Jane Eyre

What it is

Jane Eyre is a novel by Charlotte Brontë, published in 1847 under the pen name 'Currer Bell' by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. It was issued in three volumes and tells the first-person story of its heroine's childhood, education, and adult life.

Why it matters

The novel is considered a milestone in English fiction for its intimate, psychologically intense first-person narration focused on one character's moral and spiritual growth. It draws on Brontë's own experiences, including her time at a harsh charity school and as a governess, and raises questions about class, religion and the position of women that were unusual for its time.

Look closer

• Why might Brontë have chosen to publish under a male-sounding pen name?
• What does the title page tell you about how books were produced and sold in 1847?
• How might Jane's point of view shape what readers do or don't learn about other characters?