Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-21

same Den of q more striking and eX-
citing character. 4 have a second mar
rative IN three volumes now in prog
ress, and nearly completed, to which
| have CndeaVOred TO impart a more VI
Nid interest than belongs to The Pro
fessor.'' Mcssrs. Smith s, Elder would
not publish The Professor in the
authors lifetime. She jestingly alludes
to their having rejected il three times,
but they desired TO see the manuscript
of the other novel, which was despatch
ed to them on August oath. 1t was ac-
cepted, printed, and published by
October 18th. The manuscript was
read by Mr.. w. S. Williams, the liter
airy adviser: Mr. James Taylor, who
held . position in the firm, and after
wards became the rejected sutton OF
Charlotte Eronte; and Mr.. George
Smith. All three We're enthusiastic IT.
their admiration
1t is difficult to readers of today to
realize the extent of the controversy
aroused by the publication of Jane
Eyre" The name and the sex of the
writer were a mystery, and as in the
case of George Eliot few years later,
critics were divided in their opinions
woman. The second edition, bearing
the dedication to Thackeray. appeared
in January, 1913. Strangely enough,
Miss Bronte was lot aware that Thack-
eray's wife, like the wife of Rochester
in Jane Eyre" was of unsound mind.
She says herself: 1T appears that his
private position is in some respects
similar to that I have ascribed to Mr.
Rochester. that there arose a report
that Jane Eyre had been written by a
governess in his family, and that the
dedication coming now has confirmed
everybody in the surmise." Thackerag
senSibly took no offence, and wrote q
very kind letter to Miss Bronte, who
says that she could not half express
my regret to him in my answer, for |
was restrained by the consciousness
| that regret WAS just worth nothing at
all, quite valueless for healing the mis-
chief | have done One of the first
critics to recognize the merit of Jane
| Eyre was George Henry Lewes,
whose review appeared in F'raser's
Magazine for December, 1S4S. Sensa-
| tionally antagonistic criticisms APP
peared in the Quarterly Review and in
the North British Review, the writer
in the latter saying vehemently that
IF Jane Eyre be the production of q
| woman, she must be a woman I'M
| seXod."
| After reciting the circumstances I'M
| der which Jane Eyre" was written and
explaining to what extent it is
autobiogra phcal, Dr. Nicoll concludes:
"A detailed criticism of Jane Eyre
would be superfluous, and a general
estimate Of the authors genius must
be postponed to the completion of this
| edition. The weak point of the book
is no doubt the plot, but the passion,
| the free and elemental movement, the
originality of the story have given it
an enduring vitality. Nor would it be
easy to praise the style too warmly,
though, as Mrs. Meynell has pointed
| out. the clumsiness of occasional pass
| ages is surprising. Very few can COM
pare with Charlotte Bronte in the art
of expression, but she owns no master.
| She is one great example of the truth
| that style is not the result of reading,
but of thinking. AS Mr.. Morley has
said, 1t is not the assduous cultiva-
| ton of style as such, but the cultiva-
ton Of the intellect and feeling which
| produces good writing. Style comes of
| broOding over ideas, not over words
| Not that she neglected words. She con-
| stantly studied their effect-chose and
| rejected them after much considera-
ton. But her main business was to
string them as on an electric chain"