Rating: 4 out of 5

I read this at Junior school as a 12 year old and evidently remembered much less of it that I thought I did. The bits of the tale I did recall came about from reading “The Eyre Affair” last year which interspersed bits of the original story with bits of a new story. I think that this was wasted on my 12 year old self. I doubt that I appreciated the detail of the descriptions, or the depth of the characters. I’m sure that I found the reading a duty rather than a pleasure. How cursed some books are to be considered worthy and educational.

I read Jane Eyre at this juncture because of the afterword of Rebecca by Sally Beauman which refers to Daphne du Maurier as annexing Jane Eyre for Rebecca. Having now read them both back to back I do see the similarities, but I also see the differences. Different styles and different flows.

Well worth a revisiting.

Highlighted passages:

human beings must love something,

It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you;

If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should-so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.

Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.

the two dowagers, in vast white wrappers, were bearing down on him like ships in full sail.

Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?

you are formed for labour, not for love.

Jane, you are docile, diligent, disinterested, faithful, constant, and courageous; very gentle, and very heroic

consider my offer: and do not forget that if you reject it, it is not me you deny, but God. (7790)

Originally posted to my Goodreads account