The Professor

What it is

This is an audio recording of The Professor, read by a LibriVox volunteer and released into the public domain. The text is Brontë's, but the voice is a modern reader's. The book follows William Crimsworth, a young man whose path leads to a career as a professor at an all-girls' school. It was written before Jane Eyre and Shirley, and was published after Brontë's death.

Why it matters

The novel was Brontë's first long work, drawn in part from her own time as a teacher abroad. It shows how a young man might approach teaching and love in a school setting. Hearing the preface and story read aloud helps students follow how Brontë developed her style.

Look closer

• How does Crimsworth's view of his students and colleagues shape what the reader learns?
• What does the preface tell you about how Brontë saw her first attempt at a novel?
• What might the book leave out because it is told by a man?