This volume, based on the 1848 third edition of Bronte’s classic novel, reprints the text of Jane Eyre accompanied by documents and illustrations that place the work in its historical context. It then features specially chosen essays that read Jane Eyre from several contemporary critical perspectives. The text, documents, and essays are complemented by biographical and critical introductions, bibliographies, and a glossary of critical and theoretical terms.

In this second edition, the section of cultural documents and illustrations is entirely new, as are recent exemplary critical essays that represent and synthesize several current critical approaches.