Is Jane Eyre a good bad book?

Let's begin with a controversial statement from The Times. According to Andy Martin,

Epic poetry can be racist, European novels sexist and sadistic. If it's politically correct, it's probably not great literature.

And he includes Jane Eyre in his selection of 'Ten good bad books':

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) Isn't it sexist to call all men sexist?

But that's not all there is from The Times today. The Life & Style section refuses to let go of the so-called Heathcliffgate by wondering

Wouldn't it be great if just once David Cameron took to the dispatch box in the Sloane uniform of stripy shirt, pastel-coloured V-neck, cords and Gucci loafers, or Gordon Brown appeared as the Heathcliff he recently likened himself to, windswept in riding coat and breeches? This may not materially help us to tell our Left from our Right, but it would certainly add some character to Prime Minister's Questions. (The Mutton)

And there's more. The Times Literary Supplement unearths a review of of Winter Words in Various Moods and Metres by Thomas Hardy, published in the TLS of October 4, 1928. The Brontë mention escaped us at the time ;)

But he [Thomas Hardy] probed experience in a way that reminds us of Charlotte Bronte's aspiration, "I desire to know what really is." (A. S. McDowall)

Well, onto other newspapers. The Guardian looks into which British sports stars made it big in Hollywood? And there is - surprisingly or not - a Brontë connection even there.

And let's not forget Britain's first cinematic sportsman. Born in India to English parents, Norman Pritchard became the first Asian native to win an Olympic medal when he won silvers in the 200m and 200m hurdles in Paris in 1900. Adopting the stage name Norman Trevor, he landed a clutch of pivotal roles in Hollywood, including Mr Rochester opposite Mabel Ballin in Jane Eyre (1921) and Major De Beaujolais alongside Ronald Colman in Beau Geste (1926). (David Parkinson)

Click here to see the IMDb page for Jane Eyre (1921).

Cherwell unveils yet another Brontëite author, Victoria Hislop.

As for adored writers and literary brain food, ‘though she only wrote one novel, Emily Bronte really inspired me - there is someone who conveyed the spirit of place superbly - her poetry is astonishing too. (Samantha Losey)

Bookslut talks about Deborah Noye's book of short stories The Ghosts of Kerfol and advises Brontë fans to take note.

Readers who enjoy their ghost stories steeped in atmosphere will find much to like in The Ghosts of Kerfol. Noyes captures the periods she writes in quite well and using various plot elements to link them together (far beyond the location) creates an overall tale of murder and lost love that fits as perfectly as any novel length puzzle. Bronte fans take note; this one is a solid entry in Wuthering Heights country.

As for the blogosphere (and today the flickrsphere as well): The Egalitarian Bookworm brings back the always hilarous LOLCharlotte. Welcome to the Forest of Arden posts about Wuthering Heights. And Flickr user Andrew 'gonzo' posts a few pictures of Top Withins.

Categories: Books, Brontëites, Jane Eyre, Movies-DVD-TV, Weirdo, Wuthering Heights