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Whose work would you rather read - Jane Austen or the Brontë sisters, if asked to choose between the two ? Both are England's most famous female novelists of the victorian era who popularized romantic fiction and their books are popular classics. I love both authors but I think Jane Austen is a bit more "reserved" somehow - although she is clever and witty. The Brontes are more passionate in their writing, I believe. Jane Eyre is my all time favorite . What is your opinion?

Jane Austen at times comes across as too "proper" and shallow. Her world is limited to social interactions and balls which can get superficial at times. The Bronte sisters have definitely been more successful at capturing raw human emotions and desires, they aren't afraid to lay open the souls of their characters to be judged by the whims of readers. Jane Eyre is a personal favorite of mine and the love the protagonist feels for her Mr.Rochester is something that is simply beyond the emotional spectrum of Elizabeth Bennet.

Thats a hard choice. But I think I would have to say Jane Austen because I adore her wit and scathing remarks masked as manners. I laugh more when reading Austen, not necessaily out of ha ha funny, but her clever intellect shines through her books. I like the Bronte's as well. However, I percieve them as more emotionally driven than intellectually driven. This may be my own personal bias towards lack of love for romance novels. I find the Bronte's don't employ wit as often and have a tendency to attempt pulling at heartstrings rather than thought provocation.
I vote Austen.

Krissy,

What a great question. I have never thought about this before. I love both of the writers so much, but I think I have to go with the Bronte sisters. Austen for sure is more reserved. Her writing is beautiful and has so many good ideas involved. Those ideas were revolutionary for her era. Still, I love the way the Bronte sisters write, especially Charlotte. To me, writings seems even more of an art form when reading their books.

Thanks for posting that question. It made me think of something new!

Amanda

I love Jane Austen and I have read more of her books than the Bronte sisters. Wuthering Heights was hard for me to read because of the poor language of one of the characters. So I would say I definitely prefer Jane Austen.

I've only just begun to dip my toes into Romantic British Literature. But, I've read "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen and "Wuthering Heights" by Bronte. Of the two, I prefer "Wuthering Heights".

I found Austen's writing style to be excruciatingly slow and reserved. I enjoyed the plot and I especially loved some of the characters (especially Darcy!) and its plot. But while I was reading it, I felt as if the story could have been condensed into half of its pages without ruining the quality of the novel. It took several long and dull passages to get to the interesting bits.

So far, I've really enjoyed "Wuthering Heights". I like Bronte's decision to have two narrators and two polar but interrelated families. Because I am given a family tree at the beginning of the novel, reading the novel often feels like putting together a puzzle--why did she marry him instead of him? So far, It's definitely been more entertaining than "Pride and Prejudice".

This is a tough decision, but I slightly prefer Austen's works. I enjoy the "lighter" feel of her stories, and because Austen focused so heavily on the social conventions of her day, I also feel as though her books offer a more accurate depiction of how everyday life was during that era.

I read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Though I enjoyed the former, I didn't like the latter much. Whereas, I liked all of the Jane Austen books that I read. So, I prefer Austen.

probably Jane Austen

Jane Austen for sure. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorite book.

Personally I would choose Jane Austin because for me the Brontë Sister are to dark; I have never been totally sold on Gothic Fiction so the worlds they created never grabbed me. An argument for the Brontë sisters could be that the cover themes that lighter books cannot, while this view has merit, I believe that any genre can convey deep themes and often lighter books are better at communicating the themes without the audience feeling threatened. After all, books are supposed to be enjoyable as well as critically engaging. I very much enjoy the world Austin creates and find myself intellectually challenged by the layers which she has woven into such supposedly simple narratives.

P.S. It must also be said that asking a fan of both authors to choose between them is poorly thought out because their genres are different so it is hard to compare them.

Easily Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorites. I haven't read much by the Bronte sisters, but Wuthering Heights was really difficult for me to get through.

So enjoyed reading everybodys posts! Such an interesting topic. I would have to agree with some of the sentiments written above. Austen is a favorite, of course, she is light and happy and humurous and utterly enjoyable. Brontes are delectably dark and demure and overly real at times. So, as with all else in life I would choose according to mood and feeling. Tastes cannot always be the same can they? Ice cream and a laugh with loved ones? -Happy Austen. Whiskey and a cry over a crap day? -Bitterly Bronte

Jane Austen for sure. She is my favorite by far!

Austen for sure.