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Dorset Gap: A Short Story from the collection, Reader, I Married Him
A short story by Tracy Chevalier from the collection Reader, I Married Stories inspired by Jane Eyre.
In ‘Dorset Gap’, two students walk in the countryside after a night of partying and miscommunicate over Jane Eyre.
Edited by Tracy Chevalier, the full collection, Reader I Married Him, brings together some of the finest and most creative voices in fiction today, to celebrate and salute the strength and lasting relevance of Charlotte Brontë’s game-changing novel and its beloved narrator.
In ‘Dorset Gap’, two students walk in the countryside after a night of partying and miscommunicate over Jane Eyre.
Edited by Tracy Chevalier, the full collection, Reader I Married Him, brings together some of the finest and most creative voices in fiction today, to celebrate and salute the strength and lasting relevance of Charlotte Brontë’s game-changing novel and its beloved narrator.
- GenresShort Stories
21 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2016
45 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Chevalier
44 books11.6k followersBorn:
19 October 1962 in Washington, DC. Youngest of 3 children. Father was a photographer for The Washington Post.
Childhood:
Nerdy. Spent a lot of time lying on my bed reading. Favorite authors back then: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madeleine L’Engle, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Joan Aiken, Susan Cooper, Lloyd Alexander. Book I would have taken to a desert island: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
Education:
BA in English, Oberlin College, Ohio, 1984. No one was surprised that I went there; I was made for such a progressive, liberal place.
MA in creative writing, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, 1994. There’s a lot of debate about whether or not you can be taught to write. Why doesn’t anyone ask that of professional singers, painters, dancers? That year forced me to write all the time and take it seriously.
Geography:
Moved to London after graduating from Oberlin in 1984. I had studied for a semester in London and thought it was a great place, so came over for fun, expecting to go back to the US after 6 months to get serious. I’m still in London, and still not entirely serious. Even have dual citizenship – though I keep the American accent intact.
Family:
1 English husband + 1 English son.
Career:
Before writing, was a reference book editor, working on encyclopedias about writers. (Yup, still nerdy.) Learned how to research and how to make sentences better. Eventually I wanted to fix my own sentences rather than others’, so I quit and did the MA.
Writing:
Talked a lot about becoming a writer as a kid, but actual pen to paper contact was minimal. Started writing short stories in my 20s, then began first novel, The Virgin Blue, during the MA year. With Girl With a Pearl Earring (written in 1998), I became a full-time writer.
19 October 1962 in Washington, DC. Youngest of 3 children. Father was a photographer for The Washington Post.
Childhood:
Nerdy. Spent a lot of time lying on my bed reading. Favorite authors back then: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madeleine L’Engle, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Joan Aiken, Susan Cooper, Lloyd Alexander. Book I would have taken to a desert island: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
Education:
BA in English, Oberlin College, Ohio, 1984. No one was surprised that I went there; I was made for such a progressive, liberal place.
MA in creative writing, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, 1994. There’s a lot of debate about whether or not you can be taught to write. Why doesn’t anyone ask that of professional singers, painters, dancers? That year forced me to write all the time and take it seriously.
Geography:
Moved to London after graduating from Oberlin in 1984. I had studied for a semester in London and thought it was a great place, so came over for fun, expecting to go back to the US after 6 months to get serious. I’m still in London, and still not entirely serious. Even have dual citizenship – though I keep the American accent intact.
Family:
1 English husband + 1 English son.
Career:
Before writing, was a reference book editor, working on encyclopedias about writers. (Yup, still nerdy.) Learned how to research and how to make sentences better. Eventually I wanted to fix my own sentences rather than others’, so I quit and did the MA.
Writing:
Talked a lot about becoming a writer as a kid, but actual pen to paper contact was minimal. Started writing short stories in my 20s, then began first novel, The Virgin Blue, during the MA year. With Girl With a Pearl Earring (written in 1998), I became a full-time writer.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 13, 2025
“«Lei mi ha sposato, lettore mio».”
October 3, 2020
I loved this short story from Tracy Chevalier. Her writing I can never fault. In this short story, she puts the reader right in there and the story is short and very sweet! Definitely a story for bookworms and in particular Jane Eyre.
This story is from a collection inspired by Jane Eyre by different authors.
This story is from a collection inspired by Jane Eyre by different authors.
December 2, 2019
Cute little short story. Captures your attention immediately and I love the play on the quote at the end.
September 5, 2021
A ‘miscommunication’ is correct, though a short story there are many themes and motifs. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected and actually wished there was more.
August 6, 2022
This is an odd one. It barely hints at the beginnings of affection but I’m left wanting more, the knowledge of how it might somehow work out. Believably young and not too likable characters.
September 20, 2016
Dorset Gap by Tracy Chevalier
Really good captivating story of two people on a country walk. ****
“Ed watched her from the pub window, walking away along the empty country road, her wellington boots making her look like a farmer's wife. Beguiled by the bit of calf between the bottom of her dress and the top of her wellies that flashed with each stride, he pulled on his jumper and went after her.” (p171)
Really good captivating story of two people on a country walk. ****
“Ed watched her from the pub window, walking away along the empty country road, her wellington boots making her look like a farmer's wife. Beguiled by the bit of calf between the bottom of her dress and the top of her wellies that flashed with each stride, he pulled on his jumper and went after her.” (p171)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews