plinytheyounger:

we ALL need escapism in our literature, a sense of having other, different problems in our lives, and i feel like the comments of william abbe, harvard law student and whaling crewman, on the delights of charlotte bronte are a great example of this:

Found “Jane Eyre” among the books in the round house.  Delighted to see it — Mary H. Blacker on cover…. Mate again “came out” in white duck, which becomes him.  I have now an immense amount of sewing to do, but cant muster energy enough to begin the labor, but must begin before long.  “Old Woman” has lined & braided a new straw hat for me.  All hands got new hack knives from Old Man the other day.  The thieves will soon make them scarce again.  You cant lay anything down for a moment, but you are sure to loose it, so dexterous & watchful are the light fingered gentry of the forecastle.  Commenced Jane Eyre — very pleasant to meet here on this old illiterate barke any traces of home refinement & taste. 

and:

I am full of excitement about “Jane Eyre.”  What a book for a woman — no, a mere girl — to write!  What originality, piquancy, energy, imagination & language!  I read it & forgot whaling.  The crassness of the forecastle, the low thoughted vulgarity of the crew, the insolent condescension of the officers, & my stagnant, un-mental life.  I does me good, its fervor quickens & its sentiment elevates me.  Its authoress died while the snow was on the ground — her death wintry as her life.

at the end of his 1859 diary he lists books read including “Jane Eyre (twice)”