World Book Day. Brontës in Top Ten

Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are two of the ten books you can't live without. We knew of course, but this on line poll (in which more than 2,000 people took part) for the World Book Day (that is, today March 1) confirms it:

Our survey to find the ten books the nation cannot live without has revealed that classics are still the most essential reads, with Pride and Prejudice topping the poll, and the Brontë sisters appearing, along with Charles Dickens and George Orwell. JRR Tolkein's fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, came in third, with The Bible also shown to be still relevant to people - coming in at sixth.

The full ten is as follows:

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 20%
2. Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien 17%
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë 14%
4. Harry Potter books - J K Rowling 12%
5. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee 9.5%
6. The Bible 9%
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë 8.5%
8. 1984 - George Orwell 6%
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman 6%
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens 5.5%

This pdf file provides more interesting details about the survey:

By Sex:
Men Top Ten: No Brontës.
Women Top Ten: #2. Jane Eyre (WH doesn't enter in the Women Top Ten).

Very interesting that neither men or women chose WH in their list, but the combined result of both sexes gets a place in the top ten for Emily Brontë's novel.

By Age:
Under 18s: No Brontës
18-25: #2. Jane Eyre
26-42: #2. Jane Eyre
43-60: #2. Jane Eyre
60 and over: #2 Jane Eyre

Again, the same thing happens with WH!

By Region:
Yorkshire and Humberside #1. Jane Eyre
Scotland: #2. Jane Eyre
North West England: #2. Jane Eyre
North East England #2. Jane Eyre
West Midlands #2. Jane Eyre
East of England #2. Jane Eyre
Greater London #2. Jane Eyre
South West England #2. Jane Eyre
South East England #2. Jane Eyre
East Midlands #3. Jane Eyre
Wales #5. Jane Eyre
Northern Ireland #6. Jane Eyre

Categories: In the News, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights