The Professor

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What to expect

Unpublished at the time of her death, The Professor is the first novel written by Charlotte Brontë, and the seed of her later books, Jane Eyre and Villette. The narrator of the tale, William Crimsworth, tells a story of courage and ambition among jealousy and envy: orphaned from a young age, William rejects life in the clergy, and then as a tradesman, to the chagrin of his cruel uncles and elder brother. Instead he pursues a career in education and ends up in Brussels, where he meets student/teacher Francis Evans Henri, a half-English Swiss orphan, with whom he falls in love. However, their union is prevented by the jealousy of headmistress Mademoiselle Reuter, who has accidentally fallen in love with William herself…

Critics Review

Roger May’s narration of one of Charlotte Brontë’s lesser-known novels embodies the voice of her sensitive protagonist, William Crimsworth. Although he’s a hardworking young man, Crimsworth finds himself unhappy being a clerk in his brother’s service. To escape, he journeys from England to Brussels to be a teacher. May portrays Crimsworth with a gentleness and kindness that echo his sincerity. He smoothly navigates between French and English as he delivers scenes of dialogue, and his vocal characterisations are convincing. Crimsworth’s older brother, who has a Northern British accent, sounds abrupt and commanding, while Frances Evans Henri, who has a soft French accent, sounds slight and earnest. May’s attention to the protagonist’s delivery of his own story renders a delightful listening experience.

D.M.W., AudioFile

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