The Professor

1857, 1989 Penguin Classic edition
Charlotte Brontë
The Professor
Probably bought new for $4.95
Worn paperback
B

Although this novel was written in 1846, it was rejected by publishers nine times, despite the success of Jane Eyre.  I'm going with the posthumous publication date, because Brontë's widower and father edited out some of the "coarser" passages.  The story has similarities to Villette, although Brussels is undisguised here, and it's a male narrator this time.  I like The Professor better than Villette, although as always Brontë can't write an appealing romance to save her life.  The introduction by Heather Glen suggests that this is deliberate-- to go along with the themes of violence and conflict that run throughout the book-- but if Brontë actually meant the romances to be unappealing (something I considered and then rejected about the Twilight series), it makes me more annoyed with her.  Also, Brontë's prejudices against "foreigners" (French, Belgian, Catholic, etc.) are on full display here.

So why read this novel?  Well, I do like her recurring motif of the teacher overcoming obstacles and starting a school.  The narrator, messed up individual though he is, remains my second favorite of Brontë's after Jane Eyre.  He's dry and sarcastic, and yes, it is nice to see what Brontë does with a male main character.  Also, I liked the setting of Villette, so it's cool to get the real names of places here.  And finally, there is no character who makes me impatient to be done with the book as M. Paul did.