Lilia Hassaine Gives Voice to Bertha Mason in 'Je'

French writer Lilia Hassaine has published a new novel titled 'Je' (Éd. Gallimard) that reimagines the story of Bertha Mason, the mysterious character from Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre'. In the original novel, Bertha is locked away by Edward Rochester and presented as 'the madwoman'. Hassaine's work gives Bertha a voice, narrating her own story from Jamaica to England, exploring her progressive dispossession of identity, name, and freedom. The novel also examines the mechanisms of psychological control and the role of society in enabling violence through silence and prejudice. Hassaine's choice to make Bertha the narrator raises questions about how we perceive women who are victims of control and abuse. The book was published on September 3, 2026, and was featured on France 24's program 'À l'Affiche'.