Shirley

By: Charlotte Brontë

Narrated by: Anna Bentinck

Length: 25 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in the industrialising England of the Napoleonic wars, a period of bad harvests, Luddite riots, and economic unrest, Shirley is the story of two contrasting heroines and the men they love. One is the shy Caroline Helstone, trapped in the oppressive atmosphere of a Yorkshire rectory, whose life represents the plight of single women in the 19th century. The other is the vivacious Shirley Keeldar, who inherits a local estate and whose wealth liberates her from convention.

(P)2007 Isis Publishing Ltd.

"As Romantic As Monday Morning"

I have read this book many times since the seventies but this was my first time with the audio version. I knew the story or thought I knew the story but Anna Bentinck's performance allowed me to understand things which I had missed entirely. She is wonderful. Her voice reveals the subtle humor and touches of playfulness of the story. The oppressive sense of loneliness or despair which figure in the Bronte sisters' works, Agnes Grey, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or Villette is somehow replaced with optimism and hope.

Charlotte Bronte had a dust-up with her publisher over his praise of Jane Austen. Charlotte had some negative thoughts about Austen and was not shy in expressing them. After listening to this story, I now wonder if she wasn't influenced a bit after all. The Charlotte who wrote Jane Eyre and the one who wrote Shirley seem to be different writers. This story has dirt under the fingernails. Not to overstate the case, the sprinkle of comic characters would suggest an Austen influence. Now I have done it! The Bronte sisters will rise from their graves to pummel me as I sleep.

My title quotes the author describing her story I think with accuracy. If she were a portrait artist, her paintings would be in the fashion of Vincent van Gogh's "The Potato Eaters" or in the harsh interplay of shadow and light on the canvas of Edgar Degas. Charlotte Bronte paints with fine brush strokes one color, one image after another, piling them on the canvas until the ungainly rough features of her story takes form. Yet, there are even flashes of Johannes Vermeer's delicate brush strokes, brilliant colors and of love shinning in the eyes of the "Girl with the Pearl Earring". Sometimes she paints the delicate beauty of flower gardens in moonlight evenings but also of harsh, glaring Monday mornings, the gritty, sometimes mean realities and human flaws.

Holy Mackerel!

First, Anna Bentinck gives a spectacular performance. She is clear, well-paced, and gives different characters to all of the major persona. Not an easy task in a book that you need a playbill for just to keep up. I'll definitely seek out more by her.

"Shirley" is something of a sleeper in the Bronte canon. It's an interesting treatise on the independence and status of women in the early 19th century -- long before there was much feminist activism. The book has an interesting political and economic aspect. A quick look at the Wikipedia page on Luddites will put things in context if your British history is as lacking as mine.

But it is also tragically romantic and downright steamy even at points. Perhaps it's just a modern perspective that sees this as so obvious, but it is hard to imagine how this wasn't considered scandalous by Victorian moral standards. Of course, everyone keeps their clothes on, both feet on the floor and no one ever does anything more than briedly hold hands.

My book club selected this as our "long" summer read, and two of us finished before June had barely begun. Worth a read!

My love of the Classics

I recently fell in love with classic novels (less than a year) & I have found Charlotte Bronte's novels superb. The use of descriptive language makes me realize how much we (as a society) have lost with the growth in technology. No one utilizes language in this imaginative manner anymore! Shirley is an excellent, heart-warming novel. It is the perfect companion to any task or hobby.

a better listen than read

This was proof to me of the value of audiobooks! I picked up my paperback of "Shirley" several times over the last 20 years but never got past the introductory chapters. As a listen, I very much enjoyed "Shirley" as a 19th century novel-romance and for the characters and the commentary on women's roles. I was disappointed in it as an "industrial novel," but I guess it's the best the experience a Bronte could furnish. I thought Gaskill's later "North-South" was a better example of that sub genre, but I do not find Gaskill's novels as satisfying a reading (or listening) experience.

Loved it!

I loved this novel - it's one of my favorite Brontë novels, possibly even more so than "Jane Eyre." The pages are filled with affection and good humor. It's hard to believe it was written during a period that saw all of Charlotte Brontë's siblings die, one after the other. There are dark deeds here, and gloomy prospects, but all resolves in the end: a devotee of Jane Austen (which I also am) couldn't wish for anything better.

History impinges on the story: the Napoleonic Wars are in progress, Wellington is campaigning in Spain, and Luddite riots are damaging and destroying newly mechanized mills.Yorkshire is hard hit. Brontë meets this head-on, and while I wish she had gone into more detail there, she does make it a linchpin of her plot.

Anna Bentinck is an outstanding narrator. One of the main characters especially - Caroline, sometimes also known as Cary or Lina - is mostly a passive observer, and it would have been easy for her to come across as dull and dispirited; yet Bentinck's reading of her is almost sprightly. Caroline is quiet but is not without humor. It's a tough balancing act, because the title character, Shirley, IS a very sprightly, assertive, and unusual character. Yet Bentinck is able to fully characaterize her while still giving Caroline her due.

I've been on a campaign to read all the Brontë novels. In doing so I've discovered treat after treat. This is one of the best.

Nothing can stop me from loving Bronte

This novel is long, 24 hours of listening pleasure. It was so very interesting, considering it is a historical piece. I love learned about the Napolean era and the effects it had on England. Charlotte weaves in the characters within this terrible time in history. The narrator is excellent. I was lost in time once again. I am amazed that Charlotte wrote and completed this book during a span of which her 3 remaining siblings died. Her brother, Ann Bronte, and Emily Bronte. She is definitely a novelist I would have liked to meet!

Shirley

This is not Charlotte Bronte's best book and at times it is a bit tedious but an enjoyable experience in spite of this.

Best story I have listened to in years

I still can't believe this book has escaped me for nearly fifty years...it's now my favorite from Charlotte Bronte. For me, this story sort of has it all: great, sympathetic characters, many different story threads that come together beautifully, compelling protagonists, historical context, a bit of mystery, a bit of love story, terrific narration, and an excellent pace.

I look forward to listening to this again very soon.

Bronte Heaven

Although it's not as spectacular as Jane Eyre and not as psychologically compelling as Villette, Shirley still gives you 20 some hours of Brontë heaven. Bronte is one of our greatest writers ever to have lived. She writes from and about the soul.

Not good!

I really wanted to like this book, but it's so hard to be interested in. I gravitate to mid 19th century english fiction and I like historical novels. This has both, but the is so boring. Characters are described, but I don't feel any connection to them. I haven't completed the book (it's a drudge to turn on this book), but I wanted to warn others. The narrator is only OK - she struggles with the accents and too many of the characters are extremely nasily. Really - move on to something else - this is such a disappointment. At least this book made me investigate the Luddite era, so I did learn something - but much more from Wikpedia than from this story.

Very nice to listen to

Well narrated. Bentinck captures the right tone and makes distinction between the characters by giving him or her a different voice and accent. I like this, because I do not get confused about who is speaking and it makes the novel more animated. In addition Bentincks (first person) narrative mode is pleasant, not nasal e.g.

The forgotten Bronte novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Well forgotten by me anyway. I have recently been re-reading and listening to many of the better known 19th century novels and have really enjoyed them. Most recently I read and listened to Jane Eyre and then Villette which are both well known. However, Shirley meant little to me and I was pleased to find an audio edition available. Like both novels already mentioned Shirley deals with the plight of the poor 19th century woman through the character of Caroline Helstone (and her mother), but also the difficulties facing a rich one, Shirley, as well. It also comments on the behaviour of the clergy and the uprisings in the Yorkshire textile industry. The story held my attention and it was beautifully written. While none of the main protagonists really pleased me I did care about what came of them. When listening to the Tenant of Wildfell Hall I really wished I had downloaded the abridged edition but I didn't regret any of the time spent listening to this and importantly it was beautifully read.

Feisty Wish Fulfillment Beautifully Read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Anna Bentinck reads superbly including accents.

I had forgotten what Shirley was like or maybe I have changed. Such a patchwork of romance, even arch comedy (had never heard "enthronisation" before); the cry of the unvalued governess and the wishfulfilng( for the author perhaps) drawn out Belgian love affairs; the feminism on one hand and the need to to be conquered; the tears, the suffering and oh the joy and fine profiles and complexions; with a bit of violent class conflict; industrial revolution and church commentary, and Lady Audley's secret made right, in such colourful and flighty language.

Jane Eyre this is not, but it is a fascinating, wandery jumble of things with two love stories, beautifully read.

Shirley deserves a read!

hard going initially but wonderful language and great feminist exploration. Yorkshire textile industry early days

I'm glad this was an audiobook

I wouldn't have finished this book if I had had to also read it. I was grateful for Anna Bentinck's narration which was beautifully done.

Charlotte Brontë lost Anne, Emily and Branwell while writing this novel. This sad fact leaves me wondering about how different the book would have been if that had not been the case. It felt in need of strong editing and honest feedback - would the other sisters have helped this happen? Or is it that too many painful events happened as it was written that re-reading, reflecting and self-editing the first draft was an overwhelming reminder of the heartache of each sibling's death and so it wasn't done as completely as needed? I felt 'Shirley' was messy and disjointed, inconsistent and long-winded, although there is a good deal of wonderfully observant, moving and at times funny material in the story too.

Glad to now know the story, but I am unlikely to return to it.

nice company

very nice company to keep this book is. unfortunately I don't speak French, so some things I didn't understand, but I don't think it affects the enjoyment of this book.
very lovely experience and an excellent story nicely read. thank you.

perfect for Bronte Fans

What did you like most about Shirley?

the historical context-the northern countryside on the cusp of change and the wonderful descriptions of the landscape

What other book might you compare Shirley to, and why?

Any other novel by Charlotte Bronte and also for the feeling for landscape, any Thomas Hardy

What does Anna Bentinck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The subtleties of character

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Hidden Love - a tale of two girls in the England of 1812

Much praise

To my mind Shirley is Charlotte Brontë best novel. This narration is brilliant. Highly recommended

Brilliant narration

An excellent performance by Anna Bentinck of a superb novel with well delineated characters and a well crafted plot.

So well read!

I loved listening to Anna Bentinck’s narration. I also felt close to the author. I would have loved to have met her .