Originally published in 1847 under her pen name, ‘Currer Bell’, Jane Eyre is a surprisingly modern novel and captivating read. Through Jane’s rich first-person narration, Brontë explores themes of love and control, social class, religion, and gender.

While today considered a classic of English literature, Jane Eyre was somewhat scandalous to late Georgian English sensibilities. Its passionate female lead who defies her fate, maintains her own agency, and questions her position in society is very much a modern heroine.

Jane Eyre is celebrated for its feminist ideals and disparaged for its treatment of race. It is criticised for its stance on morality and religion, being at once too radical or too conservative. There is no apathy when it comes to Jane, readers either love or loath the book, which to our mind, makes it an important book worth exploring.

The novel straddles several genres: the Gothic Romance, psychological thriller, and bildungsroman. Jane’s spiritual, psychological, and emotional growth is analogous to the five main settings in which she finds herself: her childhood at Gateshead, her education at Lowood School, her exposure to life at Thornfield Hall, her maturing at Moor House, and her self-actualisation at Ferndean.

Jane Eyre will be published in two states: Numbered, and Lettered; if there is enough interest, there are some plans for a possible Classic state in the future. We are still in the pre-production stage, with pre-orders available mid 2025. The numbered state is limited to 260 copies, and the Lettered state limited to 26 copies.

François Vailaincourt is currently working on 16 original full-colour illustrations. François is renown for his atmospheric illustrations of (mostly) horror and fantasy books. He will bring out the sweeping cinematic landscapes in the novel, as well as the gothic horror elements. His vision is to draw in the reader, make them almost a participant in the story rather than a casual observer. A unique approach compared to other illustrated editions which focus almost entirely on character.

Both states will be letterpress printed on Munken 120gsm paper by Phil Abel of Hand and Eye.

Both states will be hand-bound by Ludlow bookbinders. Designs for both the letered are well underway, with a sample expected mid-2025, with pre-orders to follow.

Lettered

Bradel-bound in vellum, with dark leather boards, with a window cut-out that will be inlaid with a real stone Gothic window. Through the window, the shadowy character of Jane Eyre looks out. Feeling trapped by her circumstances. As much as she has taken control of her destiny, she is still vulnerable to her circumstances and subject to social rules which trap her inside grand homes that she has never really been part of.

The leather will be foil blocked to evoke the brick pattern of Thornfield, with ivy trailing over the front.

Cutom-designed marble end papers designed by Freya Scott of Paperwilds evoke a sense of time and place. And finally, a lace bookmark from a factory from the area and time of Charlotte Brontë completes the book.

The book will be housed inside a solander box, handmade by Ludlow. Extra illustrations that are ephemera to the novel will sit inside a drawer within the box.

Numbered

The numbered state will be fully bound in leather with a gilt illustration of Thornfield that wraps around the entirity of the book.

All orders will ship from the UK.