Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" was published in October, 1847, and within three months, a version was on stage in London. By 1900, at least eight different stage versions had appeared. This work contains all eight plays, illustrated by Victorian playbills, contemporary etchings of theatres, and portraits of playwrights and actors.
'This excellent volume makes available a group of fascinating and hitherto unexplored texts and presents them according to the highest standards of scholarship. It will be an invaluable resource for theatre scholars, Brontë specialists, and those interested in the afterlife of canonical works of literature'. Heather Glen, University of Cambridge, UK '...a carefully researched book...Everything is presented [...] with the highest standards of scholarship...a fascinating account of the history of the 'popular' theatre of the late nineteenth century (especially in London) in general and of how Jane Eyre was perceived and assimilated by Victorian society in particular...studiously researched and interesting.' BrontëBlog '... Patsy Stoneman has produced a useful and illuminating study... If for no other reason, this book would be welcome simply as an accessible version of plays that exist only in manuscript in the British Library [...] or in fairly rare acting editions... These richly rewarding texts have been edited well by Stoneman, with some thoughtful notes on Victorian melodrama in general and specific theatres in particular.' Times Literary Supplement 'Stoneman is one of the few academics to have written on the subject of adaptations of the Brontë's novels, and her latest work is, as usual, meticulously researched, as well as thought provoking in its analyses... It provides a fascinating read, even for those who are not serious scholars of the subject, and, for those who are, it will be a very welcome addition to the field.' Brontë Studies 'This important volume is an indispensable resource for scholars interested in Jane Eyre, Victorian melodrama, theatrical adaptation, or nineteenth-century popular culture.' Nineteenth Century Studies
