Jane Eyre (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

Bennett Bertolli

I remember my mother telling me this was her favorite book growing up, so I knew I needed to get to it. I'd seen an old movie of Jane Eyre years ago with Orson Welles...all I remember of that was a fire. Oh, there's a lot more to it than that. It's definitely of its time -- the morality of Jane's motivation would be so uncommon today. And the religious tones seem at little extreme -- especially as it relates to one character, St. John.

Anyway, the fact that Jane continues to call Rochester, "Sir" and "Master" throughout the entire book are a little disturbing in our age of equality and so forth.

But, all in all, this is a good story with great characters and a rich setting. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.

What a wonderful book. I read it years ago and didn't fully appreciate it, but now I am stirred by the love story mixed in with wisdom

Mon livre préféré

Jane Eyre is an intimidating classic story about a woman refusing to settle for less than she deserves. This full-cast production makes this intimidating classic surprisingly accessible. This live action adaptation follows Jane from a harsh, loveless childhood into her position at Thornfield Hall. At Thornfield Hall she becomes governess to a young girl and finds herself drawn to the brooding Mr. Rochester. The setup feels almost gothic fairy tale at first, which makes sense because Brontë was an expert about making England's setting a character alongside the humans. Tension creeps into the storyline. Secrets linger in locked rooms. Choices begin to carry pressing weight. The question becomes less about romance and more about identity, autonomy, and self-respect. What truly elevates the story is the format. This is a live-recorded play with a full cast of seasoned actors. You feel an emotional intimacy that a single narrator rarely achieves. Dialogue feels alive. Jane’s strength becomes sharper. Rochester’s intensity carries an edge without tipping into caricature. This live action works beautifully as an introduction to the novel. It captures the emotional backbone and major turning points without overwhelming you with the density that can sometimes make classics feel like homework. It gave me a clear sense of the story's stakes and characters. The play still leaves enough depth unexplored that I actually want to pick up the original text next. As an adaptation, it does move quickly through certain developments. Some of the quieter introspective moments that define Jane as a character are absent. If you are looking for the full psychological depth Brontë is known for, this version serves more as a gateway than a replacement. It respects the source material while making it approachable, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable. It reminded me that classics are classics for a reason. Sometimes all you need is the right format to fall into them.