Some years ago a sassy Osaka lady asked me to introduce her to the pleasures of Western literature. I duly handed her a variety of classic books, including "The Turn of the Screw," "Heart of Darkness," "Lolita" and "A Study in Scarlet." They were all methodically if unenthusiastically read, but when I presented her with a copy of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," she devoured the book, raved about it, rereading it again and again.