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StoryPDFShirleyCharlotte Bronte

Shirley

Charlotte Bronte

Complete text
NovelEnglish

In a manufacturing district troubled by economic uncertainty, Caroline Helstone's restricted prospects intersect with the world of the mill owner Robert Moore. The arrival of the independent heiress Shirley Keeldar changes the household and social relationships through which work, money and marriage are negotiated.

37 sections215,786 wordsAbout 16 h 21 min
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About Shirley

The narrative gives different kinds of dependence space beside one another: workers need employment, women need outlets for ability, and households need income and standing. Conversations often reveal how little freedom accompanies apparently comfortable positions. Caroline and Shirley offer contrasting ways of responding to the boundaries their community regards as natural.

Reading focus

Compare Caroline's and Shirley's opportunities, especially where money changes the freedom to speak and act.

This reading edition contains 215,786 words in 37 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.

Author: Charlotte Bronte. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.

Opening excerpt

Of late years an abundant shower of curates has fallen upon the north of England: they lie very thick on the hills; every parish has one or more of them; they are young enough to be very active, and ought to be doing a great deal of good. But not of late years are we about to speak; we are going back to the beginning of this century: late years—present years are dusty, sunburnt, hot, arid; we will evade the noon, forget it in siesta, pass the midday in slumber, and dream of dawn.

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Contents

All sections
  1. CHAPTER I. LEVITICAL.23 min
  2. CHAPTER II. THE WAGONS.28 min
  3. CHAPTER III. MR. YORKE.15 min
  4. CHAPTER IV. MR. YORKE ( continued ).20 min
  5. CHAPTER V. HOLLOW'S COTTAGE.28 min
  6. CHAPTER VI. CORIOLANUS.34 min
  7. CHAPTER VII. THE CURATES AT TEA.46 min
  8. CHAPTER VIII. NOAH AND MOSES.28 min
  9. CHAPTER IX. BRIARMAINS.38 min
  10. CHAPTER X. OLD MAIDS.32 min
  11. CHAPTER XI. FIELDHEAD.29 min
  12. CHAPTER XII. SHIRLEY AND CAROLINE.35 min
  13. CHAPTER XIII. FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS ON BUSINESS.45 min
  14. CHAPTER XIV. SHIRLEY SEEKS TO BE SAVED BY WORKS.25 min
  15. CHAPTER XV. MR. DONNE'S EXODUS.24 min
  16. CHAPTER XVI. WHITSUNTIDE.20 min
  17. CHAPTER XVII. THE SCHOOL FEAST.27 min
  18. CHAPTER XVIII. WHICH THE GENTEEL READER IS RECOMMENDED TO SKIP, LOW PERSONS BEING HERE INTRODUCED.20 min
  19. CHAPTER XIX. A SUMMER NIGHT.27 min
  20. CHAPTER XX. TO-MORROW.22 min
  21. CHAPTER XXI. MRS. PRYOR.30 min
  22. CHAPTER XXII. TWO LIVES.18 min
  23. CHAPTER XXIII. AN EVENING OUT.34 min
  24. CHAPTER XXIV. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.33 min
  25. CHAPTER XXV. THE WEST WIND BLOWS.13 min
  26. CHAPTER XXVI. OLD COPY-BOOKS.30 min
  27. CHAPTER XXVII. THE FIRST BLUESTOCKING.38 min
  28. CHAPTER XXVIII. PHŒBE.35 min
  29. CHAPTER XXIX. LOUIS MOORE.15 min
  30. CHAPTER XXX. RUSHEDGE—A CONFESSIONAL.26 min
  31. CHAPTER XXXI. UNCLE AND NIECE.26 min
  32. CHAPTER XXXII. THE SCHOOLBOY AND THE WOOD-NYMPH.20 min
  33. CHAPTER XXXIII. MARTIN'S TACTICS.18 min
  34. CHAPTER XXXIV. CASE OF DOMESTIC PERSECUTION—REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF PIOUS PERSEVERANCE IN THE DISCHARGE OF RELIGIOUS DUTIES.13 min
  35. CHAPTER XXXV. WHEREIN MATTERS MAKE SOME PROGRESS, BUT NOT MUCH.21 min
  36. CHAPTER XXXVI. WRITTEN IN THE SCHOOLROOM.38 min
  37. CHAPTER XXXVII. THE WINDING-UP.24 min

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Is this the complete Shirley?

This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 37 sections and 215,786 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.

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