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Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre
Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!--I have as much soul as you,--and full as much heart!
Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is a beloved classic, celebrated today by readers of all ages and revered as a masterwork of literary prowess. But what of the famous writer herself?
Originally published under the pseudonym of Currer Bell, Jane Eyre was born out of a magnificent, vivid imagination, a deep cultivation of skill, and immense personal hardship and tragedy. Charlotte, like her sisters Emily and Ann, was passionate about her work. She sought to cast an empathetic lens on characters often ignored by popular literature of the time, questioning societal assumptions with a sharp intellect and changing forever the landscape of western literature.
With an introduction by Alison Bechdel, Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre presents a stunning examination of a woman who battled against the odds to make her voice heard.
Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is a beloved classic, celebrated today by readers of all ages and revered as a masterwork of literary prowess. But what of the famous writer herself?
Originally published under the pseudonym of Currer Bell, Jane Eyre was born out of a magnificent, vivid imagination, a deep cultivation of skill, and immense personal hardship and tragedy. Charlotte, like her sisters Emily and Ann, was passionate about her work. She sought to cast an empathetic lens on characters often ignored by popular literature of the time, questioning societal assumptions with a sharp intellect and changing forever the landscape of western literature.
With an introduction by Alison Bechdel, Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre presents a stunning examination of a woman who battled against the odds to make her voice heard.
112 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2019
7 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
Glynnis Fawkes
19 books29 followersGlynnis Fawkes is the co-author with Eric H Cline and illustrator of 1177 BC: A Graphic History of the Year Civilization Collapsed (Princeton University Press). She is also the author-illustrator of Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre (Little, Brown) and Persephone’s Garden (Secret Acres), among other books, and her comics have appeared on the website of The New Yorker. She has worked as an archaeological illustrator around the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, and teaches at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
August 20, 2020
"Literature cannot be the business of a woman's life"--Robert Southey, in an 1837 reply to Charlotte Bronte, who sought advice from him on how she might gain success as a writer. Thankfully, she ignored it, perhap using it as inspiration.
Jane Eyre and/or Bronte fans! (At least) the second graphic non-fiction book focused on the Bronte family in the same year, and both are great. The first is Glass Town by Isabel Greenburg, who focuses on the Bronte children's elaborate fantasy world that they developed over many years together. Glynnis Fawke's book focuses more on Charlotte than her siblings (in part because there was more material such as more diaries and letters and fiction) but it also includes a section on Glass Town.
Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre [which could have used a more inviting title], by Glynnis Fawkes, a carefully researched and delicately drawn Center for Cartoon Studies production featuring an introduction by Alison Bechdel, fits very nicely with a reading of Jane Eyre, and Glass Town, and will contribute to a discussion about how class and (especially) the societal limitations for women and girls shaped the nineteenth century arts, and of course society in general.
Some highlights; Charlotte engineered the self-publication of a book of poetry by the girls that had fictional author names; it sold two copies, they noted. Of course we learn of the horrible boarding school they attended (and depicted in jane Eyre) which contributed to some of the early deaths of so many of the Bronte family, which is in part why there is so little work produced, but the fact that they were able to publish anything at all as young women in those times was (sadly) amazing, given the disdain for women writers by the male publishing industry (which resonates with Little Women, too, of course).
We also learn of Charlotte's working with a writing teacher (whose advice she largely ignored, thank goodness) in Belgium. I liked reading about the one male sibling, Branwell, who was given the most advantages in education by the father and who was the least successful, getting addicted to opium and alcohol. I was interested in reading about--in the light of our current pandemic, and Ebola, HIV, and other viruses--how devastated the Bronte family was from various diseases.
I very much liked Bechdel's introduction and the postscript essay by Fawkes and her specific footnotes for particular panels, and the suggested reading. A very fine book for Bronte fans!!
Jane Eyre and/or Bronte fans! (At least) the second graphic non-fiction book focused on the Bronte family in the same year, and both are great. The first is Glass Town by Isabel Greenburg, who focuses on the Bronte children's elaborate fantasy world that they developed over many years together. Glynnis Fawke's book focuses more on Charlotte than her siblings (in part because there was more material such as more diaries and letters and fiction) but it also includes a section on Glass Town.
Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre [which could have used a more inviting title], by Glynnis Fawkes, a carefully researched and delicately drawn Center for Cartoon Studies production featuring an introduction by Alison Bechdel, fits very nicely with a reading of Jane Eyre, and Glass Town, and will contribute to a discussion about how class and (especially) the societal limitations for women and girls shaped the nineteenth century arts, and of course society in general.
Some highlights; Charlotte engineered the self-publication of a book of poetry by the girls that had fictional author names; it sold two copies, they noted. Of course we learn of the horrible boarding school they attended (and depicted in jane Eyre) which contributed to some of the early deaths of so many of the Bronte family, which is in part why there is so little work produced, but the fact that they were able to publish anything at all as young women in those times was (sadly) amazing, given the disdain for women writers by the male publishing industry (which resonates with Little Women, too, of course).
We also learn of Charlotte's working with a writing teacher (whose advice she largely ignored, thank goodness) in Belgium. I liked reading about the one male sibling, Branwell, who was given the most advantages in education by the father and who was the least successful, getting addicted to opium and alcohol. I was interested in reading about--in the light of our current pandemic, and Ebola, HIV, and other viruses--how devastated the Bronte family was from various diseases.
I very much liked Bechdel's introduction and the postscript essay by Fawkes and her specific footnotes for particular panels, and the suggested reading. A very fine book for Bronte fans!!
July 9, 2019
3.5 stars.
Pretty good. Hadn’t expected to learn something new, but I did. Some modernized dialog is a little jarring though.
Pretty good. Hadn’t expected to learn something new, but I did. Some modernized dialog is a little jarring though.
December 25, 2019
Jane Eyre is one of my all-time favorite books, so I was quite happy to come across this graphic novel biography of Charlotte Brontë. It's quite well done and offers many glimpses into the real-life moments that Brontë included in her novel. Having just read Little Women it's also fascinating to see the many parallels that exist with that book and its author's real life.
July 29, 2019
It is so difficult to separate my thoughts on this graphic novel from my complete, and utter dislike of Charlotte Brontë, and my detestation of Jane Eyre, but I'm going to do my best.
From a characterisation point of view Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre perfectly captures the excessive melodrama of Charlotte Brontë. It was a melodrama that seeped into every moment of her prose and is one of the reasons I dislike her so much - but was perfectly realised in this graphic novel. While it annoyed me, it was true to character, so is not exactly something I can criticise it for. So basically, Charlotte is still the worst, which makes Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre a brilliant graphic novel. It was easy to read, full of facts about Jane's life, and managed to build a character consistent with both the historical facts, and her voice as a writer. It's definitely a good biographical introduction to Charlotte Brontë for young readers.
From a characterisation point of view Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre perfectly captures the excessive melodrama of Charlotte Brontë. It was a melodrama that seeped into every moment of her prose and is one of the reasons I dislike her so much - but was perfectly realised in this graphic novel. While it annoyed me, it was true to character, so is not exactly something I can criticise it for. So basically, Charlotte is still the worst, which makes Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre a brilliant graphic novel. It was easy to read, full of facts about Jane's life, and managed to build a character consistent with both the historical facts, and her voice as a writer. It's definitely a good biographical introduction to Charlotte Brontë for young readers.
July 26, 2019
Will be delighted to review this title when the ARC issues are resolved or the title returns to NetGalley.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.
July 26, 2022
I enjoyed this beautifully illustrated graphic novel about the early life of Charlotte Brontë. The novel is engaging and delivers a good account of her life and her relationship with her sisters and brother.
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December 19, 2019This was utterly delightful!
It would be a great introduction to Bronte biography if you didn't know anything about them, but knowing a little about them makes it even more fun: recognizing how Fawkes remixes pieces of the Brontes' own art into her drawings (for example, a drawing Charlotte made of Anne with a veil, Emily's drawing of her dog Grasper) or faithfully reproduces scenes from the moors, the parsonage, the village of Haworth, etc. I loved how playfully it mixes in the fantasy world of Glasstown and images of Brussels, London, etc. Also great is Alison Bechdel's introduction.
It would be a great introduction to Bronte biography if you didn't know anything about them, but knowing a little about them makes it even more fun: recognizing how Fawkes remixes pieces of the Brontes' own art into her drawings (for example, a drawing Charlotte made of Anne with a veil, Emily's drawing of her dog Grasper) or faithfully reproduces scenes from the moors, the parsonage, the village of Haworth, etc. I loved how playfully it mixes in the fantasy world of Glasstown and images of Brussels, London, etc. Also great is Alison Bechdel's introduction.
October 24, 2019
A thoughtfully crafted introduction to Charlotte and the rest of the Brontë clan.
May 20, 2023
This is wonderful! I love the illustrations, and much of the text is taken from Charlotte’s own writing (and that of her family and others). Alison Bechdel’s introduction os great, too.
February 11, 2020
Nomini Charlotte Brontë e subito tutti saltano su con Jane Eyre*.
Ma Jane Eyre è stato un punto di svolta: Charlotte aveva già scritto un romanzo (rifiutato), aveva vissuto in un collegio, perso la madre e due sorelle, studiato all'estero e conosciuto il grande amore.
Jane Eyre le garantisce la fama (in un certo senso, visto che venne pubblicato sotto pseudonimo), e l'accesso a una società letteraria che lei, giovano donna di carattere, tagliata fuori dal mondo se non per libri e giornali, intrappolata nel vicariato del padre con un fratello interamente dedito alla propria distruzione bramava da sempre - molto più della mite Anne o della selvatica Emily, che esordiscono insieme a lei con Agnes Grey e Cime tempestose.
Trent'anni di vita precedono la nascita di Edward Rochester, di Adèle, di Blanche Ingram: e questi trent'anni sono raccontati con precisione, intelligenza, delicatezza in questa bellissima biografia a fumetti, che ritrae con umanità e garbo il mondo curioso e fantastico, la vita difficile ma ricca di affetto di Charlotte e della sua famiglia.
Imperdibile per un fan, ma splendida occasione anche per chi non lo è di conoscere più a fondo una personalità complessa, troppo a lungo strangolata dallo stereotipato ritratto di Elizabeth Gaskell.
*Che, nel caso leggeste questo blog per la prima volta, dico ridico e ribadisco essere il mio romanzo preferito. Cioè, ne ho quattro copie cartacee, una digitale e due in audiolibro. E io non compro doppi.
Ma Jane Eyre è stato un punto di svolta: Charlotte aveva già scritto un romanzo (rifiutato), aveva vissuto in un collegio, perso la madre e due sorelle, studiato all'estero e conosciuto il grande amore.
Jane Eyre le garantisce la fama (in un certo senso, visto che venne pubblicato sotto pseudonimo), e l'accesso a una società letteraria che lei, giovano donna di carattere, tagliata fuori dal mondo se non per libri e giornali, intrappolata nel vicariato del padre con un fratello interamente dedito alla propria distruzione bramava da sempre - molto più della mite Anne o della selvatica Emily, che esordiscono insieme a lei con Agnes Grey e Cime tempestose.
Trent'anni di vita precedono la nascita di Edward Rochester, di Adèle, di Blanche Ingram: e questi trent'anni sono raccontati con precisione, intelligenza, delicatezza in questa bellissima biografia a fumetti, che ritrae con umanità e garbo il mondo curioso e fantastico, la vita difficile ma ricca di affetto di Charlotte e della sua famiglia.
Imperdibile per un fan, ma splendida occasione anche per chi non lo è di conoscere più a fondo una personalità complessa, troppo a lungo strangolata dallo stereotipato ritratto di Elizabeth Gaskell.
*Che, nel caso leggeste questo blog per la prima volta, dico ridico e ribadisco essere il mio romanzo preferito. Cioè, ne ho quattro copie cartacee, una digitale e due in audiolibro. E io non compro doppi.
January 24, 2025
I am familiar with the Brontë sisters but only that they wrote books. I did not know there were more than two. I am not yet able to call myself a fan or follower of such great literature. I have only read Jane Eyre and I was not impressed. I have grown since then and feel as if I should try again. I am curious about them and hear so often how wonderful their works are. I needed a graphic novel for a challenge at my library and came across this one. I had hoped it would give me a bit more back story of the famous Brontë sisters. I was not disappointed. It is engaging and flows well for a graphic novel. I am more determined to give the sisters another try, all three of them.
April 25, 2022
Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre is a good, if somewhat frenetic, biography of the Bronte clan. Their lives are shaped by child death, brutal schooling, money struggles, and, fortunately, inexhaustible creativity. The book offers glimpses of the Bronte sisters (and brother) creating their shared worlds of Angria and Gondal. Mostly, though, the book offers grumbling youths as they struggle through menial jobs before their big break (which happens right at the end, perhaps leaving out the good stuff).
Glynnis Fawkes seems to know the material, but that comes with the side effect of her attempting to cram in as much Bronte detail as she can. Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre could definitely have been streamlined - or expanded. As it stands, it feels a bit like a biography on fast-forward.
Glynnis Fawkes seems to know the material, but that comes with the side effect of her attempting to cram in as much Bronte detail as she can. Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre could definitely have been streamlined - or expanded. As it stands, it feels a bit like a biography on fast-forward.
April 30, 2020
Rating: 4 STARS
2019; Disney Book Group/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre is a graphic novel aimed at younger readers, but I think if you are a fan of the Bronte family you will enjoy this one. We meet the Brontes, and Charlotte specifically, when they are younger. We get to see how Charlotte becomes a writer and how she writes Jane Eyre. The illustrations are well done and make this a must have for bookshelves.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2019; Disney Book Group/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre is a graphic novel aimed at younger readers, but I think if you are a fan of the Bronte family you will enjoy this one. We meet the Brontes, and Charlotte specifically, when they are younger. We get to see how Charlotte becomes a writer and how she writes Jane Eyre. The illustrations are well done and make this a must have for bookshelves.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
November 7, 2019
This youth graphic novel dives deep into the lives of the Bronte sisters, with the focus on Charlotte. While I felt the timeline was a bit choppy and the dialogue/details a little odd in places, I think it was overall an informative story. Charlotte Bronte is one of my favorite authors and I was hoping for a little bit more of her inspiration for Jane Eyre to be included. However, I will read anything about the Bronte sisters, and I appreciated how often the moors were shown and mentioned.
February 13, 2020
I wanted to love this, as Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books and I thought a graphic novel introduction to the Brontes would be a good place for Izzy to start. But I’m not really sure who the audience for this book is. It’s rather dark and dry for a middle grade reader, but doesn’t have much depth for an adult reader.
May 30, 2024
Too light to be a biography - too focused for an overview. Meh.
September 23, 2019
I read this as part of a blog tour for Rockstar Book Tours and it did not disappoint! I am a huge fan of graphic novels so I jumped at the opportunity to read this and was so glad that I did. Glynnis Fawkes did a fantastic job of not only portraying Charlotte's life prior to writing Jane Eyre, but she also created such beautiful illustrations. I adore her drawing style and I think it made my reading experience much more enjoyable. I'll admit that had this been a regular novel about Charlotte's life I might have been weary to pick it up because I am personally not a fan of reading books that are completely factual. This is because I am mostly a reader of fiction. Having this written in graphic novel form made me more interested in picking it up and I honestly think it will be more intriguing to younger readers as well for this very reason. The pictures and few words on each page allow you to move through the novel at a faster pace than you would reading a non-graphic novel, and you are still getting a lot of fascinating information. This graphic novel not only includes information on Charlotte's life, but also provides details about Emily, Anne, and Branwell as well.
This was such a fun and quick read filled with details about what it was like for Charlotte growing up as well as her journey to becoming a writer. Fans of her work will love getting to read about her experiences and hardships, but even those of you who have never read anything by her (like myself) will read this and quickly come to love and admire Charlotte for her strength through all of her losses, as well as for all the hardwork and effort she put in to getting her books published. Jane Eyre is a classic that is loved by readers of all ages and through this graphic novel you will get to know how this literary masterpiece came to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for provding me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book!
This was such a fun and quick read filled with details about what it was like for Charlotte growing up as well as her journey to becoming a writer. Fans of her work will love getting to read about her experiences and hardships, but even those of you who have never read anything by her (like myself) will read this and quickly come to love and admire Charlotte for her strength through all of her losses, as well as for all the hardwork and effort she put in to getting her books published. Jane Eyre is a classic that is loved by readers of all ages and through this graphic novel you will get to know how this literary masterpiece came to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for provding me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book!
July 7, 2020
Charlotte Brontë fans, here’s a fun treat! This was my first graphic novel read and I wouldn’t have wanted to read any other first 🙃.
Charlotte Brontë and her sisters wrote their books under the names of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell so their books wouldn’t be judged based on their gender. Their ideas were new and groundbreaking for their time and gave women a voice in areas where they had none; proving that literary genius was not limited to men.
I’ll read just about any book about the Brontë sisters and this graphic novel, Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre, is a fun quick peak into their life and the obstacles they had to overcome before their books were published. Glynnis Fawkes captures a majority of the important events that took place, putting it altogether as an easy read. For a diehard fan like myself 🤓, there wasn’t anything new that I hadn’t read about before, but I still enjoyed reading it and the illustrations were wonderful.
Charlotte Brontë and her sisters wrote their books under the names of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell so their books wouldn’t be judged based on their gender. Their ideas were new and groundbreaking for their time and gave women a voice in areas where they had none; proving that literary genius was not limited to men.
I’ll read just about any book about the Brontë sisters and this graphic novel, Charlotte Brontë Before Jane Eyre, is a fun quick peak into their life and the obstacles they had to overcome before their books were published. Glynnis Fawkes captures a majority of the important events that took place, putting it altogether as an easy read. For a diehard fan like myself 🤓, there wasn’t anything new that I hadn’t read about before, but I still enjoyed reading it and the illustrations were wonderful.
September 19, 2019
I grabbed this on a whim at SPX this year after chatting with the author, and this was really fascinating! I realized I know almost nothing about the Brontes, lol. The artwork was simple but eye-catching and delicate. It makes me want to try reading their books again (or for the first time. Sorry, Anne).
September 29, 2023
Leuke graphic novel over Charlotte Brontë en haar leven tot aan de publicatie van haar beroemdste boek Jane Eyre. Het ging af en toe met wel heel grote sprongen en daarom voelde het soms een beetje hapsnap, maar de vele mooie details maken veel goed.
May 25, 2020
A quick and enjoyable read about Charlotte in her younger years that doesn’t read completely juvenile even though it is about those early years.
May 28, 2020
Beautifully drawn and written, making great use of Bronte’s letters and diaries to shed light on her early life with her sisters.
November 13, 2021
Put "Trash for the Brontes" on my gravestone.
December 3, 2024
I learned some new information about the Brontë sisters. I was deeply disappointed in the illustrations.
January 25, 2021
I enjoyed this graphic biography. I definitely learned some new things about the Brontë sisters and how they came to be writers. The artwork was very engaging. A solid read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
May 15, 2021
This was a wonderful introduction to Charlotte Bronte’s life—from a heartbreaking childhood to creative beginnings with Branwell, Emily, and Anne and through the difficult life of a19th century governess. The illustrations are so lovely, suitably subdued. Very enjoyable.
October 3, 2021
If you have any interest in the Brontes, this graphic memoir will appeal to you.
September 15, 2023
The graphic novel was captivating, but it ended abruptly. One page Emily and Anne sell their books and two pages later Jane Eyre is sold and it’s over. It didn’t feel like a true conclusion so Charlotte’s story.
March 27, 2025
I guess I just pick up comic books about the brontes on a whim now. It has up to now always been worth it so I shall continue
November 12, 2020
I thought this was such a great graphic novel biography of Charlotte Bronte and how she became the author she was born to be. How close she was with her family and siblings even through all of their ups and downs and how they supported each other in different ways. I love how all of them had a passion for stories and making them up. I also love the art style of the novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews