Books

First Edition. Three volumes bound by the renowned Riviere and Son binders. Volume I 4 304 pp without add. (as is common) with half title. Volume II with half title 4 304 pp, bound with the original cloth from the front and rear boards together with the spine to the rear of Volume II. Volume III with half titles 4 311 pp. Errors in paging: p.32 and p.225 are incorrectly numbered 23 and 252 respectively. All three volumes are bound in early full crushed green Morocco by Riviere, featuring gilt titles and triple ruled border, with gilt compartments to each section of the spine. Five raised bands with the date to the bottom of each volume. This is a first edition of the author's finest novel; one of the most groundbreaking and enduring works of English literature. Charlotte Brontë's semiautobiographical heroine was something completely new in Victorian fiction: a woman confronting men on equal terms, telling her story with passion and honest feeling. The contents are clear and bright, and free from damage. Bookplate to front endpaper of each volume; some light rubbing to the front boards of each. Smith 2; Sadlier 346. A fabulous example of this iconic work of literature, being the author's very first novel.

"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.