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    Jane Eyre
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    Jane Eyre
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    Jane Eyre
    Audiobook23 hours

    Jane Eyre

    Written by Charlotte Bronte

    Narrated by Anna Bentinck

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Jane Eyre was sent to work as a governess to the ward of Mr. Rochester. Thornfield Hall is a spooky and mysterious place with many secrets. Jane and Mr. Rochester became fond of each other and grow very fond of each other after Jane saves Mr. Rochester from a fire that broke out in his room while he was sleeping. Their bond is sealed when Jane is able to keep Mr. Rochester's secret. Their fondness for each other is drawn short because the secret of Thornfield keeps growing, but will Jane be able to look past this to the man she loves?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamscape Media Audio
    Release dateNov 3, 2015
    ISBN9781681418803
    Author

    Charlotte Bronte

    Charlotte Brontë, born in 1816, was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters, and one of the nineteenth century's greatest novelists. She is the author of Villette, The Professor, several collections of poetry, and Jane Eyre, one of English literature's most beloved classics. She died in 1855.

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    Reviews for Jane Eyre

    4/5

    13,854 ratings410 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Jane Eyre, is one of the classics that I’ve been meaning to read for ages, but it took a pretty cover to (finally) buy it, and a hangover to start reading it. Jane Eyre is indeed the story of Jane, from her miserable childhood, through her slightly less miserable adolescence and to her adulthood. Orphan of both parents, she lives with her aunt and cousins, but it is a life without affection. When she is sent to a school far from home she believes that her conditions can only improve, but it isn't without trouble that she finishes her education and is ready to seek employment.This story was not new to me, but I had only watched the TV series, and some time ago, so the details were a bit hazy. I knew there would be a happy ending, but then, there always is (I had quite forgotten everything else about the ending). I was actually expecting a lot more drama in the beginning (I think I got the order of some events wrong), so the more I read, the more I dreaded what was (I thought) sure to come.There is a very strong Beauty and the Beast feel to it. Yes, I know both the love birds are as ugly as they come, making it Beast and the Beast, but to me it is about their personalities. Jane very nice and proper (even if a little blunt), Mr. Rochester quite the devil (and drama queen), teasing and insulting. I liked Mr. Rochester’s wild personality, even if sometimes it is a bit too flamboyant. Jane’s uptightness got to my nerves sometimes, but I liked her bluntness and honesty. But most of all, it was the bickering between these too: the intelligent semi-arguments were really fun to read.My biggest problem with the classics (and I say problem is the very loosest of senses) is that I have to adapt to the values of the times when they were written. It is most likely that a modern day Jane would take the easier route, by running away WITH her beloved and not running away FROM him (I know I would, along with taking more conventional measures to deal with the problem in the attic). That made some parts in the book a bit harder to enjoy (or should I say, not to scream at the characters), but that choice was also in tune with the character's personality and way of being.But to me, the strongest point of this book is how it is written. The use of the first person takes away the distance I could have felt due to Jane’s personality. And the descriptions are absolutely vivid. I was constantly lost on 19th century England, taking walks through the moors, sitting by the fireplace, studying people… Making the drama all the more, well, dramatic, because it felt like it was happening to me.I really liked this book, even though it took me quite awhile to finish. It's very well written, and it's not only about romance, it portrays a society that is slightly different from ours - one that not so long ago was the norm. The down side was that there was a bit more drama that I felt was necessary, and all the religious babble, that started to really get on my nerves by the end of the book (courtesy of a late comer character). Still, it definitely deserves it's place among the classics.Also at Spoilers and Nuts
    • 4/5
      I’ve never read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë before, because it wasn’t on our reading lists at school or university, but I must say that, although pious, it’s quite an enjoyable and insightful read. I especially liked that Jane Eyre is still a relatable character in some ways today, though she is tenacious and passionate, she is also kind and intelligent. Few well-rounded female characters like Jane Eyre exist today, which is a shame, considering that human beings are more than just good or just bad. There are numerous other facets to the human psyche, which Charlotte Brontë was able to project into her writing, which makes Jane more than just another literary character. I also felt quite deeply for Mr. Rochester, who so beautifully complimented Jane’s personality, especially when he became passionate and called her: “Sprite! Witch! Elf!” and other, equally silly nicknames. He might not have been incredibly handsome, like every male protagonist is in every single coming-of-age novel these days, but his flaws gave him depth and made him memorable.

      Though, at times, the narrative was sometimes littered with religious babble, it’s imperative to the story and to the time. Not many readers would especially enjoy the biblical context (or at times the submissiveness of female characters), but Jane Eyre carries a lot of weight in regards to the evolution of literature. In other words, it’s a must-read novel if one is to have a well-rounded and rich literary knowledge. Funnily enough, Brontë does hint at fantasy at times with the way Jane sees the world. Fairies, sprites, magical beings, and ghosts are mentioned within the novel too …

      Themes that are present in the book include: love vs. autonomy, religion, social class, and gender relations.

      Jane Eyre might not be as popular lately, due to the increase of paranormal romances, but it’s definitely a book you have to read at least once in your life. Readers who enjoy coming-of-age novels, in general, will love Jane Eyre. Though, not exactly similar, I’m sure that fans of The Selection series by Kiera Cass will also take great pleasure from Brontë’s most popular novel.
    • 4/5
      I decided to give the new Serial Reader app a try. If you don't know about it, it is a free app for your phone that each day sends you a small section of a book, one that you can read in 10-15 minutes. Each day you get sent the next installment. For my first book, I decided to read Jane Eyre. I have never read this before, but I know a lot of people love it.

      The basic story is really interesting. I liked the beginning part, when Jane is still a child. Stories about children in boarding school always fascinate me, and Jane is sent to a horrible school. Her life is so tragic, and still she manages to stay true to her self. I like how strong Jane is, and how she sticks to her moral code.

      The writing style was a bit overdone for my taste, but I think this is a common style from the time that the story was written. There is much moralizing and preaching, and at times it felt like it went on way too long. I did not find Mr. Rochester to be a very likable character. The way he tries to trick Jane and lie to her felt inexcusable to me. But I know Jane is in love with him, and is willing to forgive him. I think the lesson I learned from this is the heart wants what the heart wants, and in the end it can not be denied.
    • 4/5
      This one took awhile as an audio book. I finally brought it into work to finish it. The reader did a fantastic job with emotion of each of the characters. Very enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      Loved this classic.
    • 5/5
      I love this book. I've read it over and over--and enjoyed it every time. The dark atmosphere is so delightful. :^)
    • 4/5
      Now I know why this is a classic. I've never been so fascinated with the mundane life struggles a single woman could face in 19th century England. It held me enthralled throughout and I eagerly anticipated each turn of the plot.
    • 4/5
      An orphan suffers through Gothic beatings, meets the love of her life, loses him (because she can't run away with and live with a married man), suffers some more and then finds him again. She endures. Is it any wonder this book still sells?
    • 5/5
      Excellent book. It's pure, exquisite, elegant literature- with all its characteristic British wit, restraint and grace. Definitely a book to re-read.
    • 4/5
      The story is a classic... I had read it several times. Is not the classical female heroine but is a story that shows that good persons by the end ended up having good things... Also it shows characters that are conflicted, that are not perfect and have to get through adversity. Is a pretty good book and I will recommend the book to any persons that wants to read the classics.
    • 5/5
      So, this isn't going to be a very impartial review. Jane Eyre has been my favorite book since I was thirteen. The only criticism would be maybe the ending? Things get pretty well tied up with a bow, but that may be just a marker of the time period/genre. I find Jane to be a very likable and sympathetic character and Charlotte to be a great story-teller. That being said if you aren't that into classics as a genre you might not be such a fan. If you do enjoy classics and especially gothic novels you can't go wrong.
    • 5/5
      Hailed as one of the biggest romances ever written 'Jane Eyre' is certainly that, and so much more. In truth to call it simply a romance is to do it a disservice. Brontë takes all the big genre's of the 19th century novel; Romance, Gothic Fiction, Coming-of-Age, and Autobiography and throws them all into one big melting pot, and boy does she do it well.While a romance it may be, it is also packed with drama, mystery, suspense and above all a critique of both the social class system and gender inequality.In college a fellow student said that he felt that Jane Eyre as a character lacked depth and was the complete opposite of a feminist, let me tell you the polite, quiet and all round shy personality which I had owned for 20 years suddenly left. I took a page from Jane Eyre's book and stood up for myself (and her.) Jane Eyre is not a perfect character, she's far from it...that is the very thing that makes her so excellent, she's flawed, as are we. It's this very thing that makes her a three dimensional character.She's also the type of character who will stand for what she believes in, in what she feels is the 'right' thing to do. She does so even if it goes against everything society deems acceptable. A woman who will stand her ground against society and against the man she loves makes her a strong female lead in my opinion. The fact that this was written in the 19th century. The 19th century when women were so oppressed that most female writers who wrote about more than just sewing or domestic affairs wrote under pseudonyms (Charlotte Brontë used Currer Bell as hers.)That's not to say that this is a feminist tirade, because in truth it's more about the importance of being true to yourself above all, regardless of your gender. It's about growing up and the difficulty of the human condition. Life is filled with sadness, oppression and regret, along the way we face a lot of challenges and we have to make a lot of decisions Jane teaches us that it's best to make decisions that you truly believe in because after all its us who must live with them, good or bad they are ours to make, nobody else's.It's a novel that is sure to have everything you need, and these beautifully flawed characters draw you in and linger in your mind well after the cover has been closed.Poignant and alluring, after all it's a classic for a reason.
    • 4/5
      Proto-feminist does love on her own terms.
    • 5/5
      I first read this book in my early teens. I was going through a phase in which i decided to read all the classics with Jane Eyre being the first.The story revolves around Jane Eyre, a young orphan girl still in her teens, who starts working as a governess for a Mr. Rochester. Even though Jane is "plain" and average, she and Mr. Rochester fall in love. Unfortunately, life is not always a fairy tale and the two of them must confront not only their pasts but each others' past as well.I will proudly say that this was the first book that I actually cried from reading. And it was not the small-tears-forming-in-the-corners-of-the-eyes crying, but the balling-and-sniffling-since-this-is-so-sad-but-so-good kind of crying. I think especially female teenagers should read this story, especially since the main character is a female who not only speaks her mind, but isn't a great beauty and still manages to fall in love, etc.This is a gothic horror, so do expect that not everything will be peaches-and-cream. There is a mystery in the background and strange events taking place. Though other books and stories of the Bronte sisters feature gothic horror, I think Jane Eyre balances the gothic part and the romance/realistic part better.A recommendation is that once you finish reading this book, do read The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. I thoroughly recommend it. It will give you a different take on the story and make you fall in love with the tale all over again. Also, for a more hilarious and play on the young-orphan-girl-who-becomes-a-governess-and-experiences-strange-things-in-her-new-place-of-residence trope, I would also recommend the series of The Incorrigible Children Ashton Place.
    • 5/5
      This is one of my all-time favorite novels! This story has everything-- romance, mystery, humor, gothic elements, and even a crazy woman in the attic! The love story between Jane and Rochester is so romantic and heart-wrenching at times that it will bring you to tears. Loved it!
    • 5/5
      I read this book years ago, but apparently I just blitzed it. I read it again last week-I couldn't put it down! I loved every minute of it (I wasn't thrilled to read to youger years but it explained so much about her adulthood). She is such a unique character-so strong and yet weak at the same time. I loved her. Oh! And Mr. Rochester....sigh... What a wonderful character! I enjoyed getting to know him throughout the novel. I liked his somewhat abrasive personality. I'm a sucker for a rude, sarcastic, somewhat proud man (in books at least) :) The cool thing about their relationship is neither of them forced the other to change. He tried to make her change but I'm pretty sure the whole time he knew she wouldn't.Read it! And when you're done and can't stop thinking about it, read it again! :D
    • 5/5
      It took me a long time to read the book that I thought I had read in my youth but hadn't. I liked the strength of character of Jane Eyre, her firm and unwavering resolve but not the inflexible, inhuman resolve of of St John Rivers. Principles before emotional waywardness to the level illustrated in Jane Eyre goes beyond modern standards. Oh come on, Jane, I felt at certain times, chill out and marry Rochester after what he's been through. The ending was bleak and a bit far-fetched.I thought the book was brilliant though and am really pleased that I have now read it.
    • 4/5
      A strongly told tale about a young orphan girl dependant on the good will of unfeeling relatives.
      Tales of life in an early 19th century school are very powerful.
      Jane then jumps to her first job in in the housefhold of a stiking, passionate man with a dark secret.
      This was a well told story. The passionate, loving nature of Jane must reflect that of the author and it seems very sad after having read the life of the Brontes, which I did many years ago. Returning to authors you haven't read since teen years is sometimes a disappointment, but I think I appreciate it better now.
      Charlotte Bronte's heroine is a strong, vital character worth knowing.
    • 3/5
      I am stunned to say that I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I had anticipated I would. It has great reviews, and is obviously considered one of the great classics. To my surprise, I could not warm up to the characters.

      What I liked - I enjoyed the first part of the book when Jane was a child and she has her first experiences at her boarding school. I liked some of the plot twists, especially involving the surprise appearances of mysterious characters.

      What I did not like - I found the two men in Jane's life to be whiny. I never bought either one of them to be sincere. I found Jane falling for Mr. Rochester so quickly to be annoying, and her undying love for the man was too much for me to swallow. This could be because I am a man who is not necessarily a big reader of romance, but Jane never seemed to show anger at any of the actions or omissions of Mr. Rochester and that seemed ridiculous to me. Jane was just too perfect in her temperament.

      Anyway, I am glad I read it and feel better for it. I wish I had liked it more.
    • 3/5
      It's a good book, but I don't quite see why it's such a classic. Or rather, I can see why people are so interested in it, but it doesn't seem noticeably better than others of similar age. I don't know. It was odd reading it, because of course I know the twist - I was waiting for Rochester's wife to show up as soon as he did. I quite like Jane, and her cousins; I quite dislike St. John, and Rochester is annoying too. I'm not sure he redeemed himself, at the end...though he did _not_, as I almost expected him to, reject her because he was damaged. Now I want to read some of the stories based on this, that I've read before - The Eyre Affair, for one - now that I know how this one goes.
    • 3/5
      A girl with no friends falls in love with the first single man she meets.2.5/4 (Okay).I really wanted to like Jane. But Rochester is so relentlessly awful, I found it impossible to sympathize with someone who's obsessed with him.
    • 5/5
      Wish I had read this book at 18. Read it NOW.
    • 4/5
      Drie sterke karakters-Jane: taai, zeer zelfbewust, zelfs al als kind, maar groot identiteitsbewustzijn. Ze conformeert zich in allerlei situaties, maar toch altijd met de nodige reserves. . Uiteindelijk vindt ze de bevrijding in de zelfgekozen relatie met Edward als gelijke (eigen fortuin) . -Edward Rochester: eerder een reus, sterk theatraal aspect, duidelijk Byroniaans, maar niet knap, zeer egocentrisch; sterk dierlijk aspect-St-John Rivers: ambitieus, charismatisch en ontzettend knap, maar tegelijk ijzig, kil en berekenend. Maakt alles ondergeschikt aan zijn passie: missionering in dienst van God. Thema’s1. liefde versus autonomie: Jane zoekt wel geborgenheid, maar op basis van gelijkwaardigheid, vandaar afwijzing band met Rochester als ide blijkt al getrouwd te zijn2. morele plicht versus aandrift: de maatschappelijke conventies spelen een belangrijke rol, waar ze echt niet buiten springt.3. christelijke hypocrisie: gesymboliseerd door Brockhurst die zogenaamde evangelische principes wil opleggen aan de wijzen, maar wiens eigen familie zwelgt in weelde; St-John die zijn eigen invulling van christelijke plicht aan anderen wil opleggen; Jane vindt uiteindelijk zelf de ideale middenweg.4. kritiek op sociale hiërarchie: de hypocrisie van het klassenonderscheid wordt duidelijk doorbroken, cfr de Reeds zijn duidelijk minderwaardig; idem Blanche Ingram. Als gouverneur is ze de evenknie van de edelen, maar in de praktijk wordt ze behandeld als een bediende. Jane respecteert de sociale grenzen wel, ze trouwt pas met Edward als ze zelf een fortuin heeft geërfd. 5. man-vrouw ongelijkheid: ze ondervindt duidelijk de mannelijke superioriteit, cfr relatie met Edward en St-John; en ze geeft er bijna aan toe; maar tegelijk heeft ze genoeg innerlijk vuur om zich als vrouw ertegen te verzetten. Minder fijne interactie tussen de karakters dan bij Austen, maar wel zelfde milieu van plattelandsadel. Sublieme in monologue interieureWel enkele structurele eigenaardigheden-als ze op de vlucht gaat voor Edward, vergeet ze blijkbaar dat ze aanspraak kan maken op een fortuin via een erfenis-rol van het bovennatuurlijke:de stem van Edward die roept, eigenaardige dromen, schrik voor spoken, enz. -uitgebreide beschrijvingen van interieurs
    • 4/5
      This classic provided an excellent platform for endlessly entertaining discussions about the beautiful and the sublime. What else can I say? I read about every two years and it's such a known book that I can't really add any new commentary about it.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book from the first time I read it. In my GCSE year I read it over and over again -- partially because I could appear to be paying attention to what the rest of the class was doing while reading ahead of them, admittedly. Jane and Mr Rochester are such vivid characters, and the intensity of their relationship left a deep impression on me.
    • 4/5
      There are parts of this book I would give 5 stars to. Definitely my favorite classic so far. There was only one section I thought dragged, but the good parts made it worth it.
    • 4/5
      One of those books I really ought to have read before now, but have somehow never got round to. Having finished it I am quite pleased I never read this as a teenager. I'm not sure that I would at all have understood Jane and her actions, particularly relating to Mr Rochester. My rather selfish teen self wouldn;t have got that at all. As it is, I'm not sure that I would have been quite that principled, but I can at least understand and admire it in others. It takes quite some time for this to get going. It's always described as a love story, but the main love interest doen't appear until you're half way through the book. That's not to say that there aren't other examples of love, but the grand passion is delayed. This is Jane's life story, told in the forst person, talking directly to the reader. This makes it sound very contemporary, even though at times the language is not. And the treatement Jane recieves is also highly reflective of its time. There are a host of contracts in attitude. None of the people representing religion come out of this in any human light, while the people representing human kindness and good works are put in contrast to them. So Mrs Reed, Jane's aunt, has taken Jane on and claims to be acting in charity, but is, in fact, doing less than the bare minimum.. Mr Brocklehurst is uncharitable and hypocritical, set against the school superintendant, Miss Temple and the almost angelic Helen Burns. Then the male contrast of Mr Rochester & St John Rivers. The later starts out quite well, taking Jane in from the cold night, but it becomes apparent that he only does good works from a sense of duty, he doesn't support that with any emotional supprt or understanding. Mr Rochester is a different situation. He does not present the handsome apperance that Rivers does, so in that sense he is a contrast, but he isn't exactly a saint himself. His attitude to Adele is somewhat cold, he isn't sure if he is her father, but he supports her out of some sense of obligation - but that doesn;t include having the child near him except occasionally. Then there's his immediate attitude to Jane, he is her superior and acts it. The declaration of love from him is, in some sense, a surprise, as it isn;t immediatelt obvious from his behavior that he was warming to her at all - although reading the passages back again, there's a sense that maybe Jane wasn;t seeing what was developing, rather than it wasn't there. The interlude with the gypsy being a rather strange episode, but seems to have been used to put Miss Ingram off the trail. The mad wife is an odd one. Again there is the idea that he is behaving to her with duty, in fact you could argue that he has done his duty towards her at the expense of his own mental health and happiness. But the attempt to marry Jane with the wife alive is somewhat beneath his dignity. Jane will only marry him after the wife's demise, but she also only marries him when their relationship is apparently more equal. If they'd wed earlier, Jane would have been the junior partner in terms of what she brought to the relationaship, whereas by having the fire and the loss of protery and function, Jane returns to him with more power and status. He'd have remained the man of the house ahd she subservient had they married earlier. You could argue that there are a few too many co-incidences -Mr Mason visits Jane's Uncle when he discovers Jane is due to wed Rochester - with Mason's sister & Rochester's wife still alive. Jane lands on the doorstep of the Rivers - who turn out to be estranged cousins.But those small winges about plot apart, the whole thing does hang together and works. So a most satisfying read. Takes a while to get going, but the end does justify the rather odd happenings on the way.
    • 5/5
      My absolute favourite book. I never get tired of reading it.
    • 5/5
      Read this classic for f2f bookclub the first year. I enjoyed it. A story of an orphan girl, Jane and the man Rochester. It takes place on the moors. Its a romance but it's also a gothic.
    • 5/5
      One of the best novels ever written. Certainly the best I've read from that time period.