“Jane Eyre: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting” by Karen Swallow Prior is an absolute must for every student and reader of Charlotte Brontë’s revolutionary Victorian literary fiction about an orphan girl who becomes the governess for a brooding man’s ward only to discover a haunting secret that may ruin all of their lives.

As a former undergraduate and graduate student who took loads of English literature classes, I certainly wish that Ms. Prior’s fabulously researched works were known to me back in the day because these helpful primers explain difficult concepts easily and logically.

With specific references to Charlotte Brontë’s groundbreaking novel, “Jane Eyre,” Ms. Prior notes that this book was first published under an androgynous pseudonym by Currer Brontë, and as an autobiography, since Victorian novels tended to be known as lurid fiction. Consequently, we learn that Charlotte angrily denied being the actual ‘Jane’ character from the book for the remainder of her lifetime.

Prior also notes that a major innovation of Charlotte Brontë with “Jane Eyre” is her thematic approach towards a first-person narrative and the importance of self-actualization—a very 20th C. Modern approach that was decades ahead of her time. By using the orphan motif, Brontë allowed her character development to seek a self determined life-path and discover what she wanted, desired and believed that she deserved —especially love!

This is the second book of critical analyses and interpretations of classical literature by Karen Swallow Prior that I’ve read. I must admit that I am astounded by the scope, logic and thoroughness of research Prior presents in each of the classical texts that she writes. (FYI: The first that I read of hers on Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein. Prior makes that truly complex novel so much more accessible.) Again, it’s worth repeating, with each book that I read by Ms. Prior, the more impressed and fascinated I become.

TheBookMaven graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Karen Swallow Prior, and Publisher B&H Publishing Group (B&H Books, Holman Bibles, B&H Español, and B&H Kids) B&H Books for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

This book os good for going deeper in the novel, but it robs you of the opportunity of thinking for yourself or doing the research. It is useful for a book club, the book is like a book club for one.

I have no idea how many times I have read Jane Eyre over the years. I practically have it memorized. But as an educator, I was interested to see how Ms. Prior would analyze and annotate the story. I was not disappointed. She provides a thorough background of the author, historical context, cultural context, and significant occurrences in the book. it is not typically annotated. Rather, the annotations are not intrusive, except in the cases where something very archaic is mentioned that reader likely would not understand. Ms. Prior offers analysis every few chapters which helps the reader analyze the story in context, rather than episodically. I teach literature, and this will be added to my curriculum. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A great new introduction for a well known novel. Interesting questions for conversation and the introduction goes in depth but does not spoil the story for those who are reading this for the first time. Of course I love this novel and have since high school. This has some wonderful additions.

The first time I read Jane Eyre was to satisfy my curiosity. What about the book made it so popular?

This time, with the help of B&H Publishing's new edition, I reexamined the work through a Christian lens. I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of its major themes and a greater appreciation for what Bronte accomplished in writing it. Jane Eyre: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting by Charlotte Bronte and Karen Swallow Prior met and exceeded all expectations.

In this brief review, I will limit my remarks to Prior's contributions. I wish to address anyone who, like myself, already owns a copy of Jane Eyre and wants to know if they should purchase another copy. In short- yes, and here's why:

I gleaned much from Prior's introduction to Bronte, the time in which she lived and wrote, how the novel was received then and now, and its benefit to Christian readers today. Throughout, footnotes explain archaic words, alert the reader to biblical allusions, and denote literary references made within the novel. The reflection questions at the end of each section (especially the third) were treasure troves of information. In them, Prior points out different literary devices, themes, and the use of allegory, all while encouraging the reader to reexamine the text.

This handsome cloth over board edition comes complete with a ribbon bookmark. Perfect for when you need a refill or run out of snacks. The warm, cream colored paper is thick and the font is easy on the eyes. Yet by far it's the copious footnotes and pages of reflection questions which make it a good edition for students, thoughtful readers, and book clubs.

Contents -
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NOTE TO THE READER⁣
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INTRODUCTION⁣
Introduction to the Author (pp. 3-10)⁣
Background of the Work (pp. 10-18)⁣
Themes of the Work (pp. 19-22)⁣
Reading Jane Eyre as a Christian Today (pp. 23-26)⁣
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VOLUME 1 (pp. 27-262)⁣
23 Reflection Questions ⁣
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VOLUME 2 (pp. 267-528)⁣
34 Reflection Questions⁣
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VOLUME 3 (pp. 535-736)⁣
24 Reflection Questions⁣
23 Questions for Further Reflection⁣

I also recommend Prior's book On Reading Well (Brazos Press, 2018). It is what inspired me to revisit the classics.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Whether reading Jane Eyre for the first time or enjoying a cozy re-read , this lovely edition is memorable and will remain a favorite many years. Includes notes to the reader, footnotes to aid in understanding of word usage and terminology, and author introduction for those unfamiliar with the Brontes. Themes from a Christian viewpoint are explored quite excellently by the author of this guide, prompting me to put the full classic back on my TBR list for this year. It would be lovely to re-read the tale of Jane Eyre. My only wish would be for a copy of this book I could hold in my hands and savor.

Wonderful introduction and reflection on the Victorian novel for modern day christians. The author does a wonderful job introducing the novel in the biographical events which influenced Brontë to write Jane Eyre. The themes of the novel were well discussed. Looking forward to picking up a finished copy.

This was a really interesting and informative introduction to Jane Eyre. I was planning to reread Jane Eyre soon so reading this was perfect timing.
I liked that the introduction included background on Charlotte Brontë, background on the novel, and background on the themes in the novel. I also liked the section talking about reading it as a Christian.
It provides great insight for before you begin the book. It also includes discussion questions at the back of the book which is really nice.
The footnotes were also helpful as they give definitions of words I didn’t know or understand before.
I plan to read over these notes and discussion questions more thoroughly as I reread my paperback version of Jane Eyre.
This is a great edition of the book with some helpful insight on how this classic became what it is!

*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

This edition definitely made Jane Eyre feel more accessible to the everyday reader who wants to jump into more classics. The extensive introduction, reflection questions, and the many footnotes, brought so much more clarity and depth to the story! I would absolutely recommend this edition and would read other editions from Prior.

As with Frankenstein, I really enjoy Prior's gift at making books accessible through her style of annotation. I enjoy every time I sit with Prior's work.

Through a thoughtful introduction and a series of questions intended for reflection and discussion, Karen Swallow Prior gives modern Christian readers some context for approaching Jane Eyre. As well as the introduction, this edition contains the full text of Jane Eyre, in a beautiful clothbound cover, and insightful footnotes that help readers decode some of Bronte's older language.

I had the chance to try this series out with a small book group recently: we read and discussed Prior's guide for Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and Prior’s introduction and questions gave our conversation a foundation and direction. While the whole group arrived having read the book but not sure we’d understood it at all, by the time we left we’d hit some deep points of reflection and reached some understanding of the story and the author’s main themes.

This is a great series so far. I hope there are more guides to come!

The introduction does a great job of helping you see the environment in which Charlotte Bronte wrote her works, and how that shaped this book. A great resource for students.

I am fan of Karen Swallow Prior books, i really enjoy them, especially the serie of classical literatures of reading and reflecting. This is the first time i read Jane Eyre, I knew the movie very well. I am so happy to had the opportunity to read this title with a Gospel perspective. I love the background that Karen Swallow offers you about Charlotte Brontë, and the insights about the characters and the book itself. It will definitely help you to understand deeply this great story. I like the questions at the end of each volume very much. Its clever. Love it!!!

I love reading new intros, so I was excited to see this on NetGallet! Prior does an excellent job introducing students to the texts, highlighting important themes and explaining relevant background info. And there are so many great study questions! It is from a Christian press, however, and assume readers will be also, so they're not for everyone.

Have you ever read a story that, on the surface, you wouldn’t guess you would connect with, but you find yourself absorbing it at such a deep level that it becomes part of you?
Well, I finished reading Jane Eyre about 30 minutes ago and I’m fairly confident that’s what’s happening. But once again (just as in Heart of Darkness and Sense & Sensibility), I’m sure that I wouldn’t have enjoyed Jane Eyre or been affected by it to such an extent without the help of Karen Swallow Prior’s reader’s guide.
For the uninitiated, Karen Swallow Prior is a Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She began writing a series of reader’s guides to accompany classic works of literature and has now published four of those books with B&H Publishing. These guides include an introduction to the work of literature, footnotes throughout the original text, and reflection questions after each volume in addition to the reflection questions at the end of the book. It all adds up to a format that works wonderfully in guiding the reader just as a literature professor would in a college course.
For this particular work, I will have to review Jane Eyre and the reader’s guide in the same space because my enjoyment of them is so intertwined. Let’s get cookin’.

I had never really considered Jane Eyre before I heard that it would be one of Dr. Prior’s releases in this series. It had never been recommended to me in the slightest (probably because I’m a man and, for some reason, men don’t do a great job of reading books by women or about women). Also, to be honest, I was more excited about Frankenstein (review to come very soon) than Jane Eyre.
Reader, I was wrong. Jane Eyre is my favorite of the four books in this series so far and one of my favorite classics ever.
Why?
First, Dr. Prior notes in her introduction that “(the) story of Jane is the story of a Christian seeking to be faithful within a nominally Christian society (similar to our own), which fails to affirm the basic human dignity of one who is poor and unconnected”. I took this note with me throughout, and Jane interacts with so many different types of Christians both nominal and devout that it is impossible to miss the connections to today’s society.
The themes of the work also intertwine so beautifully within the scope of Jane’s Christian walk that it speaks not just to the issues of her times (which of course have close reflections in ours) but specifically to Christians navigating those same issues. This is where Dr. Prior’s focus on writing to Christians reading Jane Eyre is particularly valuable. It might even make Dr. Prior’s reader’s guide the most faithful one in eliciting the themes of the work. Those themes, as she lays out in the introduction, are the creation of the self, equality, and justice. Are there any more relevant issues that faithful Christians wrestle with in 2021 than those?
Furthermore, the characters in the novel are simply top-notch, and it took me a long time to notice it. Dr. Prior explains the concept of the Byronic hero in the introduction (Tony Stark and Mr. Darcy are my go-to comparisons here), which applies to Edward Rochester as well, but at the same time his character is so much more than that. I hated him for much of the book, but Dr. Prior’s reflection questions, especially those at the end, helped me see things that I couldn’t see before. Her analysis of St. John Rivers was also beyond what I noticed myself. Helen Burns is one of the purest and most beautiful characters I have seen. But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Jane as one of the greatest characters with which I am familiar in the history of the novel. Her complexity, strength, and dynamism are on full display throughout, and she acquires a tremendous amount of agency for a woman who is given none by her society.
One more: Charlotte Brontë’s writing is just fantastic. I was taking sentences out of context and posting them on social media, which was a fun pastime, but beyond the thrill I received from marveling at her words, she is simply a wonderful storyteller. The moment that stuck with me the most is how she gender-flipped the classic Romantic trope where two lovers meet because (usually) the man saves the woman from a bad fall. (Reading Prior’s Sense & Sensibility recently made this all the more obvious.) In Jane Eyre, Jane helps Mr. Rochester after he falls off a horse, and Mr. Rochester accuses her of bewitching the beast (classic man move there). It is moments, themes, and characters such as these that elevate Brontë’s novel to much more than a woman’s story, but a story that entertains and delights inquisitive minds no matter their age or gender.
It is Dr. Prior’s footnotes and reflection questions, however, that invaluably guide the reader into the depths of such themes and unpack the characters.
Spoiler Warning: Beyond this point there lie spoilers. So if you have not read Jane Eyre before, please stop here and buy Dr. Prior’s edition on Amazon.
There is one rather large plot development that I would like to analyze in detail, which will unravel many spoilers throughout the book. Through this, I hope the reader will see (I can’t stop writing like Jane) the complexity of this one large issue and the extent to which Dr. Prior’s reflection questions are essential to the reading.
The biggest reveal of Jane Eyre has to be that Mr. Rochester is married and has been hiding his wife, Bertha, within the walls of Thornfield Hall because she is “insane”. This answers several key mysteries up to that point in the novel, but the necessity of locking a woman up in secret is simply not commented upon in the novel. Besides the issue of Bertha’s Creole heritage (which Dr. Prior mentions), I had serious issues with the portrayal here and what it meant for Mr. Rochester’s character. So much about Jane is progressive both for the time and even for today that it is difficult to square the horrific treatment of someone with a mental illness. Psychological research (from David Rosenhan’s problematic 1973 study “On Being Sane in Insane Places” through today) strongly suggests that psychiatric facilities may increase the severity of mental illness. How much more so if that human being is kept in near-total isolation in a place that is not a psychiatric facility at all?
It is important to remember that such treatment was common at the time, but it is baffling to wrestle with such an issue in the space of a novel. Dr. Prior is immensely helpful in this. She writes:
Brontë’s Romanticism and the values of her time make these behaviors (she’s writing about more than just this one issue) more acceptable in the world of the novel than they should be. Good analysis of these characters will take into account for the standards of the time and its blind spots as well as measure their behavior against universal, unchanging truths of right and wrong. What insights does such analysis yield?
The answer: It’s something that requires more thought on my part. But isn’t that the point of reading at all? You meld someone else’s world, someone else’s ideas, with that of yours. You take into account the biases of each of your perspectives, and you compare those to unchanging truths. That is what Jane Eyre did for me, and that is what I hope it does to everyone who reads it.
Oh, and in case you’ve missed it, I highly recommend you read Dr. Prior’s edition.
I received a review copy of Jane Eyre courtesy of Karen Swallow Prior and B&H Publishing, but my opinions are my own.

If you’ve ever read a classic and thought to yourself, “I wish I had read this in college and been able to discuss it with others,” or “I know this is important but I’m not sure why,” the Guide to Reading and Reflecting series from B&H Publishing and Karen Swallow Prior might be for you.
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Each volume, which has a beautiful cloth cover, contains the full text of a classic, an introduction from Karen Swallow Prior, and questions designed for reflection and understanding major themes in the novel.
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I first read Jane Eyre many years ago and remember it being on example of required reading that I actually enjoyed. So while I wasn’t surprised by how much I loved the story, I was impressed by how enriched this reread was because of the things Prior brings to the reader’s attention.
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Other books in this series include Sense and Sensibility, Heart of Darkness, and more. Knowing these guides are available definitely make reading the classics less intimidating.
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My sincere thanks to @netgalley and @bhpub for the advanced review copy. Jane Eyre releases March 9!

Dr. Karen Swallow Prior was a professor of mine at Liberty University. I have followed her writing for two decades now, and I was delighted at the opportunity to read this e-ARC of her edition of Jane Eyre. Her introduction was everything that I hoped it would be. I have sat in Dr. Prior's classes, and reading her introduction felt like the literary home I experienced in her classroom. The introduction provides a thoughtful literary background for the text, and her analysis of the book from a Christian perspective is incredibly helpful for a believer navigating the text, particularly one who might not be schooled in studying literature from the lens of a biblical worldview. I will most certainly be utilizing this text for my own college classrooms.

This version of Jane Eyre with footnotes, questions, and an extensive introduction by Karen Swallow Prior is a great edition for any Bronte fan or someone knew to Charlotte's work.

I appreciated two parts of this edition more than anything else. First, I loved the questions at the end of each section. Some of the questions I struggle to answer, and I have read Jane Eyre several times. The second were the footnotes. At times, I wished there were more of them as I find they enhance the reader's understanding of the book. As a bonus, I loved the included introductions of the editions. Surprisingly, I have never read them, and I found them quite fascinating.

For me, the weak point was the introduction. A lot of it was super repetitive for me, but I have read A LOT on the Bronte's.

This book is amazing for anyone who is new or already loves Jane Eyre. I will be adding a copy to my Bront shelves. (Yes, I have three shelves dedicated to just the Bronte's!)

I received an eARC from B&H Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

I'm a huge fan of the Bronte sisters work. I love how this edition has a backstory on the authors life, review questions, and word definitions. Every Bronte fan needs to have a copy of this book in their collection. Perfect for any Bronte fan or literature student.

I received a free advance digital review copy from B&H Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The timing of this release was perfect for me, as I had just re-read Jane Eyre and read the modern retelling The Wife Upstairs. When I requested the review copy of Jane Eyre: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting, I did not realize that one of the author's aims is to spur reflection on Jane Eyre through the lens of Christianity. Though I was not especially interested in that particular perspective, I did not find it to overpower the book, and I still learned a lot and found the book to be a useful guide to better understanding the various literary elements in Jane Eyre.

Karen Swallow Prior provides fascinating background information about Charlotte Bronte's life as well as Jane Eyre's development, publication, and initial reception. Prior also situates Jane Eyre in the Gothic/Romantic literary movement and explores the major themes in the book as a coming of age novel. The text of Jane Eyre itself is then divided into three sections (interestingly, how the original book was published), after each of which Prior offers questions to spur further reflection. All of these elements enhanced my reading and enjoyment of Charlotte Bronte's classic.