Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre

by Tracy Chevalier, Various Authors Narrated by Tracy Chevalier, Laura Kirman

Overview

This collection of original stories by today's finest women writers-including Tracy Chevalier, Francine Prose, Elizabeth McCracken, Tessa Hadley, Audrey Niffenegger, and more-takes inspiration from the famous line in Charlotte Brontë's most beloved novel, Jane Eyre.

A fixture in the literary canon, Charlotte Brontë is revered by readers all over the world. Her novels featuring unforgettable, strong heroines still resonate with millions today. And who could forget one of literature's best-known lines: “Reader, I married him” from her classic novel Jane Eyre?

Part of a remarkable family that produced three acclaimed female writers at a time in 19^th-century Britain when few women wrote, and fewer were published, Brontë has become a great source of inspiration to writers, especially women, ever since. Now in Reader, I Married Him, twenty of today's most celebrated women authors have spun original stories, using the famous line from Jane Eyre as a springboard for their own flights of imagination.

Unique, inventive, and poignant, the stories in Reader, I Married Him pay homage to the literary genius of Charlotte Brontë, and demonstrate once again that her extraordinary vision continues to inspire readers and writers.

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Book Review - Abigail Meisel

More than a homage to Charlotte Brontë, [these] stories provide fascinating takes on the inexhaustible subject of love.

JULY 2016 - AudioFile

The first line of the last chapter of JANE EYRE is one of the most famous lines of Western literature. In honor of this famous line and this beloved book, author Tracy Chevalier has asked a number of fabulous female authors to write short stories inspired by Charlotte Brontë's seminal novel. Narrator Laura Kirman is given the daunting task of making each story distinct and just as full of emotion as the one before it, and she performs admirably. A bit of music between the stories would make differentiating between them easier, but Kirman's talent means that every story is given its due, thus honoring not only the stories but their source as well. J.L.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2016-01-20
The author of Remarkable Creatures (2010) and Burning Bright (2008) invites writers to turn one of the most famous lines in English literature into short fiction. As Chevalier notes in her introduction, it's the declarative, fiercely self-determined tone of Jane Eyre's words that captures the imagination. And, by addressing us directly, Jane makes us her confidants, witnesses, and accomplices. There's no question that Charlotte Brontë has inspired generations of writers—especially women. Here, Jane's bold statement serves as a prompt for a distinguished group of authors. Some of these stories address Jane Eyre directly. "Grace Poole Her Testimony," by Helen Dunmore, is a chilling condemnation of both Jane and Rochester, full of heart-stopping lines. In "Reader, She Married Me," Salley Vickers offers Rochester's point of view, while Francine Prose turns Rochester into a Bluebeard. Audrey Niffenegger brings Jane and her dear friend Helen into the future to create a dystopian romance. And Kirsty Gunn's "Dangerous Dogs" is a sly exploration of Brontë's masterpiece, methods, and biography narrated by a fledgling writer. In many entries, though, the connection to Brontë's work is more oblique, with Jane's words largely severed from their original context. Emma Donoghue uses the life and letters of Mary Benson, wife to an Archbishop of Canterbury, to craft a sad and tender story of love between women. Lionel Shriver's tale of a new widow's war on her neighbor's tree is an unalloyed delight. As for the contribution from the always wondrous Jane Gardam, best to let the reader experience it without preamble. A clever idea well-executed; a treat for fans of short fiction and for Brontë's many ardent fans.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173725141
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/24/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

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