a still more wonderful book than Jane Eyre. There is something almost preternatural in its power."

Arguably Brontë's most refined and deeply felt work, Villette draws on her profound loneliness following the deaths of her three siblings. Lucy Snowe, the narrator of Villette,flees from an unhappy past in England to begin a new file as a teacher at a French boarding school in the great cosmopolitan capital of Villette. Soon Lucy's struggle for independence is overshadowed by both her freindship with a wordly English doctor and her feelings for an autocratic schoolmaster. Brontë's strikingly modern heroine must decide if there is any man in her society with whom she can live and still be free.

"Villette is an amazing book," observed novelist Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. "Written before psychoanalysis came into being, Villette is nevertheless a psychoanalytic work—a psychosexual study of its heroine, Lucy Snowe. Written before the philosophy of existentialism was formulated, the novel's view of the world can only be described as existential. . . . Today it is read and discussed more intensely than Charlotte Brontë's other novels, and many critics now beleive it to be a true master-piece, a work of genius that more than fulfilled the promise of Jane Eyre." Indeed, Virginia Woolf judged Villette to be Brontë's "finest novel."

Download Description
Left by harrowing circumstances to fend for herself in the great capital of a foreign country, Lucy Snowe, the narrator and heroine of Villette, achieves by degrees an authentic independence from both outer necessity and inward grief. Charlotte Brontë's last novel, published in 1853, has a dramatic force comparable to that of her other masterpiece, Jane Eyre, as well as strikingly modern psychological insight and a revolutionary understanding of human loneliness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

Different, but for a reason
I came to "Villette" after having read and fallen in love with "Jane Eyre".When I first began reading "Villete" I knew that I should expect a long exposition leading to a thrilling climax.While the climax did not begin until about page 400, I was not disappointed.Lucy Snowe, while eccentric, speaks to feelings of loneliness that can be extrapolated far beyond this novel.I also found it gratifying that the relationship between Lucy and M. Paul - if rather sudden in its appearance - seemed of a deeper and more genuine sort than that between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester."Villette" is not the sweeping romance with a happy ending like "Jane Eyre".I was somewhat disappointed with the ending until, shortly after completing the book, I was perusing a biography of Charlotte Bronte from my college's library and discovered just how intensely personal the story of "Villette" was.In fact, the biography used excerpts from "Villette" to illuminate the relationship between Charlotte Bronte and M. Heger, a schoolmaster in Brussels.Now I appreciate how insightful "Villette" is for anyone wishing to get to know Charlotte Bronte better.

P.S. Get an edition with notes that translate the French phrases.You'll lose whole chunks of dialogue without the notes unless you can read French.

much ado over nothing
too much French; too much detail. slow reading. amazing command of language. thin on plot and action.

I cannot say it better...
"All these weary days, I have not for one hour forgotten you." -- Lucy Snowe in Charlotte Bronte's Villette.

Introducing Charlotte Bronte - Beyond Jane Eyre
I think it's safe to say that most of the people who have read "Villette" probably read "Jane Eyre" first. I know that I did. In such cases, "Villette" may come as a slight surprise. While still like "Jane Eyre" in the sense that much of the story tells of the character's history, includes a strange sort of "love" story, and has a series of fascinating characters, "Villette" feels less about the narrator (Lucy Snowe) than about the other characters.

Let me clarify. While the story IS about Lucy Snowe, there are parts that revolve around her friends. These parts are thoroughly enjoyable as these characters are all so vivid and clear. Everything is easy to imagine and written in such a clear fashion. The plot is intriguing, and parts actually made me laugh aloud in surprise. It's a surprising book. The way everything ties in is done so well. "Villette" deserves a wider audience and greater fame than it has. It rivaled "Jane Eyre", and perhaps surpassed it.

While the ending is the place where most people lower their scores, I personally find it brilliant. It is a vague, ambiguous ending that leaves the reader confused, disoriented, and intrigued. What better way to end a book than mystery? Perhaps not a mystery, but we're left trying to figure it out. Unfortunately, there is no answer, so the romantics will choose a happy ending, and the pessimists a sorrow-filled one.

"Villette" has a whole host of characters. It starts out with children - laughing, teasing, quite adorable children. Later there are the wealthy snob characters, the generous, yet suspcious, motherly characters, the handsome, kind young men, the sweet, and beautiful young women, and the annoying yet lovable colleague (one of my favorites!). Each character has their own spark, their own flaws, and their own crowning virtue and reason for attention. Lucy, in the center of this all, is also an interesting character, though occasionally weak and sometimes a little too fluttery for my taste. Then again, tastes vary. You'll have to see for yourself. (M. Paul is totally the coolest, by the way)

WARNING: Much of this book is in French. Keep a French dictionary handy.

"Villette" is a purely enjoyable book. While some parts seemed to drag on and needed extra attention and patience (not to be read while tired! You'll find yourself skimming over pages, yawning), the final, overall impression is a favorable one. This book deserves the name, "classic". It's a great read, and you're sure to enjoy it, especially if you liked "Jane Eyre".

Enjoy!

Another lovely tale from Bronte
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, one to savour like a fine red wine or chocolate, and an old classic worth rediscovering (or to discover for the first time). If you enjoyed Jane Eyre this is worth checking out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Passion for Language
At first I thought, "Oh, no, not ANOTHER life of Charlotte Bronte."But this one is worthwhile: convincing and upbeat.Rather than recording day-by-day events of Charlotte's life (usually viewed as pathetic), it emphasizes the miracle of her writing.I could not follow every step of Gordon's critical readings of the novels, but . . . Gordon offers so many other insights to feast uponregarding: the importance of Charlotte's letters, the Bronte family's place in society, the views of Mrs Gaskell, Charlotte's decision to marry Arthur, and the probable cause of her death.The comparison of Jane Eyre to Catherine Earnshaw and to Giselle of the ballet is only one example of Gordon's originality. The serious reader should also look up the reviews of the Times (London) and Independent (London).

The Enigma of Charlotte Bronte
I have long considered "Jane Eyre" to be my favorite book, and I have read much of Charlotte Bronte and the writing of her sisters.These three women were enigmas in their time; they wrote with voice beyond their years and experience, and created central female characters who were strong and could hold their ground with any male character, something not deemed proper in a modest Victorian lady.Hidden behind pseudonymns, they could give voice to the shape of women to come long after they lived and since Charlotte lived the longest of the three, it is through her legacy that anything about the Brontes can be known.

Lyndall Gordon has done a remarkable job with this biography.It is not a straight-forward chronological biography in the typical sense; while it concerns itself with dates and events as they unfolded, Gordon is more concerned with the woman behind these happenings.She has been able to delve into Charlotte's life and expose a portrait much more vivid than other biographies have created.So much has been said and misrepresented about Charlotte Bronte (thanks in large part to the biased writing of Elizabeth Gaskell so soon after Charlotte's death) and Gordon examines that image while weaving the fire of Charlotte Bronte's soul and writing into a new image of an icon.

Gordon begins by tracing the roots of the Bronte family - the death of their mother at a young age, who left behind six children to a preoccupied father who only had time for his parsonage and his only son,(so preoccupied was Mr. Bronte that he did not know of the writing gifts his three daughters possessed until they presented him with published novels) - to the trials and tribulations of publishing, to the tragic deaths of all four of her sisters and her brother, to her unlikely marriage and success as an author.Gordon traces Charlotte's struggles at school and her exhaustion at being a governess, to her years in Brussels where her gift (and love) truly caught flame for the first time.She weaves back and forth between triumph and disillusion, success and heartache, happiness and depression, painting a picture of Charlotte Bronte as a passionate, fearless woman who defied the life laid out for her.

In an age when literary pursuits were not meant for females, Charlotte Bronte turned the tide.She endured criticisms of being coarse and immoral, of being plain and undignified, of being doomed to a life of spinsterhood and illness.She rose above all of these challenges and became a mix of the heroes she had created in her novels."Jane Eyre" may stand as her best work, but it would be amazing to know what else she might have been able to offer the world if her life hadn't been cut short.

huh?
Ok, I love Jane and Charlotte; but this biography is nearly unreadable. It doesn't make sense--too many vague descriptions of events and unclear suggestions of motives. If you want to learn something, most of the older biographies are written in a straightforward style.The facts haven't changed since they were published.

Charlotte Bronte Brought out of the shadows.
Lyndall Gordon does an excellent job of retelling the life of CharlotteBronte.In this book we see a different side of a woman who sinceGaskell's novel, has been pitied.In this biography we find a Charlottethat is full of life and even with the sadness and death that surrounds heris able to continue to follow her own path.She does not crumble intooblivion.Lyndall also opens up parts of Charlotte's life ignored byGaskell to protect Charlotte's image.This novel reveals a CharlotteBronte that knows passion and love not just pain and loss.This is anexcellent book for any person interested in the life of a incredible authorwho was as strong-willed as the characters she wrote.

Charlotte Bronte A Passionate Life
From the time I first read "Jane Eyre" in high school until now, some 30 years and many re-readings later, I have never come across anything that made me feel I really could comprehend the woman behind the work,until I read this book,which I finished early this morning. "JaneEyre" has always been my favorite novel... I have seen every movieadaptation, I have trudged the rainy streets of Haworth and the surroundingmoors, I have read several biographies, I have read other Bronte works. Yousee, I thought if I understood Charlotte Bronte better, I would understandmyself better, at least the part of myself that is so incredibly moved byJane Eyre at every re-reading. I was THRILLED to find a book that leavesthe strict biographical details to any of the numerous Bronte biographersand explores the soul behind the facts. It is wonderfully written in itsown right and demonstrates incredible insight and respect for the Brontegenius. Without feeling like I was being manipulated by a feminist with anagenda, I came to appreciate the incredible strength of mind and characterin a woman like Ms. Bronte, whose unique identity and voice couldn't besuppressed by her social and personal circumstances. My already profoundadmiration for Charlotte Bronte was only deepened after reading this bookby Lundall Gordon for the first time. ... Read more

Book Description

A young governess falls in love with her employer in this classic coming-of-age tale set in 19th-century England.

• A concise introduction that gives readers important background information

• A chronology of the author's life and work

• A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context

• An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations

• Detailed explanatory notes

• Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work

• Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction

• A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience

Customer Reviews (1)

nice edition of this classic
This is a nice edition of Jane Eyre. One reason I bought it was because the cover resembles Joan Fontaine, my favorite actress to portray Jane. It has some helpful introductory material, if you are teaching this novel in an English class.
One thing that's different about this is it divides the book into volumes, which my previous copy didn't do.
I think this book will be very useful as I teach the novel this year. ... Read more

Book Description
In 1834, Charlotte Brontë, together with her brother Branwell, created the imaginary kingdom of Angria, about which she was to write prolifically for the next five years. The five “novelettes” in this volume are the last of her Angrian tales. Written from the viewpoint of the cynical, gossipy Charles Townshend, they offer an ironic portrait of the intrigues, scandals, and passions of an aristocratic beau monde. With their varied cast of characters, the stories provide a fascinating glimpse into the mind and creative processes of the young writer who was to become one of the world’s greatest novelists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

aradish and an egg
"I opened this little [book], and, sir, I did not hesitate. No, I tasted. The change was wrought quickly. In five minutes I, who had been the most miserable wretch under that heaven, sat a rational happy man, soothed to peace of mind, to rest of body, capable of creating sweet thoughts, of tasting bliss, of dropping those fetters of anguish which had restrained me, and floating away with light brain and soaring soul into the fairest regions imagination can disclose."

Frenetique? Indeed. Reread chapter 23 of Jane Eyre. This is that Charlotte Bronte: vivid, charming, disjointed, and funny. "Stancliffe's Hotel" is hilarious, the gray pearl at the center of this collection, but each of the tales has its charms.

... Read more

Book Description
Set during the Napoleonic wars at a time of national economic struggles, Shirley is an unsentimental yet passionate depiction of conflict among classes, sexes, and generations. Struggling manufacturer Robert Moore considers marriage to the wealthy and independent Shirley Keeldar, yet his heart lies with his cousin Caroline. Shirley, meanwhile, is in love with Robert’s brother, an impoverished tutor. As industrial unrest builds to a potentially fatal pitch, can the four be reconciled? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A very engaging read!
I loved this book, though admittedly it reads a bit like a rough draft with several stories which are not very well integrated. In the introduction, Bronte claims Shirley is anything but a romance, and indeed the first few chapters are so dry (focusing on the very minor and not very interesting characters of the vicars and other religious personnel) that one needs patience to continue reading.

Indeed this is understandable given that Charlotte's beloved sisters Anne and Emily and her beloved but wayward brother Branwell all died the year she wrote the first half of the novel, and she was shutting down emotionally and withdrawing from the world. Later when she wrote the last half, she was past the deepest stage of grief.

Bronte also doesn't introduce her heroine Shirley until 1/3 of the way through the novel, establishes considerable interest in the character of Robert Moore, and then has him disappear most of the second half of the novel, and introduces another major character, Robert's brother in the last portion of the book.

Finally, one sometimes has to strain to believe that individuals at this time really spoke as these characters spoke - especially the men when they on rare occasion pour out their hearts to other men in lengthy poetic prose. But often the prose of Bronte's dialogue is quite delicious and makes one wish that writers today had such a flair for such eloquent, emotionally expressive language.

The strong point of the novel: Charlotte Bronte excels in letting us into the mind and hearts of her two heroines, Caroline and Shirley, as well as in painting portraits of several of other characters, especially Robert Moore. Her rich attunement to the subtleties of the inner life of feeling (especially falling in love and the roller coast ride of affectionate rapport alternating with anguish-inducing withdrawal) and the innuendos of relationships between women and women, and men and women, is notable. Her portrayals of her primary characters are so compelling that her readers begin to deeply care about them and their happiness. The relationship between Robert and Caroline is particularly engaging, and likely to lead the reader to yearn, along with Caroline, for Robert to stand firm in his affections and not retreat into his very real and troublesome business and financial concerns.

The political subplot is also enlightening - a basically good man, Robert Moore, being drawn almost to bankruptcy while needing to industrialize his mill in order to remain in business, and as a result laying off workers and inciting a luddite rebellion against him. (Readers who are intrigued by this theme, might also enjoy Gaskell's North and South - and especially the BBC North and South film available on dvd). Bronte doesn't integrate the political plot very well with the novel, but socio-economic factors considerably influence Robert's motives and relationships more and more as the story progresses. They also lend historical interest to the novel, and a bit of substance beyond the local color of minor individuals, the relationships between the main characters, and the very heartfelt inner life of Caroline.

Although most other readers find the book slow reading, I in contrast could barely put it down.......but did skip over the "boring" parts resulting from too many minor characters (especially of a religious nature) being given too much space in the novel. But the stories of Caroline, Robert and Shirley are so engaging that the reader may indeed find the novel truly delightful, and the conclusion likewise highly satisfying.

Probably not Ms. Bronte's objective....
At the beginning of Shirley, Ms. Bronte addressess the reader by telling him/her not to expect a romantic tale.After the first couple of chapters, which give a general idea of the community, Bronte focuses on the two main love interests.She addresses serious concerns about the Luddite Riots and flaws in religious organization, but I see the novel as ultimately, a romance.Less Cinderella-esque than Jane Eyre, but still about self-denial and facing reality.The book has two heroines- Shirley is not introduced until almost halfway through.

A Very Slow Read: 5 Stars With Reservations
This is an interesting novel but it is not a good purchase for the general reader. The Penguin version has a good introduction by Lucasta Miller with a number of interesting bits of information and notes on the novel and the Bronte sisters in general.

This novel was published in 1849 and it follows "Jane Eyre" in 1847. Readers will be very disappointed if they expect to find a similar book to "Jane Eyre" since the book is not a compelling read. The book is good, but it is very diffuse with too much talk and not enough action. It seems to wander for the first 200 pages or so and then it picks up a bit as it follows the lives of the two female characters Shirley Keeldar and Caroline Helstone - after they are introduced part way through the novel. Up to their introduction, the novel drifts as the author jumps from one character to the other: in the opening chapters it is centered on a few members of the clergy and a struggling mill owner. The novel could be called "Caroline" since she and Shirley are equally important to the story as it evolves later in the book.

Charlotte Bronte has attempted to create a historical novel that describes the life in northern England during the Napoleonic wars. Mostly she describes the lives of two women starting around page 200, but it evolves by the end into something similar to a Jane Austen novel. In addition to these two female characters, we have various clergy and merchants brought into the story to permit the author to inject political and social commentary. Bronte is a conservative feminist and we see those ideas in some of her characters and the story.

In the beginning on page 1, Bronte warns the reader that this is not a light and entertaining novel. She says: "Do not anticipate sentiment, poetry, and reverie." That is not quite accurate since the book does contain poetry and by the last chapter- 600 pages later - it seems to evolve into a conventional but slow paced novel; she dwell on the marriage of the two female characters in the last chapter.

Following on the success of "Jane Eyre," the author did not have any trouble getting her manuscript published. In retrospect it could have used a good edit. Shirley does not appear until page 189, and one wonders if she was selected after the fact. It starts off as a commentary on the social and political times, but is carried for the last 400 pages by the lives of the two female protagonists. Some critics think that Bronte was distracted by the death of her two sisters, Emily and Anne, during the writing and that is a partial explanation for the form of the novel and its lack of focus.

So, in summary, this is an interesting novel but not a great read. It is a book more for Bronte fans rather than someone looking for a good novel for entertainment.
... Read more

Book Description
These letters give an insight into the life of a writer whose novels continue to be bestsellers. They reveal much about Charlotte Bronte's personal life, her family relationships, and the society in which she lived. Many of her early letters are written with vigour, vivacity, and an engaging aptitude for self-mockery. In contrast, her letters to her 'master', the Belgian schoolteacher Constantin Heger, reveal her intense, obsessive longing for some response from him. Other letters are deeply moving, when Charlotte endures the agony of her brother's and sisters' untimely deaths. We learn also of the progress of her writing, including the astonishing success of iJane Eyre/i, and of her contacts with her publishers, including the young George Smith; and we recognize in her letters the life-experiences which are transmuted into the art of her novels. Contemporary society is brilliantly described in her letters from London, when she writes of her encounters with famous writers and with critics of her novels. We hear too of her visits to art galleries, operas, and the Great Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace. Dramatic letters written in December 1852 convey the 'turbulence of feeling' in the Haworth curate Arthur Nicholls's proposal of marriage to her and in Mr Bronte's violent reaction to it; and we subsequently hear of her secret correspondence with her suitor, her father's eventual consent, and her tragically brief happy marriage, cut short by her death in March 1855. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the tremendous popular success of Jane Eyre, which earned her lifelong notoriety as a moral revolutionary, Charlotte Brontë vowed to write a sweeping social chronicle that focused on "something real and unromantic as Monday morning." Set in the industrializing England of the Napoleonic wars and Luddite revolts of 1811-12, Shirley (1849) is the story of two contrasting heroines. One is the shy Caroline Helstone, who is trapped in the oppressive atmosphere of a Yorkshire rectory and whose bare life symbolizes the plight of single women in the nineteenth century. The other is the vivacious Shirley Keeldar, who inherits a local estate and whose wealth liberates her from convention.

A work that combines social commentary with the more private preoccupations of Jane Eyre, Shirley demonstrates the full range of Brontë's literary talent. "Shirley is a revolutionary novel," wrote Brontë biographer Lyndall Gordon. "Shirley follows Jane Eyre as a new exemplar--but so much a forerunner of the feminist of the later twentieth century that it is hard to believe in her actual existence in 1811-12. She is a theoretic possibility: what a woman might be if she combined independence and means of her own with intellect. Charlotte Brontë imagined a new form of power, equal to that of men, in a confident young woman [whose] extraordinary freedom has accustomed her to think for herself....Shirley [is] Brontë's most feminist novel."
Download Description
A work that combines social commentary with the more private preoccupations of Jane Eyre, Shirley demonstrates the full range of Brontë's literary talent. "Shirley is a revolutionary novel," wrote Brontë biographer Lyndall Gordon. "Shirley follows Jane Eyre as a new exemplar--but so much a forerunner of the feminist of the later twentieth century that it is hard to believe in her actual existence in 1811-12. She is a theoretic possibility: what a woman might be if she combined independence and means of her own with intellect. Charlotte Brontë imagined a new form of power, equal to that of men, in a confident young woman [whose] extraordinary freedom has accustomed her to think for herself....Shirley [is] Brontë's most feminist novel." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A Tale of Two Women
At first glance, "Shirley" by Charlotte Bronte can seem a daunting read; it is nearly 650 pages long.However, the sheer artistry of Charlotte Bronte's genius makes mostly short work of the story she weaves throughout the course of this novel.Much longer than her other works, it retains her thorough intelligence of the world around her, as she comments on the society and persuasions of the day.

To say that there is one or two main characters in "Shirley" is a slight understatement.While the novel does focus on the title character, a beautiful young rich heiress who soon finds herself with marriage proposals aplenty, it also spends much of its focus on the other main female of the book, Caroline Helstone, a shy and somewhat plain girl who fears the man she loves will fall in love with Shirley and leave her destitute.The narrative weaves between these two points of view, but also of the many other characters within the book, especially the object of Caroline's eye, Mr. Robert Moore.Moore is the owner of the local mill, hit upon hard times with the Napoleonic wars stopping his means of marketing.He must also contend with mobs and rioters, upset with the industrialization that has thrown many townspeople out of jobs.

In that regard, the narrative of "Shirley" is much darker than that of Charlotte Bronte's other works.Those readers who know something about the author's life will find certain comments to spring from her actual existence, especially perhaps the similarities between her and Caroline.However, others unfamiliar with her style may find her prose wearisome at times.Indeed, there are moments when she waxes eloquently far off plot for several pages before bringing the story back to its true direction.The reader must read through several wrapping-ups before the true wrap-up of the story occurs.

Yet these slight drawbacks do not taint the book, but add to the legend that is due Charlotte Bronte.She was a gifted writer, posing as a male in a man's world to get her books published."Shirley" is full of the knowledge of its timeperiod, showing the intelligence of its author regarding the world around her.Bronte is able to offer insight and provocation without being preachy or sentimental, cloaking vindication in the form of poetic prose.

Just "OK"
After reading Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I have to say Shirley is a disappointment.It was long, drawn out and at times very BORING.I really had to work to finish it; the others I breezed through because they were so good. I won't go into a dissertation about the book but it does not stand up to the other Bronte work.

Another wonderful novel
This might be my favorite Charlotte Bronte yet.The plot involves so many characters, a long book, but I couldn't put it down!If you like her other books, you won't be disappointed.

Great Read!
An unpredictable plot, excellent character development, and many elements of wisdom from Charlotte Bronte.I greatly enjoyed this novel, much as I did Jane Eyre and Villette.In all honesty, this is a book that would not be for everyone.However, for those who greatly like Charlotte Bronte's works, it is a great read.

The Best of Bronte
I usually prefer Jane Austen over Charlotte Bronte, So I was surprised at how much I liked "Shirley". I definetly think that "Jane Eyre" and "Villette" are given undue credit, while "Shirley" is underrated. Though "Shirley" was a strange choice for a title, because the main character is Caroline. This was a perfect book with just the right amount of romance, tragedy, and happy endings. ... Read more

Book Description
Upon learning that she has been falsely accused of breaching her publishing contract, the normally mild-mannered Charlotte Brontë sets off for London to clear her name. But when she unintentionally witnesses a murder, Charlotte finds herself embroiled in a dangerous chain of events. With the aid of her sisters, Emily and Anne, and of the suspiciously well-informed but irresistibly attractive brother of the victim, Charlotte works to unravel a deadly web of intrigue that threatens not only her own safety but the very fabric of the British Empire. Charlotte is plunged into a thrilling adventure and a passionate romance that leads her from the peaceful Yorkshire moors to the crime-infested streets of London, across the sea to the Continent to the ports of Cornwall, the wilds of Scotland, and the palaces of Queen Victoria herself. Will Charlotte be able to stop a devious invisible villain whose schemes threaten her life, her family, and her country?

Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro samurai detective series has enthralled tens of thousands of readers. Now the author turns her gifts for historical fiction to Victorian England in this thriller starring the legendary 19th century author Charlotte Brontë and her equally famous family.

Laura Joh Rowland is the author of twelve other books, including the critically acclaimed Red Chrysanthemum. The granddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, she was educated at the University of Michigan and now lives in New Orleans with her husband. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I got great info for my report!
This book was very deatailed with Charlotte Bronte's life but didn't get too nitty-gritty ... Read more

Book Description
The 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.Also included in this edition is Emma, Charlotte Bronte's last, unfinished novel.Both works are drawn from the original Clarendon texts.Download Description
The Professor was the first novel that Charlotte Bronte completed. Rejected by the publisher who took on the work of her sisters in 1846 - Anne's Agnes Grey and Emily's Wuthering Heights - it remained unpublished until 1857, two years after Charlotte Bronte's death. Like Villette (1853), The Professor is based on her experiences as a language student in Brussels in 1842. Told from the point of view of William Crimsworth, the only male narrator that she used, the work formulated a new aesthetic that questioned many of the presuppositions of Victorian society. Bronte's hero escapes from a humiliating clerkship in a Yorkshire mill to find work as a teacher in Belgium, where he falls in love with an impoverished student-teacher, who is perhaps the author's most realistic feminist heroine. The Professor endures today as both a harbinger of Bronte's later novels and a compelling read in its own right. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A part of a whole
I read "The Professor" after completing "Villette" and learning that "The Professor" dealt with similar material.Anyone considering reading "The Professor" should know that there are three facets to the master-pupil relationship with regard to Charlotte Bronte: "The Professor", "Villette", and Bronte's own life."The Professor" seems unrealistic, like a sugar-coated fantasy, because it is: through this novel Bronte realized her own dreams that never came true in reality.When Bronte wrote "The Professor", she still cherished dreams that she too could continue a relationship with her beloved master and operate her own school; this was never achieved."Villette" is a much more sophisticated work because it actually engages with these issues, rather than day-dreaming about them."Villette" is also much better crafted, and its characters are better shaped.However, for anyone interested in Charlotte Bronte, "The Professor" provides useful insight into the painful situation central to her life.

The author's first novel
Readers aspiring to have a knowledge of Charlotte Brontë's work should read "The Professor" as it contains the key to much of her subsequent writing like "Jane Eyre" or "Vilette". The novel is based on the author's own experiences in Brussels. The central character, William Crimsworth, an orphan, leaves his dreary clerking post in a Yorkshire mill to start a career as a teacher of English in the Belgian capital. He falls in love with a Protestant pupil, Frances Henri, teacher and lace mender. However William's relationship is complicated by the manipulative and beguiling Catholic headmistress, Zoraide Reuter, and her cunning attempts to divert him from his destiny.
The novel, written in 1846, astonishes by its brevity and realism and by its portrayal of the heroine's insistence on a working career after her marriage.

The Professor's Lessons in Life
"The Professor", by Charlotte Bronte, was the author's first novel but it was not published until after her death (and perhaps she refashioned it to some degree later in her novel "Villette").It is the tale of William Crimsworth, a man without parents and forsaken by his brother, who is forced to make his own way in the world.He decides to try his hand at teaching and travels to Brussels to teach English at an all-boys' school.

Once at the school in Brussels, he immediately begins a successful, if not profitable, teaching career.Soon enough he finds himself teaching four classes per week at the neighboring school for girls, and also finds himself falling for the headmistress Mlle. Reuter.Inexperienced with women, he is susceptible to and deceived by her whiles and charms until love enters his life in the form of a fellow teacher-pupil Frances Henri.As is to be expected, despite the abuse Crimsworth suffered from his brother, and having nothing of his own, he manages to work his way into wealth and is able to marry the woman he has fallen in love with.

At the beginning of "The Professor", Crimsworth confesses that is narrative his not exciting and he holds true to his word, especially since he can be a rather irksome narrator.While not a novel to shake the foundations of literature, "The Professor" offers insights into who Charlotte Bronte would become as a writer.Her characters, a few who are one-dimensional, are mainly well-sketched and drawn out; and despite her claim to the lack of excitement in her narrator's story, his tale unfolds briskly and with few unexpected revelations.Having been a governess herself, (the novel is based on her own experiences), Bronte combines asides about the state of education and the relationship that exists between teacher and pupil.Some of these insights hold true for today as well, making "The Professor" an undated and well-written account of man's struggle for success and happiness.

**Two things I disliked about the Wordsworth Classics edition.This version was rampant with typos throughout the entire novel; the same mistakes were repeated numerous times. I was also maddened by the fact that entire conversations in French were not translated, and therefore not understood, especially during the climax of the story.

I Wouldn't Recommend It to Everyone, But I Liked It
I read this in a class with a lot of people who love Victorian novels, and almost everyone hated it. By general consensus it was dry and featured an unlikeable main character. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend it to many people. Nevertheless, I generally enjoyed it. It wasn't as good as Jane Eyre or Villette, but I am glad I read it.

It is a love story, and as such, I thought it succeeded. What most people saw as dry, I saw as sparse, unsentimental narration. I thought it made the love story a little more original and fresh for me. Though if this sort of storytelling isn't for you, I definitely wouldn't read it.

The other problem that most people have with this is the character of William Crimsworth. At times, he is a chauvenist and a racist. These are difficult aspects to overcome for many.

I think there are two ways to see the novel. First, it can be seen as a decent love story between a flawed man and a woman who may offer him redemption. I don't think this is a totally unenjoyable way to read it. You could also see it as a satire on the chauvenistic, supposedly self-reliant Crimsworth. It's probably a little more successful if you see it this way. If you don't like it one way, look at it from the other. Don't read this novel before Jane Eyre or Villette, but this can be a pretty good read.

Only for diehard Charlotte Bronte Fans
Although the spark of creativity is there, it still takes some time to appreciated this novel after reading Janes Eyre.The main character Crimsworth seems to be arrogance, aristocratic, and audacious.This could be Bronte's first take on a male perspective, but is that what she considered the male psyche to be as she portrays on her other novels' male characters.All in all the novel has some worth, but needs getting used to. ... Read more

Book Description
Jane Eyre is one of the most well-loved and widely read works in the canon, popular at both the high school and university levels. The casebook provides a series of essays that are lucidly and passionately written, and carefully researched and argued while still being accessible to the general reading public. The anthology is structured in three sections. The first provides three overall interpretations of the novel that are excellent examples of the most common approach to Jane Eyre: a reading that explores the psychological development of the novel's eponymous heroine. The second section will introduce more novel approaches: a feminist reading of the novel, a depiction of the psyche in Jane Eyre, a depiction of Jane in light of mid-Victorian discussions of Evangelicism, an analysis of Jane in relation to contemporary debates about the governess, and an examination of the novel in relation to colonialist discourse. The last section of the anthology includes essays that provide accounts of the familial context out of which Jane Eyre arose, its critical reception, and its literary afterlife. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An emotional presentation of a timeless romantic novel
Co-produced by BBC and WGBH Boston, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is a 2-DVD movie adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel about strong woman and the buried secrets she must confront. After surviving a miserable childhood, Jane Eyre accepts a governess position at Thornfield hall, where she tutors a sprightly French girl, and gradually falls in love with the master of the house. When the master's dark past is revealed, undoing her happiness, she escapes to the shelter of a kind clergyman, but her next ordeal will be discovering the hidden secret of her own past. An emotional presentation of a timeless romantic novel, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre expresses passion, courage, hope, and survival. 228 minutes, color. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Bronte Poems
A wonderful book for any person interested in reading poetry from the Bronte sisters. Even though they were well - known for their novels ( Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Villette...), their poetry wasn't really known that well. This book presents it in a readable format. I recommend it for any Bronte fan. It's good to know about their novels, its even better when you are familiarized with their poems. : )

Ah, the successes and faults of the Brontës...
This is a rather small book composed of various poems by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë. It's divided into three parts; one for each author.

I gave it three stars because it's a good collection, but not really a good read. I find the Brontë's poetry rather dry and cumbersome compared to their books, but it's still worth a look if you're a true fan. Emily is by far the best poet of the three, and at a whopping $2.00, you're not out much if you decide you don't like it... and you definitely get all that you paid for with this one.

Total Chick Bait
Yep, this book is fine for getting college chicks to dig you.Just have a copy of it on your bedside table and they will think you are sensitive and will be all over you. Don't bother to read the book - just keep it in plain sight.

READ ME! READ ME! READ ME!
I enjoyed the selected poems. I saw a lot of the same passion in the poems that I have seen also in many of their novels. If you enjoyed the poems you should be sure to get a hold of the Tenant of Wildfell Hall written by Anne Bronte and my utmost favorite Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is definitely a book I would recommend.

Excellent!
If you love the Bronte's novels, you'll love their poetry. You learn so much about their lives and relationships with each other by reading it. After reading a biograhpy of the famous family, I can more fully appreciatethe poetry that got them started. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I got great info for my report!
This book was very deatailed with Charlotte Bronte's life but didn't get too nitty-gritty ... Read more

Book Description
The text reprinted in this new edition is that of the 1848 third edition text-the last text corrected by the author. b>Contexts includes eighteen new selections and two new subsections: "Charlotte and Jane's Illustrated Book"-which includes a letter from Brontë to her publisher W. S. Williams; "Vignettes from Bewick"; and "Charlotte Brontë and Bewick's 'British Birds'"-and "Charlotte Brontë as Governess," which includes letters to Emily Brontë, Ellen Nussey, W. S. Williams, and "The Governess-Grinders." Criticism collects six major essays on Jane Eyre, four of them new to the Third Edition. Contributors include Adrienne Rich, Sandra M. Gilbert, Jerome Beaty, Lisa Sternlieb, Jeffrey Sconce, and Donna Marie Nudd. A new Chronology and updated Selected Bibliography are also included.

About the Series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehenive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Painful
All of the drama in the novel is packed into the last 30 pages.The rest of the book is incredibly dull.

The only edition to buy
This review is aimed more toward the Norton edition than to JANE EYRE. We all know this is a classic. Bronte was simply a genius and a harbinger of romantic, dramatic, gothic, and horror writing. (However, it still irks me that she couldn't end a simple sentence with a period. Every declarative statement, it seems, must be qualified with a colon or semi-colon. Oh well. Sign of the times.)

As for the Norton edition, it's the only one to buy. Bronte makes the assumption that you have read the Bible cover-to-cover a zillion times, and for those of us who have not read it through once, Norton's annotations are more than helpful---they're essential to understanding the novel's Christian allusions. This edition also provides the reader with critical essays, contexts of Bronte's life, Bronte's reactions to critics of her day, etc.

Bottom line: you can get the Dover Thrift edition for a couple bucks, but, if you are interested in giving this classic more than a cursory read, this edition is worth the extra money.

Great book..Recommend to all
I think Bronte's 'Jane Eyre', as well as an excellent read, provides a brilliant insight for todays readers, into the life of 'misfits' in the 19th century. Jane is a poor, plain, governess who throughout her life struggles to belong somewhere, have some sort of position in society. She had no family, therefore when she discovered cousins in Mary, Diana and St.John, she willingly gave them each 5,000 pounds out of her inheritance. Jane is a strong woman who fights to maintain her moral and religious values even though tempted several times to put them aside. Jane seeks emotional fulfillment and detests society's idea of marriage (marriage for material wealth, political power, position etc). Rochester is Jane's intellectual equal and therefore she agrees to marry him, until she realises he has almost tricked her into a bigamus marriage. Then she must flee Thornfield in order to maintain her values and self-respect. Only when she has her own financial independence and no longer needs to be Rochesters mistress, can she return to him and marry him. He is now actually dependent on her for vision and other things because he has lost the use of one of his hands. Jane Eyre is a satisfying novel that gives women inspriration to stand up for their rights and not be submissive because some men consider them inferiors. Jane teaches women to value themselves. I think in writing this fantastic novel, Bronte had sent out an excellent message to those who believe women should be controlled by men and Jane was the perfect protagonist to get this message across.

Wonderfully written...
This was a great book for me to read. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The characters were well developed and the whole book was written very well. I couldn't put it down for so long. It is definitely one of my new favorites. I recommend it to anyone!

One of the Greatest Books
A must read for everyone! ... Read more