Jane Eyre:

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.

First UK edition thus; tall 8vo (230 x 145 mm); 16 colour lithographs, text in Monotype Baskerville, Introduction by John T. Winterich, a few minor, light spots on occasion, offsetting to endpapers from binding, otherwise near-fine; modern full red morocco, double-lined gilt-panelled border to back, spine in 6 compartments lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, very light signs of wear to extremities, some fading to spine, otherwise a very handsome copy; [xx], 429pp, [3]pp.