Customer Reviews

Jane Eyre (Readable Classics)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Less than two pages into this "gentle" adaptation of my favorite romance, I knew it wasn't going to work for me. I continued to read, but not for long. It is virtually impossible to simplify to this extent without losing, or worse, changing the author's meaning. Compare the following quotations:

From the original: "...dreadful to me was the coming home in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, and a heart saddened by the chidings of Bessie, the nurse and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed..."

With help from Mr. Josephson: "It was dreadful coming home to Gateshead Hall in the raw twilight, with nipped fingers and toes, to be humiliated by my cousins -- Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed."

Being humbled is not the same as being humiliated. Here Jane speaks of her internal world, her own comparison of her plain little person to the worldly beauty and fashionable attire of her cousins. In fact, much of what makes this book classic is the depth of Jane's internal world, and that is what is so lacking in this "improved" version.

Like another reviewer, I also read "Jane Eyre" when I was eleven, and I adored every bit of it, but I started to read "Pride and Prejudice" the same year and tossed it after fifty pages. I tried it again in high school and loved it. When I was nine, I read every Nancy Drew I could get my hands on; at ten, it was horse books. During the years of heavy required reading, my pleasure was science fiction; now, with a little time to spare I'm visiting some of the Dickens I missed along the way. My point is, people change. Classic literature shouldn't.

Really? A classic novel edited to make it "more enjoyable"? This is ridiculous. If you want to read a novel, you ought to read THE novel--the FULL novel, no edits to make your life easier--and if you decide you just can't, for some reason, wrap your mind around the words the ORIGINAL author has written, then go read something else! Clearly, if you're having trouble understanding, then this book was not meant for you. Read it when you're older, or when you've begun to grasp the concept of the English language as it was spoken and written 200 years ago.

There are two camps of readers when it comes to the classics - those who consider the original sacred and not to be bruised and those who long for a less ponderous version to concentrate on the story rather than becoming confused with syntax and stylistic problems. Wayne Josephson has managed to probably satisfy both camps in his re-working of Charlotte Bronte's JANE EYRE. Perhaps the many filmed versions of this great old story have aided both Josephson and us in returning to the classic novel: the story itself is well known to just about everyone now. But place your library copy next to Josephson's 're-working' and you will find that none of the grace and gentility of Bronte's writing is missing, but instead the characters emerge more clearly and the story is propelled more convincingly when the little Bronte dalliances with embroidered thoughts are revised/condensed/distilled. What Josephson has accomplished is making the original novel simply more accessible to the modern reader and for that reason those 'Protectors of the Great Literature Clan' should be happy. Their commitment to perpetuating the longevity of the great books is even more assured. Excellent work - from Bronte of course, and yes, from Wayne Josephson! Grady Harp, November 09

Most people already know the plot of this Victorian classic, so I won't go into unnecessary details. For those of you who want a "readable" version of this novel to give to people who either don't read a great deal of classics or are starting out with their reading, or perhaps you're thinking of giving the book to a child or teen, then this version is a great find.

I had trepidations about this book. What if the wonderful narrative and dialogue are stripped away? But that does not happen. Yes, the narrative is a little less wordy than the original, but the essence of Jane Eyre remains. Truth is, I did not miss the original, because it didn't feel different to me. It still contains the dialogue that I love, especially the ones between Jane and Mr. Rochester, and the story flows as wonderfully as ever. So, yes, I suggest you give this edition to a beginner. I am sure he or she will fall in love with this memorable classic.

My first experience with the original version of this book was not a happy one. No, dear reader, it was not, and although I can sense your outrage at my dreadful confession, I must persevere to tell you that it was required reading for Literature class, and that at the tender age of twelve, there were things far more palatable, and more interesting than the dusty pages of the school's copy of Jane Eyre.

Fortuitously, I managed to scrape through the final exam, a feat accomplished largely through a copy of the illustrated classic version purchased at a local bookstore in the comic book section.

As the decades passed, the urge to acquaint myself with the classics waxed and waned, and now, having seized the opportunity from Readable Classics, I can say that I finally understand the brilliance of this novel.

Interpreted in a style that retains the original suspense, romance, drama, heartbreak and intensity, this version can be easily read in two sittings, or one, if you have the time. This is a story of a woman way ahead of her time - outspoken, honest, passionate and resolute - who goes through a series of life-altering trials and tribulations in her pursuit of happiness.

If only this were available when I was still in high school!

Highly recommended for students, or to anyone who has been neglecting the classics in favor of modern best sellers.



Amanda Richards, December 26, 2009

Jane Eyre is one of those novels that every educated person ought to read. It is a classic because it is a well written, timeless piece of art.
This book was written for the upper class of it's time, so it is long and very wordy. This style is great for those who enjoy reading and understanding more about a book. However, I can see why some don't like it: the non-complex story is stretched out for hundreds of pages. It's tough to concentrate on, and reading it makes some (including me) quite sleepy.

This passage, for example, could have been written much more concisely: "Adele was not easy to teach that day; she could not apply.She kept running to the door and looking over the banisters to see if she could get a glimpse of Mr.Rochester. Then she coined pretexts to go downstairs, in order, as I shrewdly suspected, to visit the library, where I knew she was not wanted." (pg 122). Bronte continues on in this manner of writing throughout the book, and it can be difficult to read for this reason.

The plot is not very different from other gothic romance novels. There is a (somewhat) helpless woman, a mansion, a captivating man, mysterious secrets, and not much else. The is little reason for someone to be so interested in it that they continue diligently reading it until it is over. The ending is also, in my opinion, a bit bland and disappointing.

However, the themes of social class and gender oppression and expectation are significant in this time period as well as they were when this story was written. It is important to for people to understand these themes, and this book does a reasonably good job of showing them.

Though the novel is not perfect(not that anything is), it is worth taking the time to read it.

There are not many novels out there that can capture a glimpse of life itself. The narrative of Jane Eyre is just like "uncovering an old car, dusting it off and finding a Glorious Classic." The Gothic style of writing, and Romantic overtones make for an excellent draw of emotion and empathy. Edward Fairfax Rochester and Jane Eyre are the novels two prime characters. Charlotte Bronte brings life to these characters and brings out the readers feelings to make them not only connect, but at times despise the characters. She hides nothing when it comes to this couple's deepest thoughts and intent. Dramatic back-stories have been created and scripted through the years, which shows how drastically this novel has affected literature over time. This novel is definitely worth reading!

I have read Jane Eyre four times. I find it wonderful. Yes, I know, it is rather sexist, okay, a lot sexist; but it is delightful and romantic. An orphan gets educated as a teacher then finds her way to the house Mr. Rochester as his charge's governess. She falls in love with him. But, what secrets lurk in his life? Lovely book. The way the story is written, the way the character develops makes you keep reading.

Jane Eyre was orphaned as a young girl, but though starving and the recipient of much cruelty from her aunt she perseveres. She is sent to boarding school where she is victim of abuse, but instead of caving in, she got stronger. Jane obtains work as the governess at Thornfield Hall where she falls in love with her employer, brooding Mr. Rochester. However, instead of a happy ever after, they are forced to separate leaving her poor and alone.

Although purists will complain that if it ain't broke don't fix it, others like Mr. Josephson will disagree that in this case it may not have been broke in 1847 when first published, but is showing syntax rust as languages changes over a century and a half make even a classic read rigid. Just think of how obsolete Beowulf and the Canterbury Tales would be without translations. Although this reviewer was concerned having read the original in high school four decades ago, Mr. Josephson succeeds in doing this with a light touch that does not take way from Ms. Bronte's Victorian saga. Readers will appreciate his deft skill to enable the modern day audience to appreciate a classic.

Harriet Klausner

This Readable Classics version of Jane Eyre really surprised me. I won this as a Member's Giveaway on [...], and I was suspicious of a book that "gently" edits classic literature. Part of the joy of literature is the ability of the author to use language to make the story beautiful. However, I found none of this missing in this version of Jane Eyre. The story was both readable and beautifully told.

For those unfamiliar with the Jane Eyre, the story centers around the title character, who is a orphan girl forced to live with an aunt and cousins who do not love her. She grows to become a woman who falls in love a man who loves her but is above her social status, and there is great mystery surrounding him and the strange people that live in his manor. The novel is part Dickens and part Austen in its portrayal of nineteenth century economic and social classes and its portrayal of nineteenth century romance. I highly recommend this version for any modern reader looking to enjoy such a model who questions whether they really want to read Victorian era literature. Readable Classics takes the source material and makes it modern with out losing its beauty.