Jane Eyre – A Special Story for Everyone
Jane Eyre is a famous book written by Charlotte Brontë. Its full name is Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, but most people just call it Jane Eyre. It’s a story about a young girl growing up, and it’s one of the most loved books from the Victorian times. Many people still enjoy it today! In 2003, it was even named the UK’s 10th favourite book in the BBC’s “Big Read” list.
In this post, we’ll talk about the story, share some fun facts, give you a short summary, and show you where you can read Jane Eyre for free online.
What is Jane Eyre About?
The book Jane Eyre was first published in the year 1847. Back then, books were often split into three parts, and this one was too! When the book first came out, it didn’t have Charlotte Brontë’s real name on it. Instead, she used a pretend name—“Currer Bell”—so people wouldn’t know she was a woman. At that time, women writers weren’t always taken seriously.
Even so, the book got many good reviews. Some people guessed that “Currer Bell” might be a woman and started saying not-so-nice things. But the book still sold really well. In fact, more than a million copies have been sold!
Jane Eyre became so popular that people made movies, plays, cartoons, and radio shows about it. Today, it’s known as one of the most important books ever written in English.
The Story of Jane Eyre – A Quick Summary
Jane Eyre is a story about growing up, also called a coming-of-age story. Jane, the main character, tells her own story. We follow her life from the time she is a little girl until she becomes a grown-up.
Jane has a hard childhood. She is poor, and people are often mean to her. But she is smart and kind. As she grows up, she learns many lessons, faces problems, and finds love. The book talks about things like romance, unfair treatment, social classes, religion, and being a good person. It also shows how women were treated during those old times.
Some people think Jane Eyre is a romance story, and others say it’s also a feminist book, which means it talks about women being strong and independent. A few people even say it has a little bit of Gothic horror—which means spooky or mysterious parts!
Charlotte Brontë added parts from her own life into the story. Jane’s childhood is a lot like Charlotte’s own. The way Jane talks in the book also helped create a new kind of storytelling—where the main character learns what is right and wrong as they go along.
Jane Eyre Book Cover
The cover of the very first edition of Jane Eyre from the year 1886 looks old and beautiful. It’s a special treasure from the past!
Famous Jane Eyre Quotes
Here are some lines from the book that many people remember:
These quotes show that Jane is smart, brave, and strong.
Who Was Charlotte Brontë?
Charlotte Brontë was born in 1816 and had five siblings. Her younger sisters, Emily and Anne, also became famous writers! Charlotte wrote three big books while she was alive: Jane Eyre, Shirley, and Villette. A fourth book, The Professor, was printed after she passed away.
Charlotte liked drawing too! She made pictures for the second version of Jane Eyre. Sadly, she died in 1855 when she was just 38 years old. Doctors think she died because of problems during pregnancy, but her death certificate says it was tuberculosis—a serious illness.
Charlotte lived longer than her siblings. Her sisters Anne and Emily died very young—at ages 29 and 30. Her older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, also passed away when they were children, because of tuberculosis.
How Can You Read Jane Eyre for Free Online?
After many years pass, books written by authors who have died go into the public domain. This means anyone can read them for free! Since Charlotte Brontë lived a long time ago, Jane Eyre is in the public domain.
Here’s where you can find it:
📚 Project Gutenberg – Read Jane Eyre in ePUB, Kindle, HTML or text
This website lets you read or download the book easily!
📖 ManyBooks – Read Jane Eyre online
You can read the book right in your internet browser like a regular website.
📄 Open Library – Download the scanned original book
This version looks just like the old book!
🎧 LibriVox – Listen to the free audiobook
If you like listening instead of reading, this is perfect!