The Mary Sue Exclusive: Thandie Newton Reads Audible’s Jane Eyre

In honor of Charlotte Brontë’s 200th birthday this week, Audible is releasing a new audiobook of Jane Eyre performed by Thandie Newton. Netwon says of the novel’s enduring popularity, “the reason we’re so struck by [Jane Eyre] is how Charlotte Brontë manages to relate, expertly, what it means to be a human being…and that never changes.”

The unabridged audiobook is over 19 hours long. Via Audible, here’s a description of what to expect:

Following Jane from her childhood as an orphan in Northern England through her experience as a governess at Thornfield Hall, Charlotte Brontë’s Gothic classic is an early exploration of women’s independence in the mid-19th century and the pervasive societal challenges women had to endure. At Thornfield, Jane meets the complex and mysterious Mr. Rochester, with whom she shares a complicated relationship that ultimately forces her to reconcile the conflicting passions of romantic love and religious piety. Performing the early Victorian novel with great care and respect, actress Thandie Newton (Crash, The Pursuit of Happyness) draws out Jane Eyre’s intimacy and depth while conveying how truly progressive Brontë was in an era of extreme restraint.

You can listen to the exclusive excerpt above, or head over to Audible for the entire book.

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