I am no bird; and no net ensnares me. I am a free human being with an independent will.’

The quote featured on this tea towel comes from the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. At 16, Brontë was told to give up her dreams of being a writer because ‘literature cannot be the business of a woman’s life: and it ought not to be.’ She replied, ‘I trust I shall never more feel ambitious to see my name in print.’ 

And she didn’t falter. Despite having her first novel rejected by every publisher in England, Brontë finally published Jane Eyre in 1847 under the pen name, Currer Bell. Although Jane Eyre is not a feminist novel as we would understand it, the central character has many feminist traits. She has the courage to defy the rules of the patriarchal society she inhabits. Her major aim in life is not to get married, but to preserve her identity and her freedom.

Half Panama unbleached organic cotton (heavy weight, textured finish). Stitched on all four sides. Includes hanging loop. Measures approximately 48cm x 70cm. Machine wash at 40 degrees centigrade max. We recommend that before you use your tea towel for the first time you wash it at least once to soften up the material and make it more absorbent for drying dishes.