Melville House Books

“In a brave move, the Royal Mail has chosen to mark the 150th anniversary of Charlotte Brontë‘s death by selecting an unorthodox image of [Jane Eyre's] eponymous heroine for a special commemorative stamp issue” due out tomorrow. A Guardian report by Vanessa Thorpe says the series of six first-class stamps will bear a “startling portrayal of the governess looking middle-aged and almost mannish.” Images were taken from a collection of lithographs based on the novel by artist Paula Rego, who says, “I would never have imagined my work would be on a stamp, never in a million years.” The stamps, says The Guardian’s Thorpe, “will feature Jane and the object of her affection, Mr Rochester, at key moments in the story and attempt to lay bare the passion and repression of the book.” The had of the Brontë Society says, “The paintings are slightly strange, but are unsettling in a way that will promote a lot of new interest in Charlotte’s writing.”

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.