Charlotte Brontë and Jane Eyre

by Stewart Ross, Robert Van Nutt (Illustrator)

Through an exploration of the characters in the classic novel Jane Eyre, the real-life story of its author, Charlotte Brontë, is presented to young readers, enhanced by full-color illustrations.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Biography Memoir

46 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 1997

About the author

Stewart Ross has written more than 300 titles, fiction and non-fiction, for children and adults. Many are about (or inspired by) history. He lives near Canterbury, England.

Reviews

[paige marie ⋆˚꩜｡]

i had to read this for school but it was very interesting and im excited to read jane eyre!

[Deirdre Clare]

Just finished reading this tonight. Spent every spare moment for the last few days trying to savour the last little bit of it. Boy, it's an amazing book! The last time I tried to read it I was 12 or 13 and it was a waste of time really. I don't know what it says about getting older that the misery and heartache of a young woman's life and search for love can be so much more appreciated! ;-) I really did enjoy it though and I think it brought a little blush to my cheek and a tear to my eye because I was reading it as a story of a 'woman' and not a girl any more and I read into it the struggles of a woman trying to define herself as herself even in the context of strong romantic passions and even stronger (who knows how deep these things go in such a conservative religious cultural climate?) religious feeling. I really appreciated all the writing and the intricacies of the twists and turns, which while still having that, ah what a coincidence! factor, were still very enjoyable and I think skillfully laid out. In the world of brainless predictable tv and films it is a pleasure to see something well crafted in terms of plot and nuance. I liked all the morality AND all the independence. Bronte's perspective in this character is reassuringly unique and hard headed. I like tough talking, hard headed but still seductive women and I certainly found one here! Bravo Charlotte Bronte.

[Emily]

Our library recently got this book and I just had to see what it was about. Charlotte Bronte was a favorite of mine. Jane Eyre was a pivotal read in my younger years. As was her sisters book, Wuthering Heights. This particular book outlines her life, simply, while also relaying the similarities and thought processes behind her writing and her life. It was incredibly well done! I loved reading it.

[Katie]

Age: 12+
Content Considerations: the love of a woman for her married teacher is discussed

[An]

Book title: Jane Eyre
Author; Charlotte Bronte
Page: 120
Question #: 6

Jane Eyre is one of the amazing love stories i've ever read. This story does not only make the readers imagine about a romantic love but also help them recognize the strong will of Jane to overcome all the difficulties in her life.

In that world, Jane seemed like a unexpected additional creature. She had no parents, no brothers and sisters, no money, no home, no love. Living in her aunt's house, Jane had to work like a servant. Her cousins bullied her all days. Jane felt like these are the most terrible days in her life. I feel sympathy for what Jane had to suffer. I think that peole who are in the situation like Jane can understand what i am talking about. Personally, i am the one who has a similar situation like Jane. However, fortunately, my circumstance is better than Jane. I live with my aunt. She treats me very well. Moreover, i do not have to work a lot like Jane.And i know that i am much luckier than Jane. But i know the feeling of a girl who lives far away from her parents. Lack of love is the reason why i see on Jane as well as myself. Parents, brothers and sisters are the basis loves that each people should have. What a pity! Jane did not even know what that is. Mrs Reed, Jane's aunt, is the only relative that Jane had. Although she was cruel, strictive, jane still had to live in her house. I did not mean that i live in house like Jane. What i mean here is that i know exactly what is an dependent life. Living in a house that does not belong to your parents makes me as well as Jane feel comfortable. Also i recognize that parents gave their children everything unconditionally. Only parents can give up everything for their children. That's why i like Jane very much. I can not stop reading this story untill it ends.

Moreover, the story make readers surprised a lot when making Jane from a poor girl without anything become a wealthy lady and have a romatic love with a man. Perhaps, the author want Jane to have everything that she didnot have before, an good ending gift from Charlotte. Jane makes me admired a lot becauseif someone put me in Jane's situation, i bet that i can not live within a week. Jane Eyre is indeed one of the best book that i have spent good time to read.

[Janet Frost]

I remember why I loved biographies as a young reader. This detailed, very honest look at Charlotte Bronte was wonderful. As an adult, I find "grown-up" biographies pretty pedantic and boring. But these biographies designed for middle-grade readers are so much more succinct. I love "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights" (by Emily Bronte) and much prefer their dark gothic style to simpering Jane Austin literature. But everything I had ever read about the Bronte's had described them as also simpering and reclusive. This novel however, presented Charlotte as the tough, independent and impatient personality I would have expected from the creator of Jane Eyre. The author did a great job of connecting her life with the details from her fictional works. This would be a great quick kick-off to a study of Jane Eyre.

[Amy]

I find juvenile nonfiction to be ideal when I want to go beyond a Wikipedia entry on a topic without the time and effort required for normal nonfiction books. This book blends biography and literary criticism to answer the question of the relationship between the author Charlotte Bronte and her most famous novel, Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre does not equal Charlotte Bronte, but many of her adventures take real events in Bronte's life and color them with imaginative genius. Brief and well written, a perfect book for anyone who has read or will read Jane Eyre and wants to get to know its author.

[Betty]

I loved this book. I had to be totally engulfed in it to understand her writing. Her life was full of sadness, pain and emptiness, but in the end she gets the man she loved Mr. Rochester. She also ends up with an inheritance she shares with a new found family.
She writes beautifully and I was amazed that this was her first novel. Her sister Emily's book Wuthering Heights came out after Jane Eyre was published, but Emily died a year after. Charlotte wrote a biographical notice that was included in Wuthering Heights, when that book was published in 1850.

[Nancy]

Had to study it for English Literature A level and loved it ever since. Important book about feminism for the time period it was written, though she wouldn't be considered very feminist by todays standards.

[Janelle]

This was very well-written in that it detailed how the Bronte's life affected what they later wrote as well as providing the historical setting for why this family's life was so difficult. I'd highly recommend this to ages 12 and up.

[Emily Alexander]

A reason to have a daughter: so you can give her this book!

[Amanda Pfeifer]

Thought I'd try a classic.. and I am loving it so far. It is terrific. Books can take you anywhere.. reading this one, truely takes me on a time warp to the 1800.

[Steph]

My all-time favorite book!

[Djbija reynolds]

horrible boring ill try it again whaen im 40

[Heloyce]

A brief introduction to the Bronte family and in particular, Charlotte Bronte. Interesting but not particularly well written.

[Katie]

A good concise biography of Jane Eyre, highlighting the familial and societal influences on her personality and works. Would definitely recommend for middle-high school readers.