Jane Eyre

    janeeyreisafirst-personnarrativeofthetitlecharacter,asmall,plain-faced,intelligentandhonestenglishorphan.thenovelgoesthroughfivedistinctstages—janeschildhoodatgateshead,wheresheisabusedbyherauntandcousins;hereducationatlowoodacademy,wheresheacquiresfriendsandrolemodelsbutalsosuffersprivations;hertimeasthegovernessofthornfieldmanor,whereshefallsinlovewithherbyronicemployer,edwardrochester;hertimewiththeriversfamilyatmarshsend(ormoorhouse)andmorton,wherehercoldclergyman-cousinstjohnriversproposestoher;andherreunionwithandmarriagetoherbelovedrochesterathishouseofferndean.partlyautobiographical,thenovelaboundswithsocialcriticismandsinistergothicelements.janeeyreisdividedinto38chapters;mosteditionsareatleast400pageslong(althoughtheprefaceandintroductiononcertaincopiesareliabletotakeupanother100).theoriginalwaspublishedinthreevolumes—volumeone(comprisingchaptersonetofifteen),volumetwo(sixteento26)andvolumethree(27to38).