I first read this book back in university, and it’s been on my list for a reread for a while now. It was such a nice day that I listened to the audiobook while on my morning hike: a good romance for a beautiful day.

Read: Apr. 5, 2025

Genre: Classic, Romance
Audience: General, Adult
Book contains: (sort of) student teacher relationship, manipulation, death of a family member

Purchase a copy from Indigo.ca

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A Romance with Minimal Fanfare

William Crimsworth, after being dismissed from the gruelling work of a clerk for his brother, must find a new situation. He becomes an English professor in Brussels, and while there, meets Frances Henri, the lace-mending teacher who wishes to better her English.

Once you get over the fact that these two met while he was her teacher, the age gap is a lot less than other relationships of the era, so I don’t mind it. It wasn’t the most intriguing romance, but the insight into the common life of a poor man disowned by his family making his way in the world and eventually marrying the woman he loves was delightful enough. I suppose it’s sort of middle-of-the-road for me, not as good as other works but not wholly dull either.

The novel is told in first person from the perspective of William Crimsworth. Both of his parents are dead, and he’s been disowned by his uncles. It begins after he graduates from Eton, and is looking for a position in which to make money—any money at all, as he has been left nearly penniless. The chapters follow him through his life from there and ends with a sort-of epilogue. It’s an open-ended finish.

Since I’ve already read this book and understand the key notes, I was able to easily follow along with the audiobook as I took my morning hike on this beautiful day. Finally, some April sunshine! I was up for a genial romance with very little misunderstanding and minimal conflict. My one complaint, though, was that my audiobook, from the Gutenberg Project, had a reader who couldn’t pronounce the French dialogue whatsoever, and as such I could hardly understand a word of it, though I’m semi-fluent in French.

William Crimsworth isn’t the worst protagonist, but I’ve definitely seen better. He is not a reckless man and is quite tolerating of poor situations so long as he’s getting something out of it. It’s often outside interference that forces changes in his life. On the opposite hand, once she’s out of her shell a bit, Francis Henri is quite a hothead, arguing back to another character on topics which are of great importance to her. Despite this, she’s always genial with William, who delights in her mind far more than her looks, which, like his, are not pretty but neither are they plain.

Since William is so tolerant of mistreatment, his relationships with others aren’t the worst, though when it comes to his pride and to the affairs of the heart, he can become quite incensed. There are a few instances in which he becomes passionate, which are enjoyable to spot when they happen. His relationship with his future wife, Frances, is overall a really good one, as he fell in love with her for her intelligence and witty barbs rather than any looks or money—like with other works by Brontë.

In this book, Brontë’s style of writing is a lot less flowery than other books of the time. It’s still quite furnished, but the plot is fairly flat, no big highs or lows like in Jane Eyre, which I found much more enjoyable of a read. Overall, it was just sort of bland, though the love story was sweet and the descriptions were vivid and beautiful.

The pacing was okay, as the plot kept moving, though there were times as I was listening (and later following along) that I was wondering where the plot was heading and when it would end. I’m not the most patient reader with mild or drawn-out dialogue scenes.

If you’re a fan of sweet love stories, this would be a good book for you. Not for action lovers, but I definitely recommend it for fans of Brontë’s work.

Related Reviews:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Emma by Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens