Jane Eyre Sequels?

This isn't really a sequel, it's sort of a "prequel," but check out WIDE SARGOSSO SEA, which I believe was a novel before New Line made it into a movie. It tells the story of poor mad Bertha Mason in her Jamaica days. You might want to check for this on: http://www.amazon.com/ They seem to have everything! I've never heard of a formal sequel being written though. Does anyone out there know if there is one? Thanks.

Only one I know about is Wide Sargasso Sea which is such an extraordinary book. It's by Jean Rhys, who wrote these devastating and darkly funny books in the 20's and 30's (Good Morning, Midnight is my favorite). She was Ford Maddox Ford's girlfriend in Paris in the 20's (at one point living with Ford AND Ford's wife). Then she sort of bobbed around boozily for the next 30 years, publishing the odd story and having occasional scrapes with the law. Wide Sargasso Sea, which came out in the 60's, was her comeback." It's very different from her other books, except that they're also gorgeously written. She was originally from the West Indies herself, and obviously felt an affinity for "the mad woman in the attic." I've never read a book about her, so I may be repeating legends, but that's what I've heard.

Thanks Michael, that's very interesting. What a life! Sounds like a character in a a Hemingway novel. Nice that she was able to make a comeback though. . .

Didn't know if this had come up in the past few months, but there is indeed a sequel to Jane Eyre out and about now. It's called, "Mrs. Rochester," and its only available through British book sellers. Written by a hack named Bailey, I have been told by reliable sources that is torturous to read through. That said, I am still waiting for a complete summary before I decide whether or not to buy it. As I have more details on the plot, I will be sure to post them. Lori

Yeah, most of the sequels to PRIDE & PREJUDICE were dreadful beyond words. Unless these people can write like Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte, they shouldn't have the chutzpah to turn this stuff out. That they do continually amazes me!

Chutzpah! Nice hebrew, where did you learn it? And yes, I agree, Austen sequals are horrid (ayoomin!)

Chutzpah is actually a Yiddish word. I don't know a lot of Yiddish, but that one comes in handy. I'm actually kind of surprised that no one's written a sequel to either JANE EYRE or WUTHERING HEIGHTS, considering the enduring popularity of both works. But maybe this is something to be grateful for. . .

Actually, there is a sequel to Wuthering Heights. I won't read it, b/c Wuthering Heights is sacred to my memory. It's called Heathcliff (I think), and it's about what he did in the 3 years he was away from the Heights. It involves Mr. Lockwood meeting Charlotte Bronte on a train (!), and giving her a letter that Nelly Dean gave to him. Mrs. Dean wants to know if she did the right thing. It's a letter that Heathcliff wrote Cathy when he came back, asking her to run away w/ him, and detailing what he did in the 3 years he was gone. Nelly never gave her the letter. Anyway, you can see what a mess this book probably is from the framing story.

Hi Anne If you (or anyone) is interested in Bronte sequels then there is an ongoing discussion on the Bronte mailing list about this very topic with the names of some sequels Mamie

I'm not interested in sequels particularly, but how do I get on the mailing list? I've tried in the past, and found the directions particularly con- fusing.

Hi Mamie! Thanks for stopping by this board. It's nice to have members of the Bronte list come by.