This month we celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Published in October 1847 (sources vary as to whether it was the 16th or the 19th) as “An Autobiography” under the pseudonymous editorship of “Currer Bell”, this brooding, Gothic novel became an instant sensation. A beloved classic of Victorian and Gothic literature, Jane Eyre has become one of the most widely read, best known novels the world over, and the enchantments of its “bewitching” narrator continue to spellbind us through countless film, television and other adaptations.
I recently wrote about what draws us to this classic novel in an article for The Lighthouse, wherein I also reviewed a recent theatrical adaptation (spoiler alert: reader, I loved it).
But there is always more to say about this unforgettable, divisive, novel and its many adaptations – including the 2011 film and the 2006 BBC miniseries – and so it was that I found myself waxing lyrical about all things Jane Eyre for a special episode of the ‘From the Lighthouse’ podcast (for the Discipline of Literature at Macquarie University).
And what’s more, I was delighted to be joined on this episode by a very special guest! With me to share her expertise on Jane Eyre and its Gothic and historical context was Rachel Baldacchino, who is currently completing her Master of Research in Literature at Macquarie University. Rachel’s thesis explores the ways that Charlotte Brontë’s Gothic novels elicit empathy in readers, particularly for characters who experience varying degrees of mental illness and especially that classic Victorian Gothic motif – madness! Having Rachel on the podcast for the first time was a wonderful experience and I’m so grateful to her for sharing her research with us!
You can listen to the episode online here. I hope you enjoy it!