I decided to read this one since it's about the Napoleonic Wars and I need to know more about it for Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell that I plan on reading at some point (it's supposedly going to be a show!)

Obviously, this is much more political than a typical Jane Austen novel, if it has anything to do with Napoleon. (I'm resigned to not reading any more Austen novels because of the marriage & money plots.) I just adore the Bronte sister's novels though. The writing is so unique, eloquent, poetic... absolutely every sentence is lovely. I'm just hooked from the first page (maybe not as much as when little Jane is reading her book behind a curtain in 'Jane Eyre', but still hooked.) Shirley doesn't actually appear until about 1/3 of the book is through and remains a bit of a mystery but Caroline Helstone shares the spotlight as the main character. Maybe the book isn't named for her though, maybe as she remains love stricken for a man who only cares for his cloth business, which isn't doing so well now that trade has been cut-off with other countries because of the war. Though Shirley is a mystery, she often describes herself as strong as any man, being an esquire of her own estate and more headstrong in her ways than Caroline. (If this were Jane Austen's 'Sense & Sensibility', Caroline would be like Elinor, while Shirley would be a slightly more mature Marianne.) To be honest, the book does start out more politically than it finishes, the ending more concerned with marriages, but the book is so much more anyway.

If 'Shirley' is considered Charlotte's least important novel, then I will love ALL of her books. The plot of 'Shirley' might be more ambling, meandering, less focused than 'Jane Eyre' but the writing is so intelligent, gorgeous, and so insightful to psychology from a woman who was so very isolated. Not to say that the plot or the characters are not well done or interesting, but I think you couldn't improve upon the plot and characters of 'Jane Eyre' and you certainly can't get any better than the writing. The plot and characters are certainly secondary to the writing. Any other writer with these characters would make them cardboard cutouts. But maybe it's simply because 'Shirley' is focused on four main characters while 'Jane Eyre' is only focused on Jane and Rochester. Though this doesn't compare to the perfection that is 'Jane Eyre', 'Shirley' is one of the best books I've read this year. Though this is book isn't short, I was never tired with it... if only the Bronte sisters could have lived longer to write more! ( )