The Professor - a worthwhile read (The Professor - Charlotte Bronte)

Member Name: lula71

Product:	The Professor - Charlotte Bronte
Date:	19/02/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A short, easy read offering a critique of nineteenth-century society

Disadvantages: Without any significant major events - may leave some readers unsatisfied

'The Professor' was the first novel completed by Charlotte Bronte yet remained unpublished until 1857, two years after her death. Commonly criticized as an immature trial-run for her later novel 'Villette' and deemed a failed attempt to write under the guise of a male narrator, 'The Professor' is however not without its charm. Like 'Villette', based upon the author's personal experiences as a language student in Brussels, the novel narrates the story of an orphan seeking a future in Brussels and thus acquiring a teaching post. However, unlike in 'Villette', the author enlists a male protagonist and it is in this choice that critics argue lies the major flaw of the novel. However, while there certainly exist sections in which the female author struggles to portray events from a male perspective, the narrative as a whole retains a certain integrity and plausibility. Furthermore, it is worth considering when reading this text that the author was at the time writing under a male pseudonym, adding further complexity to the web of gender perspectives.

'The Professor' is a short novel, and while arguably there are few major events in the narrative, it is nonetheless an enjoyable read. It offers a critique of social and gender norms of the period and is particularly useful for anyone with an interest in nineteenth-century English literature. It offers a comparatively easy read compared with 'Villette', predominantly due to its length and is well worth considering in conjuction with the author's later novels.

The majority of classics such as this can be read online or downloaded for free. However, the more expensive versions such as the Penguin editions offer invaluable introductions with contextual and critical analysis, and thus are highly useful for a student of Literature.

Summary: A refreshingly concise read for anyone interested in the nineteenth century