Imperialism, Reform, and the Making of Englishness in Jane Eyre

This new study demonstrates the precision of Brontë's historical setting of Jane Eyre . Thomas addresses the historical worlding of Brontë and her characters, mapping relations of genre and gender across the novel's articulation of questions of imperial history and relations, reform, racialization and the making of Englishness. In a famous passage from Charlotte Bront'͡s novel, Jane Eyre identifies herself with 1millions2 in 1ferment2, 1in silent revolt against their lot2. Elsewhere, she compares herself to a missionary preaching liberty to the enslaved, helping them secure their freedom. Her imagination is shaped by historical events, and yet Bront ͡is usually thought to be careless about dates and historical markers in Jane Eyre. In this groundbreaking study, Sue Thomas convincingly dates the action and setting of the novel, and analyses the worldly consciousness of Bront'͡s characters and of Bront ͡herself. She addresses the articulation of questions of imperial history and relations, reform, racialization and the making of Englishness in the novel. Her examination of an 1848 stage adaptation of Jane Eyre for a predominantly working-class audience and of an 1859 Caribbean reworking of the novel illuminate the limits of Bront'͡s social imaginary--Résumé de l'éditeur "In a famous passage from Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre identifies herself with 'millions' in 'ferment', 'in silent revolt against their lot'. Elsewhere, she compares herself to a missionary preaching liberty to the enslaved, helping them secure their freedom. Her imagination is shaped by historical events, and yet Bronte is usually thought to be careless about dates and historical markers in Jane Eyre. In this groundbreaking study, Sue Thomas convincingly dates the action and setting of the novel, and analyses the worldly consciousness of Bronte's characters and of Bronte herself. She addresses the articulation of questions of imperial history and relations, reform, racialization, and the making of Englishness in the novel. Her examination of an 1848 stage adaptation of Jane Eyre for a predominantly working-class audience and of an 1859 Caribbean reworking of the novel illuminate the limits of Bronte's social imaginary."--Jacket This new study demonstrates the precision of Bronte's historical setting of Jane Eyre . Thomas addresses the historical worlding of Bronte and her characters, mapping relations of genre and gender across the novel's articulation of questions of imperial history and relations, reform, racialization and the making of Englishness. Christianity and the state of slavery The tropical extravagance of Bertha Mason Monstrous martyrdom and the "overshadowing tree" of philanthropy The ferment of restlessness Playing Jane Eyre at the Victoria theatre in 1848 An 1859 Caribbean reworking of Jane Eyre.