Jane Eyre

By: Charlotte Brontë

Narrated by: Donna Barkman

Length: 20 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

This is one of the greatest romances, and one of the greatest mysteries, ever written.

Jane Eyre is an orphan child who knows only abuse and misery from her mistress. As a young girl, she is sent off to a boarding school where her good character and diligent habits win her friends and respect. In time, Jane herself becomes a teacher at the school.

Seeking a wider horizon, Jane takes employment at Thornfield Hall, where she comes under the spell of Edward Rochester, its owner, a man of savage temperament and desperate unhappiness. The reason for both is linked to a great secret that is kept locked away on the third floor of the mansion. It's final revelation brings an incredible climax to the story and changes both lives forever.

Public Domain (P)1986 Jimcin Recordings

Critic reviews

"Charlotte was the most admired of the Bronte sisters....praise[d] for her depth of feeling and her courageous realism." (The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature)

Sorry to see it end

I was so sad when this book finally came to an end.
It was a wonderful experience and made the long drives that I take for my job just fly by. I may make this a once a year listen. It's that good.
The reading was very good, as well.

Dreary reader is a drag

This is a terrific book, at least the story is. Sadly, I feel that this particular reader took away from the enjoyment of the story.
Her voice has good tone, of medium to low range, but her expression was hard, harsh and gloomy even at its lightest.
Her command and pronunciation of the several French and German phrases sprinkled throughout the book was excellent, but as a performance it really was a distraction.

Fine Literature at its best

Although written over 150 years ago (first published in 1847), this is a timeless story of triumph, love, and strength of character that is at once captivating and heart wrenching in its poignant portrayal of the life of it's heroine Jane Eyre. The English language being much different now as it was then there are times that it is difficult to follow what is being said, however, I think that this is where the audible format makes it possible to finally enjoy stories like this for those of us who would like to be so intellectual as to actually READ a classic like Jane Eyre but who find the written account of it a bit dull. Nay, dear reader, you will not, I daresay, find this book by any means dull if you appreciate a well written book and a good story. I sampled the various readers of Jane Eyre before choosing this one and I also feel that I picked the best one even though she didn't have an English accent--I thought she did a fantastic job of it.

Great story...poor storytelling

After just finishing the Thirteenth Tale and loving the exceptional storytellers, I found myself not being able to get past the first chapter in listening to this narrator...because she's simply narrating, not storytelling I'm so sorry to say, not to mention the poor quality recording both grainy and tinny. Its a shame that such a wonderful story was not given the quality production it deserves. I'm going to go with the 2-part 2005 version instead even if its a bit more $.

Don't buy this version

The Narrator is terrible. Do not buy this version.

Poor Recording

I don't recommend this recording of Jane Eyre. The recording is not the best quality and the narrarator is unexpressive and does not embody the spirit of this classic in my opinion.

Irritating narrator

I got this version based on the customer review but the narrator has a raspy, irritating voice. It's a wonderful novel, so get it, but choose a different recorded version.

British Classic shouldn't be read by an American

Fantastic, classic book. Can't stand the narrator, not only is she annoying to listen to, she is American? I can't get the whole vibe of the Bronte characters from this women.