Charlotte Bront's JANE EYRE is a timeless tale of one young woman's journey to find her place in society. Orphaned early and mistreated by a cold relative, she finds employment as a governess. She accepts the proposal of her infatuated employer, only to discover his tragic secret before the ceremony. The turns in her life that follow, and the novel's memorable conclusion, have assured JANE EYRE's posterity. Jane's journey somewhat mirrors the author's own early experience. The novel's original subtitle was, in fact, "An Autobiography." Charlotte Bront (1816-1855) was the eldest and longest surviving of the "Bront sisters." Her younger sisters, Emily and Anne, lived shorter lives than even she. Born into humble circumstances, Bront drew heavily on the experiences and observations those circumstances provided. First published under the pseudonym Currer Bell, JANE EYRE brought her the fame and literary regard her sisters never achieved during their lifetimes. Charlotte Bront died during a difficult pregnancy in at the age of thirty-eight.