Jane Ayre (Illustrated)
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Jane Eyre (Norton Critical Editions) Paperback – December 13, 2000
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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
172 of 187 people found the following review helpful
By
Joseph Guyer
on August 28, 2006
Format: Paperback
1 Comment
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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.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By
E. Strickenburg
on September 27, 2011
Format: Paperback
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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.
Thank you for your feedback.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By
Wyote
VINE VOICE on May 1, 2008
Format: Paperback
4 Comments
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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.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
Brittani Clifton
on November 28, 2011
Format: Paperback
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"Have you ever read Jane Eyre?"
"Nope."
"You should. You would love it!"
I had heard about Jane Eyre, read about Jane Eyre, and still continuously put it off for whatever reason, even though I have wanted to read it for a while. At the beginning of this fall semester, Jane Eyre appeared at the top of our reading list and I was eager to finally be able to read it. I assumed it would be epic in all that it was, and I assumed correctly.
Want a romance story? Read Jane Eyre. Want a gothic tale? Read Jane Eyre. Want to learn about Victorian culture? Read Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre has it all for me; the romance, the self-realization, the complexity of narrative. Being an aspiring writer myself, I especially took to Bronte's writing style. She has a dreamy yet dreary, haunting yet hopeful approach to life through Jane Eyre. I thoroughly enjoyed following Jane's mind from one situation to the next, all brilliantly painted by Charlotte Bronte's irreplaceable technique.
The beginning starts slow, and also slowly builds, but I promise you, it is worth all of the action that takes place later in the book. The slow fluidity of daydreams and background is what's needed to make the drama even more climactic in Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is a tale of triumph through circumstance, and it ties together perfectly in the end. It is a book you won't be able to put down, and won't be able to wait to pick back up!
"Nope."
"You should. You would love it!"
I had heard about Jane Eyre, read about Jane Eyre, and still continuously put it off for whatever reason, even though I have wanted to read it for a while. At the beginning of this fall semester, Jane Eyre appeared at the top of our reading list and I was eager to finally be able to read it. I assumed it would be epic in all that it was, and I assumed correctly.
Want a romance story? Read Jane Eyre. Want a gothic tale? Read Jane Eyre. Want to learn about Victorian culture? Read Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre has it all for me; the romance, the self-realization, the complexity of narrative. Being an aspiring writer myself, I especially took to Bronte's writing style. She has a dreamy yet dreary, haunting yet hopeful approach to life through Jane Eyre. I thoroughly enjoyed following Jane's mind from one situation to the next, all brilliantly painted by Charlotte Bronte's irreplaceable technique.
The beginning starts slow, and also slowly builds, but I promise you, it is worth all of the action that takes place later in the book. The slow fluidity of daydreams and background is what's needed to make the drama even more climactic in Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is a tale of triumph through circumstance, and it ties together perfectly in the end. It is a book you won't be able to put down, and won't be able to wait to pick back up!
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
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