Shirley

Shirley, published in 1849, is Charlotte Bronte's social novel set during the Luddite uprisings of industrial Yorkshire. Two women — the quiet Caroline Helstone and the bold, independent Shirley Keeldar — refuse to accept the limited roles society has assigned them. Against a backdrop of mill workers' riots and economic hardship, Bronte explores friendship, love, class, and the constraints placed on women. Shirley is thought to be partially based on Emily Bronte. The novel is both a romance and a powerful commentary on early Victorian society. Stream this classic free, with no account or subscription required.