• Jane Eyre

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Go Behind the Scenes with Thandiwe Newton

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Editorial review


By Mysia Haight, Audible Editor

REDISCOVER JANE EYRE—A REVOLUTIONARY ICON FOR EVERY GENERATION

I first read Jane Eyre when I was in high school and remember feeling terribly sorry for Jane—for not only what she suffered as a child but also for her ending up married to a damaged man. A few years ago, I stumbled across a piece on Vox, written in honor of Charlotte Brontë's 200th birthday. I was intrigued by Constance Grady's assessment of Jane as "prickly, judgmental, and totally unlikable," and of Brontë's work as "monumental." When I learned that the talented actress Thandiwe Newton performs the Audible Original adaptation, winning an Earphones Award and listener raves, I just had to listen. It was time to rediscover Jane.

Jane Eyre was first published in England in 1847, credited to Currer Bell. That the gifted author Charlotte Brontë felt compelled to use a male pen name to get her work taken seriously speaks volumes about the status of women at the time and the novel’s unconventional heroine. Jane Eyre is fierce, intelligent, and outspoken. She’s passionate but not a beauty—she describes herself as "little" and "plain." She never waivers from what she believes is right, and she respects herself. As a short, not exactly stunning, and quietly strong-minded woman myself, I found Jane refreshingly down-to-earth and relatable. And as a feminist, I found Jane inspiring.

Jane is no stranger to hardship. By the age of 10, she has endured losing her parents, being treated as a burden by her relatives (especially one cruel aunt), and getting sent to Lowood Institution, where the students, poor and orphaned girls, are subjected to cold rooms, meager meals, and harsh punishments. Her struggles only make her stronger—and more outraged by injustices against the poor, the weak, and women. At 18, after two years as a teacher at (the much improved) Lockwood, she seeks work as a governess and accepts a position at Thornfield Hall, teaching and tending to a young French girl, Adèle, the ward of Edward Fairfax Rochester. When Jane first meets her employer, she finds him arrogant. But as they spend time together, she comes to appreciate Rochester’s humor and tenderness. Jane falls in love—hard. Then, strange things start to happen at Thornfield—the sound of chilling laughter through the walls, a mysterious fire, an attack on a houseguest. Rochester is hiding a terrible and terrifying secret. Will Jane wind up hurt and alone once again?

Jane Eyre is a romance, so there’s ultimately a happy ending. But a lot happens for Jane to get there, and it’s complicated and heart-wrenching. It’s a story about love and sacrifice, madness and loss, compromise and forgiveness. It’s also the story of Jane’s awakening—from Jane’s perspective. Brontë wrote her novel in the first-person in a groundbreaking way that’s intimate, emotional, immediate, and deep. What I most loved about Jane Eyre is getting to know Jane, in all her prickliness and vulnerability, and what she thinks—about topics such as class, religion, sexuality, and feminism, as well as her oppressors, her supporters, her friends, and the infuriating, alluring Rochester. Listening to the novel as a woman with a daughter about Jane's age, I found myself marveling at her courage, her conviction, her moral compass, and her remarkable good sense. This time, I didn't feel sorry for Jane—I felt in awe of her.

With its strong heroine, feminist themes, indictment of society’s treatment of the poor and disenfranchised, and priority on self-respect, Jane Eyre speaks powerfully to listeners of every generation, and especially women. Beyond the novel’s complicated romance, Jane’s struggles and survival story will resonate with nearly everyone who’s ever been oppressed, discounted, or underestimated. To quote Newton, whose narration is brilliant, "I think the reason we're so struck by [Jane Eyre] is how Charlotte Brontë manages to relate, expertly, what it means to be a human being ... and that never changes."

Continue reading Mysia's review >

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

"I think the reason we're so struck by [Jane Eyre] is how Charlotte Brontë manages to relate, expertly, what it means to be a human being...and that never changes." (Narrator Thandiwe Newton)

Following Jane from her childhood as an orphan in Northern England through her experience as a governess at Thornfield Hall, Charlotte Brontë's Gothic classic is an early exploration of women's independence in the mid-19th century and the pervasive societal challenges women had to endure. At Thornfield, Jane meets the complex and mysterious Mr. Rochester, with whom she shares a complicated relationship that ultimately forces her to reconcile the conflicting passions of romantic love and religious piety. Performing the early Victorian novel with great care and respect, actress Thandiwe Newton (Crash, The Pursuit of Happyness) draws out Jane Eyre's intimacy and depth while conveying how truly progressive Brontë was in an era of extreme restraint.

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Public Domain (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Narrator Thandie Newton gives a delightful performance of this beloved classic. She delivers the voice of Jane from childhood to adulthood with elegant conviction, breezing through the dense sentences as if they were part of a contemporary novel." (AudioFile)

"[Thandie Newton’s] taut British diction makes a one-woman play out of the orphan girl’s love story, which starts out with all the young-adult tropes - the poor, good-hearted child abused by the spoiled, wealthy boy and his classist keepers, each distinguished by his or her own idiosyncratic cadence - but progresses into what many consider the prototypical Victorian novel. Written in 1847, not long before the start of the American Civil War, the novel makes repeated comparisons between Jane’s captivity, as an impoverished girl in a rich family’s home, and slavery. Newton’s exasperated and aptly melodramatic delivery of Jane’s accusation that her cruel stepbrother is 'like a slave-driver' is a knowing contemporary wink at this timeless yet dated classic." (The New York Times Book Review)
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Featured Article: It Was the Best of Scribes—The Best British Authors


With its esteemed history and bold contemporary scene, Britain lays claim to some of the most exciting literature in audio. With the hundreds of incredible British writers throughout the centuries, a person could devote their whole literary life solely to British authors and still never run out of amazing things to listen to. Whether you're an avid Anglophile or just want to discover the best English novelists for yourself, here’s a list of the best for you to choose from!

What listeners say about Jane Eyre

Overall ratings

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16,962
  • 4 Stars
    2,206
  • 3 Stars
    548
  • 2 Stars
    120
  • 1 Stars
    55
Audible.com reviews

Customer reviews

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5 out of 5 stars
By bluestocking64 on 11-08-16

Newton is a wonderful narrator

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her bring the novel alive. I hope to hear more works read by her.

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12 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Ravio on 06-06-16

I've Never Enjoyed Required Reading So Much

I am guilty of procrastination. Procrastination during finals week, no less! I found myself running out of time to read Jane Eyre, so I took to Audible. I'm so glad I did! This was a marvelous experience. Thandie Newton does an excellent job of all the voices and accents, making a great book better.

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7 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Astrid on 12-09-16

Thandie Newton is amazing

What made the experience of listening to Jane Eyre the most enjoyable?

I'm only a few hours in, but I must say that I love Thandie Newton's reading. She has such a lovely, clear voice and her character voices are just wonderful.

What did you like best about this story?

Everyone has read Jane Eyre...I've read it several times. Listening to it brings to the fore the parts that the actor finds most interesting and important. It's like reading it with fresh eyes.

What does Thandie Newton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She's a fabulous reader--I'll be looking for other audio books that she's read.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Lies and loss and the love that overcomes it all." Ugh. I guess there's a reason I don't write tag lines....and, really, does Jane Eyre need it?!

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6 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Margaret on 06-18-16

A truly moving literary experience

Jane Eyre is a timeless classic of English literature and there is nothing I could add to what has been said about it since its publication 170 years ago. The character, especially the heroine, come to life with this narration. Anyone who loves a great story will enjoy this audiobook.

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4 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Dianne Bolden on 04-20-16

A Favoring

I've loved this book since I first read it in high school. Thandie Newton was an awesome reader. Loved it!

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4 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By SS Seattle on 11-12-16

Superb narration of a favorite novel!<br />

Clear, perfectly suited renditions of each character. Thandie Newton's performance was amazing. Worth the time.

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3 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Kelly Woods on 08-04-16

Thandie Newton makes this book come to life

I thoroughly enjoyed this performance by Thandie Newton; it's brilliant and masterful! Loved it! I've read Jane Eyre twice, and seen the movie, but this Audible version was my favorite way of experiencing it.

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2 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Victoria Evangelina on 07-18-16

BRILLIANT

This book needs no introduction, no review. Can there be one, who will not fall under the spell of its passionate, devoted goodness? Anyone, who would stay neutral to the sufferings and joy of its heroes? A stranger, who would neglect the beauty of the language and the spell-putting twists of its plot? Neither would there be one who might stay un-charmed with this BRILLIANT NARRATION. I could not recommend this audiobook highly enough!!! It is simply a MUST.

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2 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By MK on 06-11-16

A classic brought to life by a brilliant narrator.

Masterfully narrated by a most talented artist, Thandie Newton. I never thought she had such a skill to transport one into the vivid imagination of Charlotte Bronte. My respects for an outstanding interpretation. Congratulations to the editors and the whole team that put this audiobook together, I enjoyed this piece so much that everyday I was eager to have free time to listen to it.

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2 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Always Reading on 05-12-16

A Deep Breath of Satisfaction

I already love Jane Eyre, I've read it many times, but this Audible performed by Thandie Newton was pure joy. I was swept into Jane's world. Newton's vocal performance of all the characters was near flawless, enteraining, and soulful.
My applause is a standing ovation.

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2 people found this helpful