The text reprinted in this new edition is that of the 1848 third edition text--the last text corrected by the author.
"Contexts" includes eighteen new selections and two new subsections: "Charlotte and Jane’s Illustrated Book" which includes a letter from Brontë to her publisher W. S. Williams; "Vignettes from Bewick"; and "Charlotte Brontë and Bewick’s "British Birds’" and "Charlotte Brontë as Governess," which includes letters to Emily Brontë, Ellen Nussey, W. S. Williams, and "The Governess-Grinders." "Criticism" collects six major essays on Jane Eyre, four of them new to the Third Edition. Contributors include Adrienne Rich, Sandra M. Gilbert, Jerome Beaty, Lisa Sternlieb, Jeffrey Sconce, and Donna Marie Nudd. A new Chronology and updated Selected Bibliography are also included.
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About the Author
Richard J. Dunn is Professor of English at the University of Washington. His books include the Norton Critical Edition of Wuthering Heights, Approaches to Teaching Dickens’s David Copperfield, David Copperfield: An Annotated Bibliography, The English Novel, Twentieth-Century Criticism, Defoe to Hardy, and Oliver Twist: Whole Heart and Soul.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
148 of 159 people found the following review helpful
By Joseph Guyer
Format:Paperback
This review is aimed more toward the Norton edition than to JANE EYRE. We all know this is a classic. Bronte was simply a genius and a harbinger of romantic, dramatic, gothic, and horror writing. (However, it still irks me that she couldn't end a simple sentence with a period. Every declarative statement, it seems, must be qualified with a colon or semi-colon. Oh well. Sign of the times.)
As for the Norton edition, it's the only one to buy. Bronte makes the assumption that you have read the Bible cover-to-cover a zillion times, and for those of us who have not read it through once, Norton's annotations are more than helpful---they're essential to understanding the novel's Christian allusions. This edition also provides the reader with critical essays, contexts of Bronte's life, Bronte's reactions to critics of her day, etc.
Bottom line: you can get the Dover Thrift edition for a couple bucks, but, if you are interested in giving this classic more than a cursory read, this edition is worth the extra money.
As for the Norton edition, it's the only one to buy. Bronte makes the assumption that you have read the Bible cover-to-cover a zillion times, and for those of us who have not read it through once, Norton's annotations are more than helpful---they're essential to understanding the novel's Christian allusions. This edition also provides the reader with critical essays, contexts of Bronte's life, Bronte's reactions to critics of her day, etc.
Bottom line: you can get the Dover Thrift edition for a couple bucks, but, if you are interested in giving this classic more than a cursory read, this edition is worth the extra money.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Wyote
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
If you're thinking of reading Jane Eyre, and you want to understand it, this edition is the one for you. The footnotes are very helpful, explaining the allusions to the Bible or older literature that you might not pick up on, as well as some of the vocabulary. The contemporary reviews in the back are great - everyone must read Elizabeth Rigby's review. Our culture has changed so much, we don't understand how revolutionary books like Jane Eyre once were. The essays of modern criticism are also very helpful. Someone did a very good job with this book.
A few reviewers wrote that Jane Eyre is not entertaining or something. Actually, it is if you understand it. To me, Jane Eyre is up there with Shakespeare, the Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye as some of the deepest, most well thought-out stories I know of. It is a book to read 2 or 3 times before you draw your conclusion.
So - in short - read Jane Eyre, and use the Norton Critical Edition.
A few reviewers wrote that Jane Eyre is not entertaining or something. Actually, it is if you understand it. To me, Jane Eyre is up there with Shakespeare, the Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye as some of the deepest, most well thought-out stories I know of. It is a book to read 2 or 3 times before you draw your conclusion.
So - in short - read Jane Eyre, and use the Norton Critical Edition.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you already love this book - with its lush style, gothic suspense, striking characters, and passionate romance - but are still looking for the right edition to purchase, search no more. You've found it.
In addition to nicely laid-out typeface and margins, this edition has truly helpful footnotes. They point out the origin of obscure quotations, the meanings of archaic words, and the translations of the smattering of French interspersed throughout the book. Footnotes are found at the bottom of the page within the text, taking away the need for unnecessary flipping to the back of the book. And unlike other footnotes I've read, they don't waste your time pointing out things that are fairly obvious.
At the end of the book is a section entitled "Contexts." This contains helpful biographical information about the author, not just in a summary format, but in actual source documents. We can read letters Charlotte Bronte wrote while at boarding school. Or parts of her journal while she was working as a governess. Or letters to her publisher. Or responses to her book written at the time of its publication.
A section of "Criticism" follows, containing six essays, which focus on everything from assessment of Jane and Mr. Rochester's interactions to a survey of film adaptations of the book. The essays are varied in their perspective and quite interesting to read. This edition was last released in 2001, so the survey of film adaptations doesn't cover the most recent versions, but is a fascinating look at the variation within the previous versions.
My only complaint about this edition is the cover. It is burnt orange in color, and the illustration isn't one I would have picked. But the quality of the edition certainly outweighs any aesthetic concerns with the cover.
In addition to nicely laid-out typeface and margins, this edition has truly helpful footnotes. They point out the origin of obscure quotations, the meanings of archaic words, and the translations of the smattering of French interspersed throughout the book. Footnotes are found at the bottom of the page within the text, taking away the need for unnecessary flipping to the back of the book. And unlike other footnotes I've read, they don't waste your time pointing out things that are fairly obvious.
At the end of the book is a section entitled "Contexts." This contains helpful biographical information about the author, not just in a summary format, but in actual source documents. We can read letters Charlotte Bronte wrote while at boarding school. Or parts of her journal while she was working as a governess. Or letters to her publisher. Or responses to her book written at the time of its publication.
A section of "Criticism" follows, containing six essays, which focus on everything from assessment of Jane and Mr. Rochester's interactions to a survey of film adaptations of the book. The essays are varied in their perspective and quite interesting to read. This edition was last released in 2001, so the survey of film adaptations doesn't cover the most recent versions, but is a fascinating look at the variation within the previous versions.
My only complaint about this edition is the cover. It is burnt orange in color, and the illustration isn't one I would have picked. But the quality of the edition certainly outweighs any aesthetic concerns with the cover.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A timeless story!
I was completely hooked. I couldn't put this book down until I finished reading the very last page of this book!
Published 1 month ago by Maria
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 Stars
My 5th and 6th grade reading teacher read Jane Eyre to us one of those years (I can't remember which), but she skipped some sections, and I truly didn't remember too much about the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by SandyReview
1.0 out of 5 stars
Jane Eyre
I did not appreciate the fact the book was written in, it is very distracting trying to read the book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Maragaret A. DeLuca
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great service!
The book was in great shape and I received it in exactly the amount of time I was promised! Thanks, I would definitely do business again!
Published 3 months ago by Anthony Huffaker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully told story.
Charlotte Bronte has created a timeless story set in the austere climate of rural England.The pacing and rhythm of this story are every bit as impactful of the actual events. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Amiee Pfeiffer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
This low-priced edition was perfect for my daughter who was required to get this book for literature class. The font is readable.
Published 3 months ago by Alicia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story!
I have always wanted my own copy of the book, and was glad to find a gently used edition for a great price. It also was delivered in a timely manner.
Published 4 months ago by Sheri Butler
4.0 out of 5 stars
Edition of Choice but with pages bound out of order
I bought this edition from amazon almost two years ago to get a reliable text of the novel and the extra material that makes Norton Critical Editions worth the price. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ms Ellie
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
i liked this book very much but im a big jane austen fan so this was right up my alley. the only problem i had with it was the story line was very predictable. Read more
Published 10 months ago by sam
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jane: A Work of Art
Charlotte Bronte's classic, Jane Eyre, is simply one of the most popular novels of all time. Some might argue with Jane Eyre fans that this work is far from spectacular, but it is... Read more
Published 13 months ago by kelmc1
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