Charlotte Brontë's first published novel, Jane Eyre was immediately recognised as a work of genius when it appeared in 1847. Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity.

How she takes up the post of governess at Thornfield Hall, meets and loves Mr Rochester and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage are elements in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than that traditionally accorded to her sex in Victorian society.

The collection draws inspiration from the original Cranford series, which was published by Macmillan and Co. between 1876 and 1907. This earlier series is renowned for its decorative gilt designs and high-quality bindings, and for vintage book collectors it is a cherished part of literary history. The RBA collection revives this legacy by reinterpreting classic Victorian works with a modern touch.