A novel of high romance and serious literature, Jane Eyre has enjoyed popular success and critical acclaim ever since its publication in 1847. The story of Jane"s development from neglected orphan to an equal partnership with the enigmatic Mr Rochester, via the cruel regime at Lowood school and a difficult independence as a governess, electrified a Victorian readership not just for its narrative power but for the bold critique it offered of English society. With characters that are as unforgettable as the story they enact, and with a passionate language that amazed the readers of the day, Jane Eyre ranks among the most pre-eminent English novels ever written.