This new adaptation of Charlotte Brontė's beloved gothic novel stars newcomer Toby Stephens as Mr. Rochester and Ruth Wilson as Jane.

A governess goes to work for a moody employer, captures his heart, then a dark secret intrudes. The love story that launched a thousand gothic imitations comes to Masterpiece Theatre in a two-part adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 classic, "Jane Eyre, " airing Sundays, beginning Jan. 21 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1 and Thursdays, beginning Jan. 25 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET2.

Newcomer Ruth Wilson stars in the title role as the spirited but plain young woman who escapes a sadistic orphanage to find improbable true love.

Toby Stephens ("Cambridge Spies," "The Queen's Sister") is Edward Rochester, the enigmatic master of Thornfield Hall, who hires Jane as governess for his young female ward who could be his daughter.

Tara Fitzgerald ("The Virgin Queen") plays Mrs. Reed, Jane's cruel aunt, and Pam Ferris (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) is sinister Grace Poole, the laundry woman who may or may not be responsible for the nighttime shrieks, pyromania and other incidents that appear to emanate from Thornfield Hall's north tower.

In addition to its intense romanticism, "Jane Eyre" features a satisfying assortment of wicked relatives, spooky mayhem, extrasensory messages and astonishing coincidences--enough to have kept readers thoroughly entertained for 160 years.

The story also has its edifying angle: Jane keeps her virtue despite some morally terrifying plot twists, and she eventually finds refuge in the pious home of aspiring missionary (and eligible bachelor) St. John Rivers (Andrew Buchan) and his kind sisters. Even so, the book's original audience was shocked by Jane's soulful relationship with the obviously licentious Rochester, and perhaps even more by her strong-willed, independent and forthright personality.

Masterpiece Theatre is a production of WGBH/Boston.