Customer Reviews

Shirley (World's Classics)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Charlotte Brontė's 1849 novel "Shirley" really delivers on the already realized potential of her first novel, "Jane Eyre." Though the novel is named for the character Shirley Keeldar, the novel really has no one set protagonist - the duties are mostly shared in the relationship between the fiesty and wealthy Shirley, and the lovelorn Caroline Helstone. Set against a backdrop of social and economic unrest, as the swelling ranks of the unemployed react against increasing mechanization of mill production, "Shirley" takes in a broad range of national and international issues. Even when the personal and romantic narratives seem to dominate the novel, Brontė does an extraordinary job of keeping the questions of social discontent present to the reader.

"Shirley" opens on a view of Briarfield, a small mill community in Yorkshire, where the labourers are restless and hungry. The mill owners, Robert Moore and Hiram Yorke, are anxious with reports of murderous actions against mechanizing mill owners elsewhere, and suffering under governmentally restricted trade. The gentry are disaffected with the mill owners, and more concerned with England's continuing conflicts with Napoleon overseas. The main concerns of the novel revolve around all of these conflicts - conflicts of interest, conflicts between classes, and the wider conflicts of nations. Brontė's social vision seems to ask throughout the novel if any of the normal sorts of personal problems even matter in the face of the sufferings of the masses.

Briarfield's leading citizen is Reverend Helstone; he along with a motley mix of curates accurately represents the microcosmic problem that affects the macrocosm of England in the time of the novel, 1811-12. Helstone is rigidly hierarchical in his mindset, and suffers from a peculiar affliction as a religious man - a total lack of sympathetic attachment to the community he ministers to. His niece, Caroline, who stands to inherit no fortune, is singular also, in that her social standing coupled with her lack of money places her in an awkward position with regard to her potential love interest, Robert Moore. With the advent of the wealthy and independent Shirley, who attracts the affections and avarice, respectively, of Caroline and Robert, new avenues of personal tension enter the already conflicted society of Briarfield.

Gender troubles are rife in the novel - from Shirley's adoption of the tone and stance of a masculine inheritor, a military captain, and a protector of Caroline; to the rabid misogyny of Reverend Helstone, Martin Yorke, and the curate Malone, among others; and the wild invectives against marriage from a variety of sources - Brontė shows that regardless of intranational or international disputes, the seeds of discord are plentiful within the domestic spaces of potentially every English home. Brontė examines the lack and need for strong maternal presence, emphasizing the fact that Shirley's parents are dead, and Caroline has never known her own mother, except as the butt of foul rumours. The gender-fueled critique in "Shirley" extends even to the characters' notions of the divine - the male religious authorities are contrasted with the oracular and ancient image of the feminine sibyl.

"Shirley" may, in the end, be the name chosen for the novel, not because she is its main character, but because she symbolizes and embodies the social, political, gender, and ecological complexities and conundrums present throughout the novel. For a 600-page novel, "Shirley" is an incredibly quick and compelling read. Certainly, it deserves a wider readership and pays a close attention with fuel for consideration and thoughtful discussion.

While I loved this book, there were some things I didn't like, but none that mean it doesn't deserve five stars. This is my favourite Charlotte Bronte book. i believe there is too much focus on Jane Eyre, or perhaps even Villette. There are a few coincidences in this story, especially one, which I can't mention without giving away part of the story. However these are common in CB, Villette being overun with them, and Jane Eyre ending up on the doorstep of her long lost cousins. Shirley is more believable. Another comment it the long speeches the characters often make. Apart from these though, this is one of my most loved books. It has been neglected, I feel, by the fact that the first 50 pages are very difficult to read, after that though, the story becomes apparent, and it's worth it. Something strange is that the heroine of the title doesn't appear, and is not mentioned until page 200, although she fairly dominates the rest of the book. Perhaps 'Shirley and Caroline' would have been a more appropriate title

Despite Charlotte Bronte's disclaimer that the reader will find this book "a dinner of bitter herbs" it is nonetheless a must-read classic of 19th century litterature. Many themes combine in this book; the expansion of industrialism and the dissapearance of the English countryside; the place of women in society; feminine loyalty and friendship; the conflicts of love and work, evangelism and tradition. It is perhaps the most uneven and at the same time the most interesting of the Bronte books.

While it lacks the symmetrically designed shape of Jane Eyre or the clear-eyed study of obsession of Villette, it lets the imaginative reader glimpse the Bronte sisters themselves between the lines. The characters of Shirley and Caroline are based on Emily and Anne Bronte, both of whose deaths occurred during the writing of the novel. It is a tribute to sisterly love and a fantasy that lashes back at grief. Some may find the ending a romantic cop-out, but this cannot detract from the many good qualities of this fascinating novel

I usually prefer Jane Austen over Charlotte Bronte, So I was surprised at how much I liked "Shirley". I definetly think that "Jane Eyre" and "Villette" are given undue credit, while "Shirley" is underrated. Though "Shirley" was a strange choice for a title, because the main character is Caroline. This was a perfect book with just the right amount of romance, tragedy, and happy endings.

After reading this novel, i couldn't understand why it wasnt as highly acclaimed as Jane Eyre, or even Villette....I think that Shirley would be my favorite novel by Charlotte Bronte, her other novels were written just as well as Shirley, but i feel that Shirley treaded on deeper issues than the others. Even though this might not be as popular as Charlotte Bronte's other works, I think that Shirley should be the one that you seek out first.

At first glance, "Shirley" by Charlotte Bronte can seem a daunting read; it is nearly 650 pages long. However, the sheer artistry of Charlotte Bronte's genius makes mostly short work of the story she weaves throughout the course of this novel. Much longer than her other works, it retains her thorough intelligence of the world around her, as she comments on the society and persuasions of the day.

To say that there is one or two main characters in "Shirley" is a slight understatement. While the novel does focus on the title character, a beautiful young rich heiress who soon finds herself with marriage proposals aplenty, it also spends much of its focus on the other main female of the book, Caroline Helstone, a shy and somewhat plain girl who fears the man she loves will fall in love with Shirley and leave her destitute. The narrative weaves between these two points of view, but also of the many other characters within the book, especially the object of Caroline's eye, Mr. Robert Moore. Moore is the owner of the local mill, hit upon hard times with the Napoleonic wars stopping his means of marketing. He must also contend with mobs and rioters, upset with the industrialization that has thrown many townspeople out of jobs.

In that regard, the narrative of "Shirley" is much darker than that of Charlotte Bronte's other works. Those readers who know something about the author's life will find certain comments to spring from her actual existence, especially perhaps the similarities between her and Caroline. However, others unfamiliar with her style may find her prose wearisome at times. Indeed, there are moments when she waxes eloquently far off plot for several pages before bringing the story back to its true direction. The reader must read through several wrapping-ups before the true wrap-up of the story occurs.

Yet these slight drawbacks do not taint the book, but add to the legend that is due Charlotte Bronte. She was a gifted writer, posing as a male in a man's world to get her books published. "Shirley" is full of the knowledge of its timeperiod, showing the intelligence of its author regarding the world around her. Bronte is able to offer insight and provocation without being preachy or sentimental, cloaking vindication in the form of poetic prose.

The reason for the four stars is that I think it is not as good as Charlotte Bronte's best, the incomparable Jane Eyre. But it is, compared with most novels of today, very good indeed. The character of Shirley is wonderful. It is clear that Caroline is the protagonist, and that she is based on Charlotte herself and is therefore given the lion's share of attention. I consider this one of the book's few faults. The character of Robert Moore is beautifully drawn and I disagree with the editors that Louis is not. Although the device of the diary is a bit clumsy, the dialogue between Louis and Shirley is enthralling. Highly recommended.

An unpredictable plot, excellent character development, and many elements of wisdom from Charlotte Bronte. I greatly enjoyed this novel, much as I did Jane Eyre and Villette. In all honesty, this is a book that would not be for everyone. However, for those who greatly like Charlotte Bronte's works, it is a great read.

An engaging, multi-faceted novel, which wonderfully and realistically depicts women's feelings and thoughts. I was surprised by how much I could relate to! Shirley is especially lovely- thoughtful, brave, a great friend. Yet, I could not help but feel that her object of affection was beneath her. That is the only real flaw of the novel in my opinion.

In contrast with her great romance "Jane Eyre", Charlotte Bronte claims at the outset of this book that it is a social novel. The story is the struggle of Robert Gerard Moore to gain wealth once more for his once wealthy family. He is a reformer and uses the latest technology (mills) and this causes massive unemployment for a poor population that have little chance of getting employment elsewhere. The main point and the relevance of this great novel lies in this. It is a great attempt to answer the question of harmonizing social justice with economic aspirations. Well, there are two ladies in the novel. And their affairs with Robert Moore are also mentioned but they are not at the center of the novel. A very clever and inspiring book. Strongly recommended.