Halloween Countdown, Day 19

[eldritchhobbit]

On this day in 1847, according to Charlotte Brontë's letters, she received her author's copies of her newly-published work, one of the greatest of Gothic novels, Jane Eyre (credited to Brontë's pseudonym, Currer Bell). Secrets and disguises, fire and death, a sadistic boarding school and a madwoman in the attic: what could be more appropriate for

Comments

[morningapproach]

I had forgotten how much I loved Jane Eyre. Thanks, I am going to go grab an audiobook version to listen to :)

[eldritchhobbit]

My pleasure! I love sharing the Jane Eyre love. :) Happy listening!

[litlover12]

Love Jane Eyre! That is a fascinating-looking edition in the top pic.

[eldritchhobbit]

Me, too! :) That edition includes images of the wood engravings by Fritz Eichenberg. They're stunning, aren't they? Here's another image from the same copy.

[cookiefleck]

I read Jane Eyre as a young child and it made a big impression on me at the time, although I have never read it since. Probably should rectify that. I wouldn't mind spending time in that red room... the polished, dark mahogany and the solitude sound a bit inviting, for when I am in the mood to hide away. Would also need a good book to read while sequestered.

[eldritchhobbit]

It's one of my favorites. I've found that it never disappoints, despite my high expectations, every time I revisit it. And it's about time again, as I'll be teaching it next semester in my graduate Gothic course.

I'm with you re: the red room! I'm not put off by a death in the place, and it does sound like a marvelous and properly atmospheric place for some quiet "alone time."

Would also need a good book to read while sequestered.

Yes! :D This!

[asahifirsa]

I've read it a young teen, maybe 12 or 13 and only recently re-read it. It's still a great book, maybe even more so as I'd like to think that some of it might have been lost for my young mind :D

[cookiefleck]

It's always interesting to come back to a book many years (decades) later. I recently re-read Death of a Salesman, which has been sitting on my bookshelf for years. And I was just telling a friend the other day how when I re-read Slouching Towards Bethlehem a few years ago, I was struck by finding ideas that I thought originated in my head but in actuality had their genesis in Joan Didion's writings.

[ext_2207247]

Such a great book - have you seen the one illustrated by Dame Darcy? I think you would like it!!

[eldritchhobbit]

Oh wow, I just looked up the Dame Darcy edition - fantastic! Thanks for the heads up!