What do you think?
Rate this book
Regarding Jane Eyre
Women writers respond to Charlotte Bronte's novel
- GenresNonfictionClassics
440 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 1997
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 19, 2024
‘Some of the speculations about Jane Eyre could be true , or all, or none, dear reader’
I read this book, which I came across purely by chance, over a couple of sleepless nights while awaiting surgery. Now, I mention this simply because my concentration was difficult to retain and the fact that this book could do so and take me into the alternate possibilities being explored is a credit to the authors. There are many bigger fans of Jane Eyre than I am: I hope you enjoy this!
What a world of speculation has been unleashed about Jane Eyre since Charlotte Bronte first published this novel back in 1847. How much of Jane is actually, Charlotte herself? How much is commentary on the life she lived and times she lived in? How closely should we read the text as autobiographical and as an accurate depiction of at least certain aspects of 19th century life?
The life of the Brontes, the times in which they lived, the choices available to the siblings - each are fascinating topics in their own right. In this book, though, focussed on Jane Eyre you may largely choose to ignore the serious for the fanciful. Or simply enjoy both. Or perhaps, if you are so minded, propose some variations of your own.
Here, dear reader, you needs must make your own choices based on your own views and perceptions. For myself, this was a delightful collection of thoughts, views and imaginative possibilities that I thoroughly enjoyed over a couple of evenings.
So, if you still wonder about Jane Eyre, and you can find a copy of this book with its contributions from a diverse set of authors (Juliet Barker; Jean Bedford; Carmel Bird; Morag Fraser; Elizabeth Gaskell; Beverley Raphael; Jean Rhys; Rosie Scott and Amy Witting) edited by Susan Geason - I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I read this book, which I came across purely by chance, over a couple of sleepless nights while awaiting surgery. Now, I mention this simply because my concentration was difficult to retain and the fact that this book could do so and take me into the alternate possibilities being explored is a credit to the authors. There are many bigger fans of Jane Eyre than I am: I hope you enjoy this!
What a world of speculation has been unleashed about Jane Eyre since Charlotte Bronte first published this novel back in 1847. How much of Jane is actually, Charlotte herself? How much is commentary on the life she lived and times she lived in? How closely should we read the text as autobiographical and as an accurate depiction of at least certain aspects of 19th century life?
The life of the Brontes, the times in which they lived, the choices available to the siblings - each are fascinating topics in their own right. In this book, though, focussed on Jane Eyre you may largely choose to ignore the serious for the fanciful. Or simply enjoy both. Or perhaps, if you are so minded, propose some variations of your own.
Here, dear reader, you needs must make your own choices based on your own views and perceptions. For myself, this was a delightful collection of thoughts, views and imaginative possibilities that I thoroughly enjoyed over a couple of evenings.
So, if you still wonder about Jane Eyre, and you can find a copy of this book with its contributions from a diverse set of authors (Juliet Barker; Jean Bedford; Carmel Bird; Morag Fraser; Elizabeth Gaskell; Beverley Raphael; Jean Rhys; Rosie Scott and Amy Witting) edited by Susan Geason - I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 30, 2019
I jumped around this book and found some of it not very interesting but the fictional chapters were fascinating. Great read if you love dissecting books - which I do.
October 12, 2011
I'll admit straight off that I didn't read the fiction in this collection, except for the letters of Mary Ann Wilson. It just didn't feel right, I was instantly impatient and would rather read the original than fan fiction in this instance.
I didn't agree with every essay. Most particularly, Rosie Scott's rather overwrought reaction to Jane's childhood. I kept wondering if she'd ever met any survivors of child abuse/neglect, how she had completely missed the way Jane triumphed and overcame the wounds of her childhood simply by moving on and leaving it behind, by allowing it to inform her adult reactions with intelligence and compassion, not just kneejerk emotional violence. The wonderful thing about this collection was right after Rosie Scott's essay was a very levelheaded very sensible analysis by a professor of psychiatry who said everything I wanted to say to Rosie Scott. Mildly amusing sequencing, definitely, and put me back in charity with the book.
So many highly provocative observations and thoughts, not the least of which being the whole father/lover thing about Rochester. Some things I had dimly sensed, some things that shocked me completely, pretty much everything that delighted me because it gave me such a new perspective on an intimately familiar text.
I adored Carmel Bird's piece, how she said so much without seeming to say much, how deliciously she updated and reflected/refracted back upon the text. And now I have only to wish someone would analyse all the film and television adaptations of Jane Eyre. And procure for myself the letters of Charlotte Bronte because almost every single quote, even the ones Jean Rhys quoted in her letters, spoke straight to me. Also, possibly finish my Barker biography of the Brontes. Oy vey.
I didn't agree with every essay. Most particularly, Rosie Scott's rather overwrought reaction to Jane's childhood. I kept wondering if she'd ever met any survivors of child abuse/neglect, how she had completely missed the way Jane triumphed and overcame the wounds of her childhood simply by moving on and leaving it behind, by allowing it to inform her adult reactions with intelligence and compassion, not just kneejerk emotional violence. The wonderful thing about this collection was right after Rosie Scott's essay was a very levelheaded very sensible analysis by a professor of psychiatry who said everything I wanted to say to Rosie Scott. Mildly amusing sequencing, definitely, and put me back in charity with the book.
So many highly provocative observations and thoughts, not the least of which being the whole father/lover thing about Rochester. Some things I had dimly sensed, some things that shocked me completely, pretty much everything that delighted me because it gave me such a new perspective on an intimately familiar text.
I adored Carmel Bird's piece, how she said so much without seeming to say much, how deliciously she updated and reflected/refracted back upon the text. And now I have only to wish someone would analyse all the film and television adaptations of Jane Eyre. And procure for myself the letters of Charlotte Bronte because almost every single quote, even the ones Jean Rhys quoted in her letters, spoke straight to me. Also, possibly finish my Barker biography of the Brontes. Oy vey.
November 14, 2021
Fascinating - but then again its about Jane Eyre.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews