China adds ‘Jane Eyre’ to mandatory school reading lists

China has included Charlotte Brontë’s 19th-century novel ‘Jane Eyre’ on the mandatory reading list for 14-year-old students. State-run media, including Beijing Daily, suggests the classic serves as a counterbalance to modern social media trends that promote superficial notions regarding wealth and appearance.

The move follows a campaign by Chinese broadcasting regulators to crack down on ‘harmful and lowbrow’ digital content, such as online novels and micro-dramas that feature outlandish plots involving billionaires and revenge. Authorities aim to use the story of Jane Eyre to help students develop ‘sounder values’ and a ‘healthy character’ as they begin to experience romantic feelings.

‘Jane Eyre’ has maintained a long-standing popularity in China since its introduction in 1925, having undergone numerous translations and adaptations into various media formats over the decades.