Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three literary Bronte sisters, and the author of Jane Eyre, one of the most beloved and influential novels in the English language. Writing at first under the male pen name Currer Bell, she brought a new emotional intensity and a strong, independent heroine to Victorian fiction.
Jane Eyre tells the story of an orphaned governess who refuses to compromise her integrity or independence, even for love, in her relationship with the brooding Mr Rochester. Its passionate first-person voice and its insistence on a woman's dignity and moral strength made it revolutionary. Charlotte also wrote Shirley, Villette, and The Professor.
The Brontes grew up in a remote Yorkshire parsonage, inventing elaborate imaginary worlds as children. Charlotte outlived her sisters Emily and Anne, and her own life was marked by loss; she died at 38.
Her prose is vivid and impassioned, in the Victorian style. Our editions present it clearly. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Charlotte Brontë in the library · 4 works
Jane Eyre
Shirley
soon
soon
Audiobooks by Charlotte Brontë
Every Charlotte Brontë title in the library is also a complete, professionally produced audiobook — 4 audiobooks in total. Members listen free on any device. Browse the audiobook library →
Frequently asked questions about Charlotte Brontë
What did Charlotte Bronte write?
Charlotte Bronte's most famous novel is Jane Eyre. She also wrote Shirley, Villette, and The Professor, as well as poetry. Her sisters Emily and Anne were also novelists — Emily wrote Wuthering Heights and Anne wrote The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Jane Eyre is Charlotte's defining and most-loved work.
What is Jane Eyre about?
Jane Eyre follows an orphaned girl who grows into an intelligent, principled young woman and becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with her employer, the mysterious Mr Rochester. When a shocking secret comes to light, Jane must choose between love and her own self-respect. It is a passionate story of independence, integrity, and love told in an unforgettable first-person voice.
Where should I start with Charlotte Bronte?
Start with Jane Eyre, her masterpiece and one of the most gripping and emotionally satisfying novels of the era. If you love it, Villette — drawing on her time in Brussels — is her other major achievement, subtler and more melancholy. Jane Eyre is the essential first read.
Why did Charlotte Bronte use a male pen name?
Charlotte and her sisters first published as 'Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell' to avoid the prejudice that Victorian critics held against women writers, hoping their work would be judged on its own merits. The disguise also gave them privacy. Their real identities were revealed after their books became successful.
Are the Bronte novels hard to read?
They are written in rich, passionate Victorian prose, with some period vocabulary and social customs that may be unfamiliar, but the storytelling is intense and absorbing. Jane Eyre in particular is a compelling page-turner. A clear modern edition keeps the emotional power while easing any dated phrasing.
When did Charlotte Bronte live?
Charlotte Bronte lived from 1816 to 1855, dying at just 38. She published Jane Eyre in 1847, the same remarkable year her sisters published Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey. The sisters grew up in a parsonage on the Yorkshire moors, which deeply shaped their writing.
Where can I read Charlotte Bronte for free?
Charlotte Bronte's novels are in the public domain and freely available. Older editions preserve her full Victorian text. Here you can read the opening of Jane Eyre free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
Read Charlotte Brontë free
Every restored edition — eBook and audiobook — is included with membership. Cancel anytime, one click · 30-day money-back guarantee.
Become a member →