I had read Villette before but bought this edition to add to my clothbound classics. One of the things I like about buying cloth bounds is that I re-read a classic like revisiting a fond memory. In the case is Villette I had forgotten what a well written, compelling story it is, more realistic than Jane Eyre. Though, like Jane, the character of Lucy Snowe is the draw into the novel and it is her story that is the core narrative of the book. Lucy's trials as a teacher and as a stranger in a foreign land draw heavily on Charlotte Bronte's own experiences in Brussels. The experience's of Lucy are written from an unflinching, realistic point of view, less gothic symbolism and less romance. There are points of real sadness and no promises of happy endings. Well worth a read.

I personally loved this book. It is very well written. It is a bit darker and sadder than ‘Jane Eyre’. Lucy Snowe is such an amazing character that you just love her. Definitely recommend!!

Haven't read this book yet but it goes well with my other clothbound collection that's growing and I will definitely be reading it

I really enjoyed this! I was slightly intimidated going in but found it such a pleasant read and you can definitely tell why it has stayed part of the literary canon all this time. One of my favourite things in reading this was the narration - technically told in a first-person narrative from the perspective of Lucy Snowe, this is easy to forget. Her name itself is rarely spoken throughout the book, and she is so involved in telling the stories of those around her that the use of the first person almost comes across as shocking in reminding the reader of Lucy's existence. I also really enjoyed the cyclical nature of the storytelling. The first time this really became clear with the alignment of Graham and Dr John being one and the same (which truly took me by surprise!) you start to see the foreshadowing and expect this to happen again with other characters from Lucy's earlier life and it makes for a beautiful story of inevitabilities and everlasting frienships. Definitely a firm favourite of mine of the classics now!

I've been collecting the Penguin English Library Edition books for a few years because I think the Coraline Bickford-Smith covers are beautiful. I recently ordered 4 more books for my collection (Villette, A Tale of Two Cities, Mansfield Park and Wuthering Heights) and unfortunately I was disappointed to discover that there has been a change in the quality of the printing for these books. They now have a matt and uncoated cover, which compared to its predecessor looks cheaper and flimsy and the colours look washed out. It's a real shame as the point of collecting something is that they all look the same... please keep printing them in their original covers...