Stamps commemorate Bronte death

Jane Eyre was written amid the dramatic scenery of the moors

Artistic impressions of scenes from classic British novel Jane Eyre have been immortalised on a set of stamps.

The six stamps are being released by the Royal Mail to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of author Charlotte Bronte.

They feature lithographs by Portuguese artist Paulo Rego depicting storylines from the 1847 gothic novel.

A Royal Mail survey to mark the launch found that literature classics still enjoy huge popularity.

About one third of 2,100 respondents had read a Charlotte Bronte book in the past year.

Most considered Jane Eyre to be her "masterpiece", the Royal Mail said.

Classic novel

The company's survey found that English Literature classics continued to prove popular amongst British people.

René Weis, Professor of English at University College London, said: "I feel that as long as people read at all - even the Da Vinci Code - it is a good thing.

"The truth about the classics is that they tend to be surrounded by a certain aura of past and classroom, alas."

The stamps would help remind people of the "timeless appeal of classic novels like Jane Eyre, Ms Weis added.

Charlotte Bronte developed her writing career in Haworth, West Yorkshire, amid the dramatic landscape of the surrounding moors.

Her novel Jane Eyre, the story of a poor governess who eventually marries her master, is commonly thought of as one of the greatest classic literary works.