Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Jane Eyre

By Charlotte Bronte

I first read this book in my teen years and I did enjoy it then and I enjoyed the film. However the re-read was really worthwhile, the writing, the landscape, the descriptions were superb. I kept thinking of Charlotte Bronte herself and the feelings and emotions were so well portrayed. I felt it was the story of her own life. She wrote it with such clear understanding, such passion and always keeping moral teaching in her views. A long but good read 8/10

I enjoyed rereading this 19th century classic. Jane's early years have a Dickensian feel though her people are more real characters rather than caricatures. The descriptions of landscape and changing weather are very fine. I was impressed by the depiction of St John Rivers and thought him very convincing - analysed in a Freudian way - but before Freud's day. I was a bit bored and irritated in the passages between Jane and Mr Rochester. This was Charlotte indulging her romantic imagination with a capital R. It is a pity that everyone now knows the secret in the attic It would have intrigued and shocked new readers at the time. It's well worth its place in English literature for fine imaginative writing.

Jane Eyre is a magnificent book. It is well written contains every ingredient of a good story :an interesting plot, tragedy, heartbreak, wry humour and romance. The construction is excellent. Jane comes across as a well read, shy and sensitive heroine. She is determined to stand on her own feet and become a free spirit. Descriptions of people, countryside, characters are very finely done. Strong feelings are well expressed. Rochester comes across as a man to whom life has been cruel but even he can express his feelings. The only fault with the book is its wordiness but even this is acceptable 10/10