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    Jane Eyre
    Jane Eyre
    Jane Eyre
    Audiobook (abridged)3 hours

    Jane Eyre

    Written by Charlotte Brontë

    Narrated by Emma Fielding

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    One of the greatest love stories ever written, Jane Eyre is the tale of a young woman entangled with the powerful Mr Rochester. What lurks in the attic at Thornfield, the ancestral home of the surly Mr Rochester? Will the governess Jane Eyre discover his secret – and having discovered it, live to regret that knowledge? Battling inside Jane are passion and prudence; she struggles to survive the turmoil they cause.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNaxos Audiobooks
    Release dateJun 3, 1996
    ISBN9789629544621
    Author

    Charlotte Brontë

    Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855) was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sister authors. Her novels are considered masterpieces of English literature – the most famous of which is Jane Eyre.

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    Reviews for Jane Eyre

    4.5/5

    458 ratings416 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Tedious but grows on you. My favorite part is near the end - their references to the burned tree in describing Rochester.
    • 3/5
      My name-sake! Beautiful novel...while it does drag on a bit in the middle sections, the ending is so bitter-sweet. Great 3-day read.
    • 5/5
      I have always found this story a little disturbing. I didn't understand the attraction between Jane and Mr Rochester until I saw the movie version with Cairan Hines - who is quite handsome! I never pictured Mr Rochester as being very attractive as I don't believe he's described to be so. However, the added tension between our leads brought me into the story more and I was able to forgive his "surprise" in the attic.
    • 4/5
      The Brontë sisters seem to have shared a fascination with the theme of abused and unwanted wards. In Jane Eyre, it’s the title character that receives the poor treatment at the hands of her aunt and cousins. However, unlike Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, Jane uses her internal strength, intellect and personal integrity to persevere.I found Charlotte’s writing to be smoother and less rigid than Emily’s so I enjoyed Jane Eyre more than Wuthering Heights. The story details Jane’s coming of age, freeing herself from the grasp of her family, and beginning a new life. She falls in love, rejects that love, is offered a comfortable but unloving marriage but rejects that proposal. Ultimately, her decisions prove to have been well thought as she ultimately marries the man she loves. The course of the book is best summarized by a passage towards the end of the novel: “To have yielded [then] would have been an error of principle; to have yielded now would have been an error in judgement.” Through the book, Jane’s adherence to her principles and application of good judgement lead to her happiness.There were some subtle elements of gothic literature employed in Jane Eyre. Jane is a dark, brooding and introspective character. There’s an insane captive locked in the attic, several murder attempts, multiple references to physical ugliness and deformity and burned remains of a mansion. However, this novel is first-and-foremost about relationships. It forces the reader to examine what’s really important in deciding the best “match” for each of us and encourages standing by our principles in not settling for anything other than the best.
    • 5/5
      This reading of Jane Eyre marks my third time entering her world. I believe the first time I read the book I was in high school. My mother had a copy, a large, illurstrated hard-back, and, when I was looking for a new book, she urged me to read it. I remember being reluctant; it was a CLASSIC after all, which meant that it would be boring. But I never found Jane Eyre to be a boring read. I loved it, and I love it still!The second reading, when I got the copy that I re-read this time, had to have been for a college English class. I was an English literature minor, so it was probably for my Brit Lit class, but I really don't recall. The only proof I have of reading it a second time is the book itself.As I have stated, I LOVE Jane Eyre. Jane is one of my favorite heroines of all time. She is far spunkier than most female protagonists of the time, and she's not beautiful herself, which made her much more relatable than the alabaster-skinned, blonde, blue-eyed heroines some authors created.I far prefer Charlotte Bronte's writing to that of Jane Austen's (don't crucify me, Austen fans!). I think it's the Gothic elements. Because, overall, Jane Eyre IS a Gothic novel. And I love those little things that make it so: the madwoman in the attic; Thornfield Hall, the prototypic Gothic manor; the voices across the moors. Even Mr. Rochester, with his lack of physical beauty, seems to embody the Gothic hero.Like most people, my favorite scenes are when Jane is at Thornfield, and, like most people, I HATE the parts where she is with St. John Rivers. But I think they are necessary to give a rounded picture of society at the time. The saintly, self-sacrificing St. John, ruled by his sense of religious duty is a nice foil to the turbulent, passionate Mr. Rochester, ruled by his emotions. Two men of opposite ends of the spectrum who each wish to make Jane his wife. And poor Jane, in the middle, knowing she should choose duty, but choosing to give in to her passions instead.The love story between Jane and Mr. Rochester is my favorite of all time, with the exception of Anne and Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables. When the two of them came together, before Jane learned of the FIRST Mrs. Rochester, tears sprang to my eyes. I like a happy ending as much as the next girl, so I'm glad that all ends well with Jane.I recommend this book to anyone who has never read it. Or to anyone who feels the need to read a classic that doesn't FEEL like a classic. It's a fantastic read.
    • 5/5
      Loved this classic.
    • 5/5
      My only regret about this book is that I didn't read it sooner. I never expected one book to contain so much drama, suspense, and heartbreak. I literally couldn't put it down. One of the best classics I have ever read.
    • 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
    • 4/5
      Fantastic until the finale.
    • 5/5
      I read classics because they are usually deeper than average fiction today and generally a more challenging read. Jane Eyre is the first classic novel that I fell in love with. I knew nothing of the story when I started reading, and midway through the book I thought the story was wrapped up nicely. I figured oh there will be a slight shock to it, but what possibly could go on for the other half? I was blindsighted by the turn of events and found it impossible to put down until I was finished! Jane Eyre is a must read in my opinion- truly one of the greats!
    • 4/5
      Another high school read.

      Definitely one I should re-read, as I don't remember much other than feeling terribly sorry for Jane....
    • 5/5
      Only my favorite book! Perhaps because I could relate so much to Jane: quiet, demure, but with a fire inside of me. When I was younger I could never understand Jane's attraction to Rochester; upon reading this again as an older adult, I get it. I re-read this every few years and keep finding hidden gems inside of it.
    • 5/5
      Jane Eyre is an early feminist icon: she shuns marriage to a wealthy man, is highly educated and modest. It is a witty book, a romance that is not sickly or hackneyed. It seems strangely modern.
    • 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.
    • 2/5
      Not my cup of tea. Just about readable but I prefer Fforde's version.
    • 5/5
      It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I was mesmerized and couldn't put it down. I was entranced by the relationship between Rochester and Jane, and by the circumstances that kept them apart. The book is definitely involved and much better than the movie (at least the '96 version).
    • 5/5
      Charlotte Brontë, you wily gal! On the surface you wrote a romance novel that early Victorian Era folks would find highly palatable (and would therefore read). But then you made Jane Eyre into a magnificent feminist (by Victorian standards).

      I was also impressed with the variety of techniques that Brontë used to reveal Jane's character. Like most writers, Brontë showed us what her main character experienced, and told us what she said and thought. But Brontë also used her other characters as contrasts to Jane. Those other characters took some positive trait of Jane and turned it into an extreme: in Mrs. Reed the desire to guide improvement in others becomes authoritarianism, in Helen Burns the desire to be 'good' becomes martyrdom, in Adele the desire to be presentable becomes vanity, etc. (I think Brontë did that to help her readers see that Jane's view of reality was not unreasonable or extreme.)

      The thing I enjoyed most about this story was how unselfconsciously Brontë examined Victorian social tenets. It seems to me that she made an excellent argument that the allowed role of women was entirely too restrictive. I might have expected the ladies of the Victorian Era to rise up and begin burning their corsets, except they were probably too busy chit-chatting over tea about the lovely happy ending that Brontë had given them.

      On a side note: I've heard folks compare this book to the works of Jane Austen, and I have to say that I find their different styles of social commentary equally pleasing. While Charlotte Brontë is the more earnest elder sister (rather like Jane Eyre), Jane Austen might be considered the amusing clever sister (rather like Elizabeth Bennet). Surely there is much to be learned from both women.
    • 5/5
      This was a re-read for me. I think I originally read it as a teenager, and remember liking it. There was a lot in the story I did not remember – the horrors of Jane’s childhood at Gateshead, her friendship with Helen at Lowood, and the recurring religious theme, in particular. It took me almost three weeks to read the book – not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because life kept getting in the way. When I was able to sit down and read, I tore through the pages quickly. It was kind of an odd reading experience for me – I was never eager to pick it up but when I did, I didn’t want to put it down. Also strange was the fact that I liked it so much almost despite the fact that I didn’t really care for many of the characters in it. Mr. Rochester was creepily over-bearing, St. John Rivers horribly sanctimonious, and even Jane grated on me most of the time. I most enjoyed the flashes of fire in her when she was roused to great emotion, but those times seemed few and far between. Despite all of this, I really enjoyed the book and am having a hard time figuring out why exactly. Nevertheless, it’s a 4.5 star read for me.
    • 5/5
      Really highly enjoyable. A classic Victorian with Darcy's gothic twist. Beautiful illustrations - but found myself thinking that I could draw them just as well...
    • 2/5
      Whenever I read a classic that I missed during my younger life, I always read it as if I will have to write a paper on it. The topic of my paper would either be "Feminism and financial independence in Jane Eyre" or "Christianity and Physical Appearance in Jane Eyre".
    • 5/5
      This is my favorite book of all time. I could read it over and over again every day for the rest of my life. The characters and so alive and rich that I feel for them every time I read it.
    • 5/5
      Jane Eyre is my new favorite book. It was incredible. As incredible, if not more, than the movie adaptations. My sister had read this book and loved it, and then we watched the movie. I fell in love with the movie, and decided I'd better read the book. I'm so glad I did. The wrting is intricate and beautiful, and expresses completley the feelings of Jane, and how she feels about Mr. Rochester. The love story was so precious and endearing. Jane's world almost shattered when she found out the truth about Rochester's past. But even that could not shake her love for him. She just knew things had to change. How powerful that love must be! This is an absolutely beautiful classic, a book to be re-read continually
    • 4/5
      young girl self determined, governess, survives
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite books that melts together elements of romance, mystery and horror effortlessly. The main character is relatable to anyone who is more bookworm-ish and shy while not being a pushover when it comes down to it. I love this book and it's one of the first classics I read that felt like its hype was more than lived up to.
    • 4/5
      I still reread Jane Eyre from time to time; it is the prototypical novel of the aspiring romantic. And who can't love Jane? It reads much differently now than when I was a young thing (and differently by far in light of books like the Wide Sargasso Sea, which look at the perspective of the mad wife in the attic). But I haven't been able to get my bright daughter to even glance at it. Sigh.
    • 5/5
      Read when I was much much younger...
    • 5/5
      I LOVE Jane! And I hardly EVER love a main female character, or any female character at all. :P They're never done right. Jane is one of those normal heroic characters (cause normal people ARE heroic.) that makes you swell with hope- kinda like Samewise Gamgee. ALthough, I thought Rochester was darn whiney... I perfer Darcy I think, but I was to reread the book before I decide for sure.
    • 5/5
      Published in 1847, Jane Eyre is the story of an orphan girl raised by a cruel aunt then sent away to a punishing boarding school at too young an age. Despite the lumps life has thrown her, Jane's spirit remains strong and her moral compass well grounded. Smart, hard working and talented, Jane takes a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall for the young ward of Mr. Rochester. It is at Thornfield Hall that Jane finally feels at home despite her mysterious master, Mr. Rochester. Upon learning of Mr. Rochester's past, Jane leaves Thornfield to make a life of her own. But the love Jane experienced at Thronfield doesn't keep her away for long This is a story where the reader roots for Jane the heroine from start to finish.
    • 4/5
      I have finished this book, hooray! I really did enjoy the book, although I can't say it was the most exciting book. I truly fell in love with the story, especially the ending, which I had been curious about since I read The Eyre Affair, which actually I am glad I read first. It was a wonderful story about a resilient and strong woman.
    • 5/5
      What can I say that hasn't already been said of Jane Eyre? I never read this as a teen or even in college. This fell into the category of 'books I'm embarrassed to have not yet read' so I picked it up and dove in. Like many classics, it took me some time to finish the book. 11 days later, I fell in love with Jane Eyre like many before me. I'm glad that I waited to read it until now, though, because I think I wouldn't have appreciated it when I was younger. But oddly enough, I think that my reaction at, say, 18, would have been more superficially 'mature' than now at 26. Allow me to explain, spoilers to follow- When Jane Eyre, minutes from being married, discovered that her very soon-to-be husband, was previously married 15 years earlier, she remains silent until the story is explained. My initial reaction was shock, of course. At 18 and 26 that would remain the same. But then Mr. Rochester explains his sad tale and we discover that he was essentially tricked into marrying a woman by both their families, only to learn that her family has a marked history of insanity. He stayed devotedly at her side for four years until his wife had deteriorated so completely that she was dangerous. At that point he had set her up in one of his homes with a guardian who could care for her properly. He left to move on and explore the world, visiting infrequently with much sorrow and upset. Upon one homecoming he meets Jane Eyre and they both eventually fall in love with each other, the latter unaware of the former wife kept upstairs, violent and nearly inhuman at this point. Jane listens to this story and decides she cannot stay and leaves immediately. It is this point that I am positive that had I read it when younger I would have wholly supported her choice. "Right on, Jane Eyre! Leave the deceitful, lying bastard!" My young and feminist tendencies would have had a field day with it. I read this now and was confused, no, actually irritated with her. How stupidly 'moral' and overly rational could she possibly be? Her love for him was all-encompassing and his was undying and true. They should have been together all along, but because she couldn't stand the thought that he was technically 'married' to a woman who was so insane she stabbed and bit people and had no ability to function as a person any more, she up and left true love. I'm not sure what it says about me, but I kept thinking, "He's married to an *effing* banshee!!! Take the guy and leave!!!!" Needless to say, I was happy to see them find each other in the end, but admittedly found it slightly unlikely that in all the entire world and of all the people she could have possibly found herself with, she managed to wind up living in the house of her only living distant relatives of the Eyre name. Pushing that aside, the rest of the story was so incredibly wonderful. Much, much, much enjoyed.