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.


About the Author
Richard J. Dunn is Professor of English at the University of Washington. His books include the Norton Critical Edition of Wuthering Heights, Approaches to Teaching Dickens's David Copperfield, David Copperfield: An Annotated Bibliography, The English Novel, Twentieth-Century Criticism, Defoe to Hardy, and Oliver Twist: Whole Heart and Soul.

ANNOTATION

In early nineteenth-century England, an orphaned young woman accepts employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall, a country estate owned by the mysteriously remote Mr. Rochester.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Initially published under the pseudonym Currer Bell in 1847, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre erupted onto the English literary scene, immediately winning the devotion of many of the world's most renowned writers, including William Makepeace Thackeray, who declared it a work "of great genius." Passionate, dramatic, and surprisingly modern, Jane Eyre endures as one of the world's most beloved novels. This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition includes a new Introduction by Diane Johnson, the National Book Awardnominated author of many novels, including Le Mariage and Le Divorce. The timeless story of Jane Eyre has arrived on Broadway as a spectacular new musical from an all-star production team, consisting of John Caird (Les Miserables, Nicholas Nickleby), who adapted and staged (with Scott Schwartz); composer Paul Gordon; designer John Napier (Cats, Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard); costume designer Andreane Neofitou (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon); and lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, six-time winners of the Tony Award.

SYNOPSIS

Two cassettes. Playing time 3 hours. Read by Saskia Wickham.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal - Michael Neubert, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. — Michael Neubert, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Written in 1847, this novel remains a favorite, especially among younger readers and listeners who continue to be entranced by the young Jane and her mysterious Mr. Rochester. The story of an unhappy orphan and her life as a governess at Thornfield is filled with difficulty, including a shocking revelation on her wedding day. The happy ending finally arrives, though, and Jane and Rochester are united forever. Long criticized as being melodramatic and contrived, Jane Eyre has nonetheless become a romantic classic and is often the book that introduces students to serious literature. Bronte's suspense-filled plot adapts well to the audio format. This version, although abridged, omits nothing of importance. Juliet Stevenson, a Royal Shakespeare Company associate, reads with the drama the story demands and makes each character emerge with life and energy. Recommended for general audiences.

Booknews

Based on the 1848 third edition of Bronte's classic. Presents the novel along with five critical essays from the feminist, psychoanalytic, deconstruction, cultural, and Marxist perspectives. Each essay is accompanied by a succinct introduction to the history, principles, and practice of the critical perspective, and the text and essays are complemented by an introduction providing biographical and historical contexts for Bronte and Jane Eyre.

AudioFile

The power of a great story never fades, and this book is no exception. What makes it even better, though, is Maureen O'Brien's superb narration. She virtually inhabits the text, making it believable and alive. Her British accent and crystal-clear diction lend weight to the story, and her pacing is impeccable. O'Brien takes the author's cue and eases us into the book, but she makes it clear early on that her Jane has life and vitality. As we move further into the story, her voice becomes more assured, and she injects passion and gravity into the other characters. She truly acts the book, and the result is an intellectual and aural feast. R.I.G. ￯﾿ﾽ AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

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