One of the most famous novels of all time, Jane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte and published in 1847. It has subsequently given rise to numerous adaptations and dramatisations, including several films and TV mini-series.
The story is that of a governess, Jane Eyre, who, despite her plainness, captures the heart of her enigmatic employer, Edward Rochester, only to discover that he is already married. The early sequences, in which the orphaned Jane is sent to a harsh boarding school and witnesses the death of a close friend, are based on the author's own experiences - two of her sisters died in childhood as a result of the conditions at their school.
The chilling scenes featuring Rochester's first wife have inspired many mystery writers, one of the most obvious spin-offs being Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca, and a "prequel", Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), which was the most successful novel by Jean Rhys.