Jane Eyre. An Autobiography.

London, Smith, Elder & Co., 1892. . New edition; small 8vo (18 x 12 cm); dated ownership inscription in pen to front free endpaper recto, binder's stamp to front free endpaper verso; half red pebble-grain morocco by Mudie, marbled boards, spine lettered in gilt in 6 compartments, marbled edges, minor wear to extremities, internally clean, very good; vii, [1], 467, [1]pp.
A handsome example of Charlotte Brontë's iconic gothic novel, Jane Eyre, in contemporary half morocco by Mudie.

After several rejections from various publishers for The Professor, Brontë concentrated her attention on Jane Eyre, finishing her 'fair copy' on March 16th and delivering the manuscript to Smith, Elder & Co. on 19th August 1847. She made it clear to the publisher that she would not revise again: 'I know I should only further injure what may be already defective. Perhaps too the first part of "Jane Eyre" may suit the public taste better than you anticipate - for it is true and Truth has a severe charm of its own. Had I told all [underlined - author's emphasis] the truth, I might indeed have made it far more exquisitely painful...' (Margaret Smith, The Letters of Charlotte Brönte, vol. I, pp539-40). Nevertheless, the novel was received enthusiastically by their reader William Smith Williams and by the head of the firm, George Smith, and it was printed on the 19th October.