Books

[BRONTE, Charlotte]. Villette. By Currer Bell, Author of "Jane Eyre," "Shirley," etc. In Three Volumes. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1853. First edition. Three octavo volumes (7 3/4 x 4 7/8 inches; 195 x 125 mm). [4], 324, [12, publisher's catalogue dated February 1853]; [4], 319, [1, printer's imprint]; [4], 350, [1, printer's imprint], [1, blank] pp. No half-titles called for. Original greenish-brown morocco-grain cloth decoratively stamped in blind with a three-line border enclosing a rectangular border that contains a floral design in each corner. Spines stamped in blind with a floral design at head and tail. Spines lettered in gilt. Original pale yellow coated endpapers. Top edges uncut. A very minor amount of rubbing to cloth. A bit of light finger soiling. A few pages with small marginal stains, and page 107 of volume III opened rough at fore-edge, but not affecting text. Housed in green cloth clamshell. A near fine copy in an unsophisticated state. "The novel, like its predecessor The Professor (then unpublished), is based on the author's experiences in Brussels, here renamed Villette, and also has as its centre a pupil-teacher relationship. The novel combines a masterly portrayal of Belgian daily life with a highly personal use of the elements of Gothic fiction; Charlotte Bronte uses hints of the supernatural to heighten the impression of her heroine's nervous isolation and heroic fortitude; but all the apparitions are found to have realistic explanations" (The Oxford Companion to English Literature). Villette was published on 28 January 1853, and the earlier sets have twelve-page publisher's catalogues bearing that date. Smith records sets containing catalogues dated February 1853 [Present Copy], March 1854, and December 1854. Parrish, p. 95 (publisher's catalogue dated January 1853). Sadleir 349 (publisher's catalogue dated January 1853). Smith, Bronte, 6. Wolff 828 (publisher's catalogue dated March 1854). HBS 68801. $13,500.

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte is a bildungsroman that chronicles the life of its eponymous protagonist. Orphaned and mistreated as a child, Jane Eyre grows up at Gateshead Hall under the care of her cruel aunt and cousins. She then attends Lowood School, where she faces hardship but receives an education that shapes her character. As a young woman, Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, employed by the enigmatic and brooding Mr. Rochester. Jane's time at Thornfield Hall is marked by her growing affection for Rochester, despite their differing social statuses. Their relationship blossoms until a shocking revelation about Rochester's past disrupts their plans for marriage. Forced to leave Thornfield Hall, Jane finds refuge at Moor House, where she discovers her distant relatives, the Rivers family. She forms strong bonds with them but remains haunted by her love for Rochester. The narrative reveals Jane's fierce independence, unwavering principles, and quest for autonomy and love despite societal constraints. Eventually, she inherits a fortune and learns that Rochester, now blind and maimed from a tragic fire, seeks reconciliation. Returning to Rochester, Jane finds him humbled and rehabilitated. They reunite and marry, embracing a life together built on mutual respect and equality. "Jane Eyre" is not only a tale of romance but also a nuanced exploration of societal expectations, feminism, morality, and the struggle for personal identity and integrity. Bronte's novel broke boundaries by portraying a strong-willed, independent female protagonist who defies convention in her pursuit of love and self-realization. The novel's enduring appeal lies in its compelling characters, richly detailed settings, and themes that resonate across generations, making "Jane Eyre" a timeless classic in English literature.