CHARLOTTE BRONËJANE EYRE EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY MICHAEL MASON Charlotte Bronë's first published novel, Jane Eyre was immediately recognized as a work of genius when it appeared in 1847. Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre non the less emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. How she takes up the post of governess at Thornfield Hall, meet and loves Mr Rochester and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage are elements in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than that traditionally accorded to her sex in Victorian society In his introduction to this new Penguin Classics edition Michael Mason discusses the literary critical history of Jane Eyre and provides fresh insights into Charlotte Brontë's great novel.