Jane Steele

by Lyndsay Faye

Overview

The reimagining of Jane Eyre as a gutsy, heroic serial killer that The New York Times Book Review calls “wonderfully entertaining” and USA Today describes as “sheer mayhem meets Victorian propriety”—nominated for the 2017 Edgar Award for Best Novel.

“Reader, I murdered him.”

A sensitive orphan, Jane Steele suffers first at the hands of her spiteful aunt and predatory cousin, then at a grim school where she fights for her very life until escaping to London, leaving the corpses of her tormentors behind her. After years of hiding from the law while penning macabre “last confessions” of the recently hanged, Jane thrills at discovering an advertisement. Her aunt has died and her childhood home has a new master: Mr. Charles Thornfield, who seeks a governess.

Burning to know whether she is in fact the rightful heir, Jane takes the position incognito and learns that Highgate House is full of marvelously strange new residents—the fascinating but caustic Mr. Thornfield, an army doctor returned from the Sikh Wars, and the gracious Sikh butler Mr. Sardar Singh, whose history with Mr. Thornfield appears far deeper and darker than they pretend. As Jane catches ominous glimpses of the pair’s violent history and falls in love with the gruffly tragic Mr. Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: Can she possess him—body, soul, and secrets—without revealing her own murderous past?
 
“A thrill ride of a novel. A must read for lovers of Jane Eyre, dark humor, and mystery.”—PopSugar.com

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780425283202
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/14/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	411,399
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.50(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Lyndsay Faye is the author of five critically acclaimed books: Dust and Shadow; The Gods of Gotham, which was nominated for an Edgar for Best Novel; Seven for a Secret; The Fatal Flame; and Jane Steele. Faye, a true New Yorker in the sense she was born elsewhere, lives in New York City.

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Excerpted from "Jane Steele"
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Copyright © 2017 Lyndsay Faye.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
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Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Reading Group Guide

JANE STEELE READER’S GUIDE QUESTIONS
 
1. When Jane Steele sets out to write her confession, she says she is doing so because she is reading Jane Eyre, and the work inspires her to “imitative acts.” Has a book ever directly inspired you to create something yourself? If so, was this when you were you a child or an adult?
 
2. From the beginning of the novel, Jane is threatened by men who pose a direct danger to her. If you are female, did you find this peril realistic or unrealistic? If you are male, did you think Jane’s vulnerability rang true, or did it seem like melodrama?
 
3. The sadistic-headmaster trope, here embodied by Vesalius Munt, was very popular in the Victorian era among social justice writers. At the time, children were expected to be silent, obedient, and hardworking. Children are treated very differently today. What do you think a Victorian childhood would have been like? How would it have affected you?
 
4. Jane is convinced from the day she kills her cousin that she is irredeemably evil. Do you agree with her that she “murdered” her cousin? Why or why not? Do you think Jane’s later murders would have occurred if she had never caused Edwin’s death?
 
5. When Jane discovers erotica, she is repulsed by Mr. Munt’s letters, but she greatly enjoys the book published by Clarke’s family in which consensual polyamorous relationships are explored. Do men and women experience the erotic differently? If so, in what ways?
 
6. Jane Steele and Clarke have a passionate friendship, one that eventually puts both their lives on the line. The theme of “best friends” is common in literature, for instance Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, and Aibileen and Minny in The Help. Which friendships in fiction do you most identify with?
 
7. In London, Jane makes her living writing last confessions of the recently hanged. Many people are fascinated by the macabre; are you? Why or why not? Why are darkness and death such popular subjects when they are actually unpleasant topics?
 
8. Jane Steele enters the mysterious Gothic mansion thinking herself the owner, while Jane Eyre arrives as a governess. How does the power dynamic change the sorts of actions each of these characters takes after arriving? What are the biggest contrasts between Jane Steele and the character she loves? What are the greatest similarities?
 
9. Highgate House is full of mysteries—men with a dark past, unexpected and sinister visitors, and a forbidden cellar not unlike the forbidden attic in Jane Eyre. What is it we love about Gothic mansions? Can a house itself have secrets? A major component of the plot is the contested claim to Highgate House. In what ways may the property be considered a character?
 
10. Charles Thornfield and Edward Fairfax Rochester are both Byronic men plagued by their pasts, and yet they react to trauma in very different ways. In Jane Eyre, which lover is the pursuer, and which the pursued? What about in Jane Steele?
 
11. Sardar Singh is disgusted by the tragedy that befell his empire, and at one point he asks Jane which is worse, a rapist or a pimp—meaning the East India Company or the Sikh royalty who betrayed their country. How would you answer his question? In what ways has Sardar turned his back on his culture, and in what ways does he still cherish it?
 
12. There are many types of love in this novel—among others, the romantic love Jane feels for Mr. Thornfield, the unrequited love Clarke feels for Jane, the platonic love the asexual Mr. Singh feels for Mr. Thornfield. What other varieties of love are evident, and how do they drive the characters’ actions? Which are the most compelling to you personally? Do you think making choices that are morally wrong is excusable if it is done for the sake of a loved one? Why or why not?

Interviews

Lyndsay Faye

Writing Jane Steele came rather naturally to me because I adore Jane Eyre so much. Like my protagonist, I've read it a number of times, and have been alternately enthralled and appalled by its contents.

Is the original Jane amazing? Absolutely, and she'd prefer to wander into the woods without a penny to her name than stay with the fellow who lied to her about that little "attic wife" matter. Is Jane frustrating? Yes, because the instant she even listens to St. John talking, let alone entertains the notion of possibly marrying him, my blood pressure rises stratospherically.

Ultimately, this book came about because I thought that Charlotte Bronte wrote one of the bravest novels of all time, and if she had been granted unnatural longevity, she would have written a different book today. I'm allowed to write Jane Steele because of the women who lived before my time and were more courageous than I am. At a certain point, Jane Steele remarks that Jane Eyre inspires her to pen "imitative" acts. That's what I was doing at the end of the day, really—attempting to capture the compassion we feel for people who have lost their path, the anger women experience when feminism is mischaracterized, and the cruelty many humans survive without becoming cowards.

They don't merely survive, though. On the contrary. They grow better and better every day, because they continue to grow.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Jane Steele
Nominated for a Macavity Award—Sue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Novel
Part of NPR’s Guide to 2016’s Great Reads
An Amazon Best Book of 2016 So Far (June, 2016)

“Witty and exquisitely plotted, this is such a delectable treat ‘tis a pity it has to end.”—People

“[Jane Steele’s] crimes are wonderfully entertaining.”—The New York Times Book Review

“An entertaining riff on Jane Eyre...sheer mayhem meets Victorian propriety.”—USA Today

“Jane Eyre gets a dose of Dexter. In a story that's equal parts romance, thriller, and satire, the Brontë heroine is made over into a fighter with a shadowy past.”—Cosmopolitan

“A thrill ride of a novel. A must read for lovers of Jane Eyre, dark humor, and mystery.”—PopSugar.com

“Delectable...Brontë fans and unfamiliar readers alike will be sucked into Jane's rich story, filled with love and secrets a plenty. This book will take you on a dark and unforgettable journey.”—Bustle.com

“This book scratched all my favorite itches: Victoriana, feminist rage, and excellent, gut-punch sentences. You’ll love this Jane just as much as you love the original.”—BookRiot.com

“Faye’s skill at historical mystery was evident in her nineteenth-century New York trilogy, but this slyly satiric stand-alone takes her prowess to new levels. A must for Brontë devotees; wickedly entertaining for all.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Young Jane Steele’s favorite book, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, mirrors her life both too little and too much...In an arresting tale of dark humor and sometimes gory imagination, Faye has produced a heroine worthy of the gothic literature canon but reminiscent of detective fiction.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“I loved this book!  The language rings true, the period details are correct.  Jane Steele is a joy, both plucky and rueful in her assessment of her dark deeds.  The plotting is solid and the pacing sublime.  If this were a series, this would be the perfect introduction.  As a stand-alone, I give it an A+.”—Sue Grafton, #1 New York Times–bestselling author         

“This is a wonderfully wicked book. The deadly first chapter actually made me gasp. Jane Steele is a character you will not soon forget. Great evil fun!”—R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series
 
“Lyndsay Faye pulls off the most elusive feat of historical fiction: to give us a book that reads as though it was unearthed from a perfectly preserved antique chest. Sneakily charming and wildly well written, like Faye's other novels JANE STEELE demands attention.”—Matthew Pearl, New York Times–bestselling author of The Dante Club and The Last Bookaneer
 
“I’ve just read the next best thing…Enhanced by truly original and poetic turns of phrase...throughout its compelling narrative, Jane Steele pleas for a comfortable chair, a crackling fireplace, and an ideal adult beverage to guarantee a thoroughly pleasurable winter evening.”—Otto Penzler, Owner of The Mysterious Bookshop

“Lethal good fun! In Jane, Lyndsay Faye has created a heroine unwilling to suffer tyrants or fools. The result is a darkly-humorous, elegantly-crafted story of an "accidental" vigilante. A delicious read.”—Suzanne Rindell, author of The Other Typist   
 
“Enchanting. Jane Steele is beautifully rendered and utterly captivating, from the first cry of ‘reader, I murdered him’ to its final pages. Lyndsay Faye is a masterful storyteller, and this is her finest tale yet.”—Maria Konnikova, New York Times–bestselling author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes

“The book I never knew I always wanted to read. Gripping, twisty, and fiendishly clever, Jane Steele picks you up by the throat and never lets you go, taking you on an exhilaratingly wild ride. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in ages—the only thing it left me wanting was MORE Jane Steele!”—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times–bestselling author of A Curious Beginning

“From the gasp-inducing moment Jane Steele utters the words "reader, I murdered him", you know you are in for a rollicking romp of an adventure that recasts the Jane Eyre story in an entirely new light. But mixed in with the verve and vivacity is a story of real heart, exemplary, near-forgotten history, and an utterly unforgettable heroine. Brava to Lyndsay Faye for what's already one of my favorite thrillers of the year.”—Sarah Weinman, editor of Women Crime Writers: Eight Suspense Novels of the 1940s & 50s

“Add Jane Steele to that club of unforgettable antihero's—Tom Ripley, Hannibal Lecter, and Dexter Morgan—who do dreadful things to bad people. Bold, inventive, and charmingly wicked, this instantly addictive novel pays homage to Jane Eyre while being wholly original. Lyndsay Faye has created a masterpiece.”—Hilary Davidson, Anthony Award–winning author of Blood Always Tells

“Jane Steele is a bold and imaginative undertaking—wickedly entertaining and exquisitely unique in its execution…With thrills, mystery and romance, the story is striking and imaginative as we see how Brontë’s Jane Eyre gives meaning to Jane’s acts. Dark, satirical humor coupled with sharp dialogue make this a novel that’s refreshingly compelling.”—USA Today (Happily Ever After blog)

“Hand to my heart, this book positively made me swoon...Jane Steele is an homage to Jane Eyre, yet infinitely better, since Jane Steele is no one’s victim; she bends life to her will instead of drifting along according to fate’s whimsy…Jane is a thrilling protagonist...I wish that I could read this again for the first time—but I’ve no doubt it will be just as good when I read it for the third and fourth times.”—Crimespree Magazine

“For anyone who read Jane Eyre wishing for swifter, more final fates for the cruelest characters, Jane Steele is here to grant your wishes...a fresh and imaginative takeoff on Jane Eyre, and will leave readers with plenty of fodder for discussion.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
 
“Faye hasn't embarked on a retelling of Brontë's masterwork, or anyone else's, for that matter. Her novel pays homage to the greats, yet offers a heroine whose murky past and murderous present remind us that some female behavior in other eras never made it into print…The satisfaction in this novel is its conviction that the self is enriched by an understanding of others, whether their motives are villainous or amicable.”—NPR
 
“A beautifully written, thoroughly engaging and brilliantly satirical novel...Jane Steele is an extraordinary, likeable narrator, and Faye’s other characters are just as memorable. The sharp and tragic Mr. Thornfield gives Brontë’s Mr. Rochester a run for his money. This book, whether you’re trying to puzzle out the mysteries or just lapping up Faye’s brilliant humor, is an excellent homage to Brontë and simply a treasure on its own.”—New York Daily News

“A smart satirical gothic romance that plays as much to Charlotte Brontë's fans as Edgar Allan Poe's...Flushed with humour and humors, this novel is a hoot. I laughed not only at Jane's audacity as a character...but also the author's accomplishments skillfully mashing up a modern serial killer novel with a 19th-century novel of manners.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
“Lyndsay Faye give us all the pomp and circumstance of an old English novel, but her murderous twists turn the genre on its head in way that’s sarcastic and satisfying.”—Southern Living

From the Publisher

02/15/2016
Set in Victorian England, this intriguing tribute to Jane Eyre from Edgar-finalist Faye (The Gods of Gotham), reimagines Charlotte Brontë’s heroine as a killer. “Of all my many murders, committed for love and for better reasons, the first was the most important,” the eponymous narrator notes in the captivating opening. That killing was in self-defense, Jane explains after admitting she has ambivalent feelings about Jane Eyre, which she has read over and over again. At age nine, Jane fights off the advances of her creepy 13-year-old cousin, Edwin Barbary, who winds up at the bottom of a ravine with a broken spine. She succeeds in selling Edwin’s subsequent death as an accident, but her aunt ships her off to a Dickensian boarding school, run by a sadistic headmaster who puts his charges through a daily reckoning that ends with most of them going without food. The arresting narrative voice is coupled with a plot that Wilkie Collins fans will relish. Author tour. Agent: Erin Malone, William Morris Endeavor. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 01/01/2016
Young Jane Steele's favorite book, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, mirrors her life both too little and too much. Faye's protagonist is abused by her cousin, shunned by her aunt, and then is sent to a boarding school where she finds companionship amid tyrannical oppression. She even meets and falls in love with her own "Mr. Rochester," Mr. Charles Thornfield of Highgate House. Unlike Jane Eyre, however, Jane Steele reacts to her persecutors with violence and leaves bloody bodies in her wake. She harbors other secrets as well—Highgate House is Jane's childhood home, and she starts her employ as governess with the secret intention of proving that she is the rightful heir. Mr. Thornfield and the house's other inhabitants have secrets and dark pasts as well, but if Jane confesses her wickedness and deceit to Mr. Thornfield, will he be able to forgive her? And can Jane use her "talents" to save the Highgate inhabitants from outside conspirators? VERDICT In an arresting tale of dark humor and sometimes gory imagination, Faye (Dust and Shadow; The Gods of Gotham) has produced a heroine worthy of the gothic literature canon but reminiscent of detective fiction. Her novel will draw in readers of gothic and historical crime fiction, and nonfiction such as Kate Summerscale's The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher. Fans of Victorian detectives like Sherlock Holmes and C. Auguste Dupin will also find Jane a worthy sleuth. [See Prepub Alert, 10/5/15.]—Jennifer Funk, McKendree Univ. Lib., Lebanon, IL

Library Journal

Lyndsay Faye's reworking of JANE EYRE is exceedingly well crafted, with impeccable narration to match from Susie Riddell. Faye's main character, Jane Steele, is aware of the Brontë novel and conscious about the ways in which her story follows Jane’s. These details make for some interesting musings on her situation and remind the listener of the connection in a way that feels natural. Riddell's narration is a wonderful match for Jane's prickly but empathetic personality. Riddell expertly conveys Jane's fears and ambitions, while also breathing life and individuality into a host of other characters with whom Jane interacts. Lovers of JANE EYRE or any of Faye's other works will be captivated by this engaging listen. J.L.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2016 - AudioFile

Lyndsay Faye's reworking of JANE EYRE is exceedingly well crafted, with impeccable narration to match from Susie Riddell. Faye's main character, Jane Steele, is aware of the Brontë novel and conscious about the ways in which her story follows Jane’s. These details make for some interesting musings on her situation and remind the listener of the connection in a way that feels natural. Riddell's narration is a wonderful match for Jane's prickly but empathetic personality. Riddell expertly conveys Jane's fears and ambitions, while also breathing life and individuality into a host of other characters with whom Jane interacts. Lovers of JANE EYRE or any of Faye's other works will be captivated by this engaging listen. J.L.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2016 - AudioFile

2016-01-21
Jane Steele seeks retribution and redemption in Faye's latest novel, an homage to Jane Eyre. By the time she's 24 and an undercover governess at her ancestral home, Jane is well acquainted with death. Having been orphaned and sent away to the hellish Lowan Bridge School by her cruel Aunt Patience, Jane has committed a few murders "for love and for better reasons." But when news reaches her that her aunt has died, Jane is determined to find out whether or not she is the rightful heir to her late father's estate. Her tenuous claim to the property is threatened threefold: female inheritance is practically nonexistent in 19th-century England, she's a criminal, and a certain Charles Thornfield is now the owner of Highgate House. Jane takes the governess position hoping to reclaim the estate but finds instead that Thornfield and his Sikh butler, Sardar Singh, are embroiled in the aftermath of the Anglo-Sikh wars, fighting off the infinite greed of the East India Company. Faye (Fatal Flame, 2015, etc.) crafts a story with all the trappings of a period romance: children play both heroes and villains; Thornfield is an attractive, war-weathered, and jaded shadow of a man, close but not quite close enough to touch. But what makes this novel its own type of pièce de résistance is Jane's relationship with Jane Eyre. Jane is writing down her story because she has "been reading over and over again the most riveting book titled Jane Eyre, and the work inspires [her] to imitative acts." Each chapter begins with a short excerpt from Charlotte Brontë's work, and Jane's interpretation of the classic novel lifts her story out of standard romance and into conversations about identity, guilt, and truth. Jane writes, "Some tragedies bind us, as lies do; they are ropes braided of hurt and bitterness, and you cannot ever fully understand how pinioned you are until the ties are loosened." And loosened they are, then knotted even further, and unlaced only to be retied in new circumstances. A novel that explores great torment and small mercies.

Kirkus Reviews