Jane Eyre

Orphaned nearly at birth, young Jane Eyre endures cruelty and coldness in the home of her aunt and cousins, then austere servitude at a welfare boarding school. On her own, she finds and loses great love, and she discovers long-lost family. Josephine Bailey's somber rendition of the classic captures the story's pathos and warmth, as she portrays the child's fears and the young woman's hidden emotion. Bailey speaks entirely as Jane, in keeping with the book's first-person voice, only performing other characters as Jane would in relating her story aloud. Bailey's soft yet strong voice conveys the author's strength of purpose and vulnerability of spirit, compelling the listener by its force rather than by its volume or artful performance. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

To listen to narrator Josephine Bailey's interpretation of this classic is to be swept back in time to the nineteenth-century English countryside. Bailey's clipped diction and air of formality perfectly overlay Jane's depth of emotion--from despair to joy and back again. Bailey portrays Jane's true love, Edward Rochester, with a wry sense of humor. Their dialogue crackles with tension and teasing wit. The novel covers more than a decade in Jane's life as she is turned out from her aunt's loveless but luxurious household for the harsh environment of a charity school, and then to the grand estate Thornfield, where she finds work as a governess. The richness and complexity of Bailey's reading bring every page and every character vividly to life. F.J.K. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

For a fan of Gothic romances, the opportunity to listen to a new recording of JANE EYRE is not to be passed up. British actress Juliet Stevenson gives a simply splendid narration. She gives clear voice to the spirited, intelligent, fiercely independent Jane and communicates the heroine's full range of emotions. Stevenson reads at a smooth, even pace, adding just the right amount of drama. If the new release of JANE EYRE at the movies moves many to take another look at the novel, Stevenson's masterful narration would be an excellent choice. C.R.A. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Narrator Thandie Newton gives a delightful performance of this beloved classic. She delivers the voice of Jane from childhood to adulthood with elegant conviction, breezing through the dense sentences as if they were part of a contemporary novel. She also captures the voices of the many other characters, from Jane's tubercular friend, Helen Burns, to her true love, Mr. Rochester. Even some of the more difficult passages, with their pontifications about religion and morals, do not bog down the story, thanks to Newton's engaged performance. This audiobook would be an excellent way for newcomers to discover why JANE EYRE has stood the test of time, and would also be a lovely reminder for those familiar with this great work. M.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Narrator Alison Larkin's mellifluous voice and expressive tone are the perfect accompaniment to this acclaimed bildungsroman about "poor, plain and little" orphaned Jane Eyre and her eternally captivating romance with Edward Rochester. Larkin takes extraordinary care to elicit the full spectrum of emotions at play here, while conveying the gothic elements and psychological realism underpinning this classic. Listeners will be riveted by her portrayals of Jane's intelligence, integrity, and forthright manner, and of Rochester's intense and sometimes playful demeanor. Her nuanced characterizations of supporting characters of all ages, genders, and social classes are perceptive and revelatory. Larkin's thoughtful and subtly dramatic performance allows listeners to be fully engaged with the admirably resilient Jane throughout this delightful production. M.J. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine