Following several rejections from various publishers for The Professor, Charlotte Brontë concentrated her attention on Jane Eyre, finishing her 'fair copy' on March 16th and delivering the manuscript to Smith, Elder & Co. on 19th August 1847. She made it clear to the publisher that she would not revise again; 'I know I should only further injure what may be already defective. Perhaps too the first part of "Jane Eyre" may suit the public taste better than you anticipate - for it is true and Truth has a severe charm of its own. Had I told all [underlined - author's emphasis] the truth, I might indeed have made it far more exquisitely painful...' (Smith I: 539/40). However, it was published to immediate critical and commercial favour.

8vo (190 x 130 mm); engraved frontispiece of the author from the portrait by George Richmond, 5 further illustrations by E.M. Wimperis, including ones of Lowood and Thornfield Hall, internally fine; modern full crimson morocco, gilt panelled, gilt devices to spine panels, marbled endpapers and all edges gil, fine; 512 pp.