Jane Eyre vs Wide Sargasso Sea: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Romance & Relationships, Romance, Fiction
Jane Eyre
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The novel is set somewhere in the north of England. Jane's childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she is emotionally and physically abused by her aunt and cousins; her education at Lowood School, where she acquires friends…
Wide Sargasso Sea
“THEY say when trouble comes close ranks, and so the white people did.”
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Jean Rhys's reputation was made upon publication of this passionate and heartbreaking novel, in which she brings into the light one of citsion's most mysterious characters: the madwoman in the attic from Charlotte…
Side by side
The verdict
- Readers rate Jane Eyre highest: Jane Eyre 4.2 · Wide Sargasso Sea 3.5.
- Wide Sargasso Sea is the quickest read — about 3 hours vs 8 for Jane Eyre.
- Jane Eyre has the widest readership — 2404942 ratings behind its score.
How to choose
Scores by source
| Jane Eyre | Wide Sargasso Sea | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 4.2 (2404942) | — |
| Hardcover | — | 3.4 (181) |
| Google Books | 4.5 (152) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (3488) | — |
Reception
| Jane Eyre | Wide Sargasso Sea | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 2404942 | 181 |
| Editions | 1170 | 48 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 1742045 | — |
| Reading it now | 99285 | — |
| Written reviews | 87752 | — |
| Wikipedia attention | 58205 | 13385 |
| Pages | 468 | 189 |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Jane Eyre or Wide Sargasso Sea?
Jane Eyre has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Jane Eyre 4.2/5, Wide Sargasso Sea 3.5/5).
Which is shorter to read: Jane Eyre or Wide Sargasso Sea?
Wide Sargasso Sea is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Wide Sargasso Sea (189 pages, ≈ 3 h 30 m); Jane Eyre (468 pages, ≈ 8 h 40 m).
Which is harder to read: Jane Eyre or Wide Sargasso Sea?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Jane Eyre: Challenging; Wide Sargasso Sea: Moderate.
Have both books been made into films?
Jane Eyre: 5 film adaptations; Wide Sargasso Sea: 2 film adaptations.