- Hardcover: 528 pages
- Publisher: Wildside Press (1 Feb 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0809598957
- ISBN-13: 978-0809598953
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 892,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Of late years an abundant shower of curates has fallen upon the north of England: they lie very thick on the hills; every parish has one or more of them; they are young enough to be very active, and ought to be doing a great deal of good. But not of late years are we about to speak; we are going back to the beginning of this century: late years -- present years are dusty, sunburned, hot, arid; we will evade the noon, forget it in siesta, pass the midday in slumber, and dream of dawn. If you think, from this prelude, that anything like a romance is preparing for you, reader, you never were more mistaken. Do you anticipate sentiment, and poetry, and reverie? Do you expect passion, and stimulus, and melodrama? Calm your expectations; reduce them to a lowly standard. Something real, cool and solid lies before you; something unromantic as Monday morning, when all who have work wake with the consciousness that they must rise and betake themselves thereto. It is not positively affirmed that you shall not have a taste of the exciting. . . .
About the Author
Charlotte Bronte (1816-55) is perhaps the most admired of the Bronte sisters. Jane Eyre is her greatest and most loved novel.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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OF late years, an abundant shower of curates has fallen upon the north of England: they lie very thick on the hills; every parish has one or more of them; they are young enough to be very active, and ought to be doing a great deal of good. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
OF late years, an abundant shower of curates has fallen upon the north of England: they lie very thick on the hills; every parish has one or more of them; they are young enough to be very active, and ought to be doing a great deal of good. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
'Shirley' did not grab my attention from the outset as it is densely written; each sentence must be carefully read, not skimmed over. As you can read from the synopsis on the cover, the novel is set in a fragile social and economic situation, but the novel concerns so much more than Luddite riots. Charlotte Bronte takes us into the hearts and minds of the characters as they are challenged by their surroundings, their church and each other. In the starkest terms it concerns loneliness and companionship, love and enmity. It is testament to her writing that months after reading it, I still feel as if I know the central characters almost better than they know themselves. To me, the world we are drawn into in 'Shirley' seems more real than that of 'Jane Eyre'. It is a wonderful book and I do not know why it is so neglected in comparison. It may take a while to get to grips with, but the result is worth the wait.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a very uneven book, and doesn’t have the power to take you on a journey from cover to cover like 'Jane Eyre' and 'Villette'. The beginning of the story, which is involved with local and religious politics, is quite hard going, and I found the male characters quite difficult to imagine, even though they’re all described at great length. The character of Caroline Helstone is engaging and sympathetic, but she seems to fall out of focus towards the end. Shirley herself is certainly lively, but not very likable. There are some beautiful descriptive scenes now and again, particularly in the snowy chapter called ‘The Schoolboy and the Wood Nymph’. Altogether I didn’t find this novel very satisfying as a story, but Bronte's narrative voice is like a witty friend throughout.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this book is set in the early nineteenth century at the time of the luddite riots and the napoleonic wars. even though this was before charlotte brontes time it is clearly very well researched to the extent that it reminded me very much of the time that i was on strike a couple of years ago. the book doesn't though just look at the relations between the desperate, starving luddites and the ruthless industrialist robert moore. throw in to that two women who cannot see fault with him and you have a potent love story as well as a social novel. it also examines the role of the church in village society in the nineteenth century and how that affected the social dynamics of a village at the time. this is charlotte bronte at her wonderful evocative best, a fantastic read
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Theatre romance
The title of this novel is not exactly right. It might otherwise be entitled, 'Caroline', or even 'Shirley Sticks Her Oar In" but then, you would miss the conceit that 'Shirley' is... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Book Addict
Not her best book, but still a fine novel
This book is set in west Yorkshire during the Luddite disturbances of 1811-12. The four central characters are Caroline Helstone, Shirley Keeldar, Robert Moore and his brother... Read more
Published 5 months ago by James
A very enjoyable read.
Charlotte Bronte's rich language and poetic style made this story very easy for me to visualise. It's definitely for those who have a passion for the English language and learning... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jasmine Christina Bird
Shirley (aka Shazza from Bridget Jones...?)
As one of the other reviewers suggests, this isn't an easy read, there really is so much packed into each sentence, and it's a pretty hefty tome too! Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2009 by Muppet
A Worthy read
This is probably my least favourite of all the Bronte novels. Charlotte set this one at the time of the Luddite riots and the machine breaking, with the political issues allowed... Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2007 by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
A work of maturity which perhaps lacks Jane Eyre's drama
A reader from Inverness, Scotland. "Shirley" is perhaps Charlotte Brontė's least known work; nevertheless, it is a work of maturity and razor-sharp perception. Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2001
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