The Professor and Jane Eyre Charlotte Brontë

title page of first edition of jane eyre

brontë s first manuscript, professor, did not secure publisher, although heartened encouraging response smith, elder & co. of cornhill, expressed interest in longer works currer bell might wish send. brontë responded finishing , sending second manuscript in august 1847. 6 weeks later, jane eyre published. tells story of plain governess, jane, who, after difficulties in life, falls in love employer, mr rochester. marry, after rochester s insane first wife, of whom jane has no knowledge, dies in dramatic house fire. book s style innovative, combining naturalism gothic melodrama, , broke new ground in being written intensely evoked first-person female perspective. brontë believed art convincing when based on personal experience; in jane eyre transformed experience novel universal appeal.

jane eyre had immediate commercial success , received favourable reviews. g. h. lewes wrote utterance depths of struggling, suffering, much-enduring spirit , , declared consisted of suspiria de profundis! (sighs depths). speculation identity , gender of mysterious currer bell heightened publication of wuthering heights ellis bell (emily) , agnes grey acton bell (anne). accompanying speculation change in critical reaction brontë s work, accusations made writing coarse , judgement more readily made once suspected currer bell woman. however, sales of jane eyre continued strong , may have increased result of novel developing reputation improper book. talented amateur artist, brontë did drawings second edition of jane eyre , in summer of 1834 2 of paintings shown @ exhibition royal northern society encouragement of fine arts in leeds.