At the time, literary society in England was a very small world. For a complete unknown to publish a successful novel was relatively unusual. For three unknowns to manage it in a single year was unheard of. Naturally, everyone was curious about them, though normally the curiosity would have died down as soon as a new subject for gossip came along. But an aura of mystery surrounding the identity of the Brontes kept them a …showed first 75 words of 27039 total…

…showed last 75 words of 27039 total…Jane, in destroying the dark passion of her own psyche, has become truly her "own mistress." -Elaine Showalter, A Literature of Their Own And finally, in defense of Bronte's "unrestrained" style: On the first page of Jane Eyre the first issue raised is in fact the issue of style. The wrong style, in girlhood and in language, is the reason why Jane is kept by Mrs. Reed from joining the other children around the fire.