![]() Oh, and Robert’s brother was Shirley’s tutor, with whom she constantly bickers. But Robert proposes to Shirley (for her money), who rejects him. Caroline is in love with her half-cousin, half-Belgian, Robert Moore, the local mill owner. The two become friends when Shirley moves to Caroline’s Yorkshire town. The two heroines are Caroline Helstone, a quiet girl living with her uncle, and Shirley Keeldar, an independent, free-spirited young woman. Well, Charlotte only set it in the past because she didn’t want to cause controversy by commenting on contemporary issues, and it doesn’t really “feel” like a Regency novel, so that part doesn’t quite count, but you get the point. The novel is quite different from all of her others- it’s told by an omniscient, 3rd person narrator, it’s set during the Napoleonic Wars, it follows two heroines, and it’s part social commentary/part Romance. But…I’m not a huge fan of the book either. I feel bad for her because Branwell, Emily, and Anne all died while she was writing it. Charlotte apparently thought it would be wildly successful like Jane Eyre, but alas, it wasn’t that big of a hit. Shirley, Charlotte Bronte’s second novel, was published in 1849. There was a silent version of this one done in 1922, but it’s not available. But since Jane Eyre is the only one that has adaptations available, I’m saving that one for last. ![]() ![]() Jane Eyre was first, and then this one, Shirley. The Professor, while published last, was written first. I know I’m reviewing Charlotte’s books out of order here but this was a conscious choice. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |