Jane EyreJane Eyre
Score Classic
What it's about
Orphaned Jane Eyre is plain, but she has an indomitable spirit, sharp wit and great courage. After a childhood of cruel guardians and harsh schooling, she becomes governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with her mysterious employer, Mr. Rochester, and discovers the secret the house hides.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's 100 best novels in English, the BBC's Big Read and PBS's Great American Read. It's one of literature's most enduring love stories, told by one of its most independent heroines.
You'll love it if you liked
Wuthering Heights
Pride and Prejudice
RebeccaGood to know
It's long and Victorian in style, but very readable. Avoid spoilers about Thornfield's secret if you can.
By the numbers
- Readers59 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller65 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
If you like this, read next
The Great Gatsby
Persuasion
Doctor Zhivago
I Capture the Castle
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Purple HibiscusExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Jane Eyre worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's 100 best novels in English, the BBC's Big Read and PBS's Great American Read. It ranks #594 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Jane Eyre about?
Orphaned Jane Eyre is plain, but she has an indomitable spirit, sharp wit and great courage. After a childhood of cruel guardians and harsh schooling, she becomes governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with her mysterious employer, Mr. Rochester, and discovers the secret the house hides.
How long does it take to read Jane Eyre?
About 14 hours (555 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Jane Eyre?
If you liked it, try Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen or Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.