Jane Eyre

Written by Charlotte Brontë

Narrated by The Synthetic Voice of Lily

Charlotte Brontë's timeless classic, Jane Eyre, is a captivating tale of love, resilience, and independence. Orphaned at a young age and mistreated by her relatives, Jane Eyre grows up to become a strong-willed and principled young woman.

Her journey takes her to Thornfield Hall, where she becomes the governess to the enigmatic Mr. Rochester's ward. As Jane navigates complex relationships and uncovers dark secrets, she confronts her own inner turmoil and desires for autonomy and love.

Please note: The audiobook narration was digitally synthesized, and the cover was made in collaboration with AI tools.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RetroSynth Classics
• Release date: Apr 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9781094472935

Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855) was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood. Raised in a strict Anglican home by her clergyman father after the deaths of her mother and two elder siblings, she published all of her poetry and fiction under the pen name Currer Bell. Jane Eyre, her most famous work, is widely considered one of the finest and most influential novels of the nineteenth century. 

Reviews for Jane Eyre

[Vivian Cornacchia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent, I enjoyed every minute I thought.
Perfect I didn’t even mind the synthetic section every minute I thought I had to rate it perfect at number 1 it perfect.

[Hey Ma S · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Long overdue book... amazingly written.. I deeply relate to Jane and she might probably my favourite classical fictional protagonist yet!

[sarmille · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The synthetic voice was awful. The intonations and inflections were all wrong as well as some pronunciations. No emotions at all.

[Jeanetta du Preez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was douptful whether I will enjoy the digital voice, but it did not bother me as much. A delightful story.

[yarncatsnbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite book

[estherfilbrun · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the third time I’ve read this book, and I’m pretty sure I enjoyed it just as much as the first time I read it for school! It’s well and truly my favorite classic, and I’m sure this won’t be the last time I read this book.

It’s a fascinating character study; I love the deep dive we get into Jane’s perspective on life, as well as getting to know Mr. Rochester’s strengths, weaknesses, and an idea of what drives him.

This is also a very atmospheric novel…there’s nothing quite like the almost-dismal surroundings Jane finds herself in, and the kind of people she comes across in those places.

This is a deep story, and it’s got slow pacing, which makes it easy to put down, but it’s well worth persevering with (thankfully, the further you go in the book, the more gripping it gets). The way this book wraps up is quite possibly my favorite ending ever! Read it for the characters and the setting, and the story will grip you, too. Highly recommended!

[angelreadsthings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting story, but I felt that it was too much crammed into one book at certain points. Some sections just seemed to be dragged on, hindering me from getting to the truly interesting parts. But all in all, it was a good read.

[zetariemann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't think there's anything I could really say about Jane Eyre that hasn't already been said. It is, without a doubt, a masterpiece. I especially adored Jane herself and was thoroughly engaged the entire time. I feel like I could dream about and consider this book for a long time.

[artemisa-191823 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was a long time since I read a 19th century classic. They are hard to read, not exactly boring, but near it. But in the end they are good and that is why people keep reading them.
This is the case with Jane Eyre. It's a good story, but told in a not exactly boring way, but it feels kind of bland, maybe because I can't relate to most of the feelings.

We all know how the story evolves, but it actualy takes too much time to get to the important places of the story, it dwells on little 19th century details.

I spent about half of the book thinking why didn't Mr Rochester divorce is first wife? Why did he keep her locked in the attic? I had never thought about that before I started reading the book, but it started to annoy me, until I got to a not that explained that until a few year after the book was published, a man couldn't get divorced if the wife was declared mad.

[mybookloveobsession · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If a romance could break you but keep you together all at the same time, is it a romance you could find yourself walking away from?

A coming of age story, filled with romance and suspense. Learning that pretty things don’t always equal a beautiful outcome. That sometimes the messy or unthinkable is the route your heart calls you to.

A favorite of mine, that I’ll continue to read over and over again.

[kristykay22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jane Eyre is such a weird and wonderful epic journey of a book. Charlotte Brontë blended up the real-life experiences of her and her sisters, a romantic and isolated disposition, some pretty progressive ideas about independent women, some pretty fantastical ideas about men, and some very unique ideas about the use of semi-colons into a one-of-a-kind Victorian romance. Reader, I'm working on a theory that Jane dies in that bog and the last third of the book -- which takes a rather surprising shift in tone -- is her fantasy as she is dying. I'm not sure Charlotte Brontë would agree, but it helped me get through some of the sloggy bits with St. John and Jane's previously unexplored religiosity.

[danielle.desrochers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don’t know why it took me until my late 30s to read this!

I loved Jane, she was so sarcastic and lovely and real, and her relationship with Rochester was so interesting and well fleshed out. I loved this.

[mattries37315 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An orphan raised harshly by her non-blood related aunt, survived a harsh boarding school, became a governess only to be ogled by a man twice her age who is already married, and she’s not even alive two decades. Jane Eyre by Charlette Bronte is a first-person novel of a woman recounting her early life in Victorian England.

While I appreciated the first-person narrative and thought the story was fine, it was the clichés that took me out of this novel overall. Whether it was that the clichés are somewhat dated today or just didn’t hook me or the overall romance aspect just didn’t click thus making them fall flat I haven’t decided. Without any knowledge of what would happen in this book I guessed that Jane and Rochester’s first wedding wouldn’t go off, mainly because basically a third of the book was left. The Chekov’s gun that was Jane’s paternal uncle’s fortune was waiting to be dropped and the twist of Jane being saved by and later befriending her disinherited cousins resulted in a “meh”. After I finished, I didn’t feel like I wasted my time, but I have no interest in ever reading this book again as well.

Jane Eyre is a first-person narrative romance that many put on par with one or more Jane Austen novels, however I would not.

[briandrewz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Definitely a good story. Charlotte Bronte is masterful in her telling of the story of the titular character Jane Eyre. There are so many memorable characters and moments. Jane is such a strong character, and yet vulnerable at the same time.

Excellent classic reading!

[beentsy_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love this book.

[briars_reviews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë was a book I always wanted to pick up. I had seen many of the various adaptations and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. For years it was just a whisper in the back of my head, until I got to take a gothic literature class. And man, that is the BEST way to read a book like this! Get a professional explaining the ins and outs and making you understand why things are the way they are. It was one awesome opportunity and I am SO glad I took that class!

So, a Briar summary:
- Jane Eyre - bildungsroman (young women moving from innocence to experience)
- Abusive household of distant family as a child (orphan Annie... I mean Jane), sent off to an academy for all girls (also not the best experience)
- Leaves, gets a job as a Governess (teacher) for a young girl who may or may not be the Master's daughter
- Meets Mr. Rochester (ugly rich guy) and falls in love with him, but he's chasing an older broad named Blanche
- Finally gets with Mr. Rochester and things get... difficult
- She leaves and gets another job
- She finds her way back
- Throughout most of the book she is sassy and independent!

This book is a bildungsroman disguised as a romance. We have a woman coming into herself and learning to accept that her passion will not meet society's expectations of a young woman. They must be humble and kind and not passionate or sexual. She has morals and stands up for them, and does not understand why people don't do the same. She wants to marry who she wants to marry, and doesn't want to wear the veil. She's a strong lead for the time period. You can argue whether or not she is a feminist character (she still marries the guy at the end, gives away a lot of what she wanted too), but she is a strong lead. You have to remember when the book was made to really understand why things happen the way they do.

I'll be honest, I would not have enjoyed this book as much without my Professor going into deep lengths about it. When I had to write essays and understand the book I found it way more enjoyable. That's how I am as a reader though. I dislike slow moving books unless I have some accountability or learning from it. I'm an odd reader.

So what's my overall opinion?

This book is a really interesting classic. It's a relatively slow, dramatic book that can make you appreciate writing if you read it under the right circumstances. There is definitely one section of the book nobody likes (oh my gosh, I already hate slow and that part was PAINFUL - if you've read it, you know what part I'm talking about), but it's still a great read. I'm blown away by Charlotte's skills and I will definitely be picking up more books by the Brontë sisters.

But, Mr. Rochester? Jane. You can do better. He's a bit of a cow, if I'm being honest.

Side note: If anyone wants to chat about this classic, hit me up. The theorizing with this book and the themes... I love it. I get all nerdy about these kind of things!

Five out of five stars.

[robfwalter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh, dear reader, how I agonised over whether to give this five stars or four. In the end, I have gone with all five, because I think the shortcomings in the novel are to do with the genre and the society in which it was published, and not with the quality of the book.

Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester are among the great characters in all of literature, and the supporting cast are just as good. I was really taken aback by the sophistication of the writing. It's easy to forget that people had just as much fun with words two hundred years ago as they do today.

A wonderful read, I can't believe I made it to 31 without reading it.

[andjhostet-527429 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

7/10

Despite the antiquated prose, and the overly descriptive writing style, this was fairly easy to read, and beautifully written. The plot is nothing special, and fairly cliche, but I'm sure it created many of the cliches so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. The characters and relationships were flawed, which made them memorable. I liked the darker, gothic themes that came through, but was hoping for more of that. The ending was a deus ex machina and I can't say I enjoyed it. Actually, most of the plot after Thornhill felt kind of clumsy.

[lynnmpk · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I thought about DNFing this many times.

The pacing is very strange. Brontë will go on for several paragraphs where only five minutes has elapsed at the end of it, and then quickly skip months ahead of time with one sentence. I also found that at times the text is incredibly wordy without conveying anything of import.

Then there's the manipulative, emotionally abusive man that is her love interest. And let's not forget about the racism. I would have DNF'd it if it wasn't the book that would complete my reading goal for the year.

[desiree_reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE GOOD:
Jane is a fully sketched out character. She's a very real personage. One who is sweet when content; and prickly when stressed. She is principled, determined, and feels a strong sense of self worth. I admire her grit, especially when she strikes out alone and penniless to strike a new life, after having her heart broken.

Bronte's use of language and of scene descriptions are very enjoyable. Especially for those who like to dig into meatier prose that is definitely more complex than a beach read or cozy mystery.

THE BAD:
The early chapters with Jane existing unhappily in her aunt's home, and then at Lowood school/orphanage seem unnecessary to the story. These experiences do perhaps help Jane later when she becomes a schoolteacher - to have fellow feeling for her lowborn country students. That said, these chapters could be cut out without losing any trajectory.

It's also strikes me as odd that Jane falls in love with her employer, who is, in reality, the first man in her life, other than her young cousin, who she's ever spent any time with. Almost literally the first man she's ever met. And he is such an unlikable and arrogant man. (I'm not sure if that's how Ms. Bronte saw him or not?) And after learning of Mr. Rochester's plan to include her in his bigamy scheme, Jane still pines for him. (Girl, what is wrong with you?)

THIS EDITION:
A lovely and sturdy leather cover graces this book. The pages are sewn together, rather than glued. These two features combine to create one durable book that can handle multiple readings well.

The purple-hued cover color is a bit bright. But would be great is a purple-accented bedroom or in a row of rainbow-colored books on a shelf.

CONCLUSION:
A classic that's well worth a read. Jane's love and devotion for Mr. Rochester are inspiring. Her character lights up with a soft glow when aligned with his gruff exterior. A sweet, but not yet broaching saccharine, ending. Enjoy!

[judygibson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a remarkable character Jane is! She sticks true to herself no matter what, an example to us all. The story's a tad extreme but good entertainment: romantic/gothic and keeps moving along with twists at every turn.

I read this as a youngster (don't remember how old) and of course couldn't appreciate all the issues. Have now re-read it as part of a public library read-along during coronavirus lockdown and it was a great comfort, something to look forward to each day.

[steve02476 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this story. I love that Jane is such a goody goody and so sarcastic at the same time. Listened to the audiobook and the narrator was wonderful. I think I’m a bit of a romantic sap when it comes down to it.

[jbgusa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this as a high school freshman and still fondly remember.

[steven1958 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The classic tale by Charlotte Brontë of the young orphan who grows up and eventually marries the man of her dreams.

Well written and believable characters and beautiful language, kept me reading this classic from 1847.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So much has already been written about Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel Jane Eyre that it is hard to come up with anything new to say about it. It’s a love story, to be sure, but the first several chapters, before Rochester’s entrance, provide a realistic depiction of the prospects of a friendless Victorian orphan girl. Young Jane knows no security; she is raised by brutally indifferent relatives until they’ve finally had their fill of her, then they send her to a dismal boarding school where students are mistreated and underfed. Through these and other trials, Jane eventually attains everything an orphan girl could dream of. I can’t help but to think of the fates of similarly situated girls who were not blessed by coincidences like Jane was.

This novel is well worth reading (or revisiting).

[kslade-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful story of orphan who becomes a governess to a strange man. Great Gothic classic.

[amzzz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

20 years ago I was forced to read this book in high school and hated it. This time I found it far more enjoyable and interesting to read. Jane experiences a range of hardships and comes out a likeable character with quite the independent streak considering when the book was written. I still maintain it shouldn’t be on Year 9/10 book lists though!

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, I finally did it. I finally read Jane Eyre.

::bracing myself::

It was okay.

I know I'm treading on sacred ground here with many, many fans - and I did like it! I just didn't love it. Not like I love Austen, the most obvious comparison to be made by classic lit neophytes such as myself.

I loved the plotting and the story; I loved reading about the path Jane's life took and how she chose to shape her life in spite of circumstances. I loved the dialog between Eyre and Rochester and if I'd gone into this book having never known the first thing about it, I'd have been left gasping at the church along with everyone else. That Charlotte Brontë could write is without question.

But the characters.... eeehhhhh.... I'm a character-driven reader, almost to the exclusion of everything else. Or, at least, I can forgive a lot if I like the characters, but I can't forgive much of characters I don't like.

Jane Eyre - You can't dislike Jane, can you? I mean, she's not a special snowflake, she's well educated, she's willing to work, and she stands up for herself... eventually. But her need to please, to be loved, her starvation for affection... while they all came from a very understandable place, it was hard to respect her at times. Eyre (as narrator) makes a very astute observation early in the book when she says, looking back, that her Aunt could not like her because she was so needy. And yes, that was entirely the Aunt's fault, the witch, but it's one of those dooming, self-sustaining cycles. I'd have liked Jane more if she'd done something with that moment when, at 10, she breaks the cycle; I'd have liked Jane more if she'd learned from that experience.

More to the point, I lost a lot of respect for the book and for Eyre when, after all is revealed, not once does she so much as question Rochester's continual charade and methodical lies. I don't know what I'd have been more pissed about if I were her; the attempted bigamy or the fact that the man who professed undying love to me systematically lied to me while I lived under his roof about the existence of someone who liked setting beds on fire.

Also, I gotta say, the whole "sir" thing got creepy. Totally to be expected when she was working for him, but after he kissed her? No, no, no. Before kiss: sign of respect; After kiss: sign of submission. Don't care what time period it was, it was creepy.

Edward Rochester - I know that over time, Rochester and Heathcliff have become confused in my mind, but I was expecting someone broodier. Still, I really liked him and understood the appeal, until the scene in the orchard, where he struck me as hopelessly, delusionally (new made up word), romantic and - again, apologies for what's coming - something of a man-child. His optimism that he'd be able to marry Jane and keep Bertha in the attic indefinitely was ludicrous.

Question: If this man was so outstandingly rich, why didn't he just put Bertha in her own house with a nurse somewhere in the back of beyond? He says he was going to use his other manor house, but that it was too damp (although not too damp for him, apparently); if that's the case, why not just buy another cottage somewhere else? There were too many alternatives to this disastrous arrangement for me to fully buy into it.

St. John Rivers - What a prat! I liked him until his proposal, at which point he become one of those religious nuts I particularly loathe; the kind that use faith to manipulate and control. Brontë flat-out failed here, in my opinion; it seems clear she wanted readers to admire his purity and devotion, but all I really got from him after that scene was an abusive narcissist in the making.

Ultimately, I'm glad I read the book and I'll likely re-read it (although I'll probably skim some of the more verbose bits). That I don't think it the masterpiece of literature I do Austen's work is entirely down to my personal reading preferences and my own personality quirks.

I'll end with my favourite quote, which, oddly enough, doesn't come from the text of the story itself, but the preface Brontë wrote for the second edition:

"Conventionality is not morality. Self-rightousness is not religion."

[library_lin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've resisted reading this book for years. After reading Wuthering Heights in my early 20s, I somehow got the idea that Jane Eyre was a pale version of the same book. I could not have been more wrong. I was expecting a sad story of a pale, put-upon nineteenth-century woman who was rescued by a man.

What I got was a heroine who knows her own mind and her own worth even though the world about her seems determined to undervalue her.

I wish I had read this as a teenager. I think Jane would have been a literary friend to turn to when I doubted myself. She is a wonderful role model for any person of any background, but especially for females who may feel "less than." I like a good romance as much as the next person. But, I didn't find Mr. Rochester nearly as attractive as Jane. I did find him believable though.

As disturbing as his secret is to me, I kept reminding myself that this was a different time. There is a lot we don't know about the dweller in the attic. That's a whole other story. Like many of the attitudes of Jane and the other characters in the book toward other people, her fate was a result of the time in which she lived. Every era has it's prejudices and challenges.

But I loved the book as a whole. I found the language beautiful, the characterizations true, and the ending satisfying. It wasn't perfect for anyone, but Jane is happy with her lot. She gives me the courage to believe that if we are true to ourselves and do the best we can to cope with what life hands us, things will turn out okay in the end.

[aladyinredpolish · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed listening to this book. It's very well written, has a moral storyline and just a interesting love story. I did not know this was going to have the theme of religion so prevelent in the book, so I wasn't prepared for that.