How to choose your Jane Eyre edition

The Times has an excellent article on 'How to choose your classic' by Margaret Reynolds. The beginning itself is so promising despite the de rigueur Brontë vs Austen mention:

We have become so used to the idea of “classic books” that it is easy to forget that there was a time when there weren't any. The great writers of antiquity have been “classics” in Europe since the Renaissance, but Latin and Greek were not available to everyone. So when the young Brontës, for instance, were educating themselves in that Yorkshire parsonage, they had to construct their own canon. There was Sir Walter Scott (they adored him). There was Jane Austen (Charlotte thought her insipid). But then they had to make do with the Christmas annuals of the 1820s with titles such as Friendship's Offering or The Keepsake. No wonder they created their own “classic books”, transcribing tales from their imaginary worlds of Angria and Gondal into the minute manuscript volumes now in the British Library.
Today we have heaps of choice and plenty of publishers telling us what we should be reading. As the Oxford World's Classics series is relaunched this month, its rivals include Penguin and Vintage, as well as enterprises from smaller presses such as Everyman, Wordsworth and Oneworld.

And the rest of the article is worth reading if, like us, you're one of those who enjoy reading the classics - which you are if you are reading this blog - and actually dither between editions and pore over them before choosing which one to take home with you.

What's great is that the chosen case in point is none other than Jane Eyre. Margaret Reynolds picks five recent editions, many of which have been presented here at the time of being released - and compares them on five different scores:

Case study: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Oxford World's Classics Jacket Clean and striking but she's too sulky. Introduction By Oxford prof Sally Shuttleworth. Covers all bases and is excellent on the ending. Text Based on first edition of 1847. Actual print a bit small. Extra material Plenty on the text and publication of the novel. Price £5.99. Good value.	Penguin Classics (Black) Jacket A painting by Millais. Jane would never have worn this dress. Introduction By novelist and critic Stevie Davies. Very good on the political context. Text Revised edition of 1848, with some emendations. Clear print. Extra material Chronology, notes and “Opinions of the Press”. Price £5.99.	Oneworld Classics Jacket Stylishly modern, haunting and suggestive. Introduction No, but see below. Text Based on first edition, modernised and standardised. Extra material Fantastic images of Charlotte and the places she knew. Useful historical notes. Price £6.99 - but a beautiful and original book.
Vintage Classics Jacket Clever, intriguing and spot on for the story. Introduction No. Text Based on the revised edition of 1848. Nice print. Extra material Little life of Charlotte. Quote from Sarah Waters: "One of the most perfectly structured novels of all time". Meaning? Price £5.99. Hmm.	Wordsworth Classics Jacket Naff nineteenth century gouache. Makes it look like Georgette Heyer. Introduction By Sally Minogue of Canterbury Christ Church University College. Sensible and helpful - especially good summary of critical perspectives. Text No note on text, but looks like revised third edition of 1848. Print clear enough but small. Extra material Very brief notes on allusions. Price £1.99 – strapped-for-cash student special.

Alternatively, the Times slideshow with the covers displays this cover on the right for the Penguin edition. The one we have posted above seems to actually be the most recent cover. However, there is no way of knowing exactly which one Margaret Reynolds had in mind as both are by Millais and both show dresses we wouldn't see Jane wearing.

If you find this subject as interesting as we do you will be interested in knowing that Margaret Reynolds will be discussing the editing and publishing of classics on Radio 4, Monday April 14, 9am.

Categories: In the News, Jane Eyre