Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë

"Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Brontë, is a novel that follows the life of its eponymous heroine from her harsh childhood as an orphan raised by a cruel aunt, through her education at the austere Lowood School, to her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall. At Thornfield, Jane falls in love with the mysterious and brooding master, Mr. Rochester, only to discover he harbors a dark secret: his wife, Bertha Mason, is alive but mentally ill and confined in the attic. After leaving Thornfield to preserve her dignity, Jane inherits a fortune from a long-lost relative, gains newfound independence, and eventually returns to a humbled and blinded Rochester. They marry, finding mutual respect and enduring love. The novel explores themes of social class, morality, and the struggle for women's autonomy.

This book is in the public domain and can be downloaded for free from Librivox.org