The central differences between this novel and Bronte's other works are the point of view and the fact that Shirley treats real historical events instead of being confined to intimate personal life.

Some readers believe that Bronte was unsuccessful in blending the external historical plot with the several internal, subjective story lines. Others believe that she has accomplished this difficult task as well as most historical novels do (it is likely that Bronte chose such a general topic because of her reading of the historical romances of Sir Walter Scott).

The first person point of view, which so well unites Jane Eyre and Villette (see separate entries) would not serve for this book; however, the third person omniscient point of view tends to aggravate the problem of structural unity of the text. Shirley herself does not enter the story until well after page 100; also, the lively action of...