"Such a strange book! Imagine a novel with a little swarthy governess for heroine, and a middle-aged ruffian for hero."--Sharpe's London Magazine (June 1855) These words, written about the classic story of Jane Eyre and her Mr. Rochester, seem to describe up my sentiments about the book exactly. This book is very strange, in fact; definitely very much unlike the typical romance novels written today. I've found that out about most classics, actually--they are drastically different from the "classy pornography" some people are writing today.



This book is strange in almost every detail, down to very unusual, plain heroine and positively ugly hero. Jane Eyre has a hard life, beginning with a family that doesn't love her, after which she is put in a boarding school where she is treated horribly. So we see a pattern here that contrasts with the typical heroine of today's romance novels: Jane is ugly; Jane is poor; Jane has to work for a living. Jane goes to live with a man who is married to a crazy woman he doesn't love, but she doesn't know that he's married, so she ALMOST marries him... but doesn't. I think even the plot of "Jane Eyre" could be called strange--from neglected child to timid adult to quiet governess to blissful almost-bride to near-beggar to guest in a strange house to poor teacher to rich independant woman to happily married woman. Wow! The twists and turns in this book are incredible!

Jane Eyre is as completely unlike the pathetic heroines of other books as I can imagine. I can't say that I would admire her as a person if I knew her personally, but I admire (very much) Charlotte Bronte for creating such a vivid, intense character.

Charlotte Bronte first published "Jane Eyre" under the name of Currer Bell in 1847, and received both critical and positive reviews.

This book is extremely useful for any writer interesting in writing a romance novel. I've read "Jane Eyre" several times already, and each time in confirms me in my conviction that something is wrong with today's romance novels--they lack power, they lack "believable" characters, they lack interesting plots, and they desperately need a lot less romance and a bit more action.

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Created Jul 27, 2003 at 10:16pm • Submit your own review...