Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights, published in 1847 by Emily Bronte (under the name of Elis Bell) can best be described as a drama ahead of it's time. When it was first published, the book received much criticism for it's dark story line and cynical plot. To be sure, Wuthering Heights was a much different book than what was commonly read in that era. Most books written by young ladies were generally instructions on how to be a model wife and citizen (a prime example of this would be Susannah Rowson's Charlotte Temple), whilst Wuthering Heights seduces it's readers with dark passion and misguided characters. 

Gramercy Classics Edition of Wuthering Heights
The plot of Wuthering Heights is too great to be condensed into a single blog, but I can tell you that Wuthering Heights is essentially a love story, staring the disturbed 'Heathcliff ' (who is never given any other name) and Catherine Earnshaw. The story is told by a Mr. Lockwood, who (in turn) is told the story of Heathcliff and Cathy by Ellen Dean, a housekeeper for Heathcliff. The book is generally split into four sections: the opening (in which Mr. Lockwood meets Heathcliff and Ellen Dean), the childhood of Heathcliff (where he falls in love with Catherine Earnshaw, only to have her marry a rich man named Edgar Linton. He runs away with Edgar's sister, who gives birth to a child. She leaves him soon after). The third part is the maturity of Heathcliff (in which Heathcliff enacts his revenge on the Linton family) and finally concludes with the ending (where we return to Mr. Lockwood, and ends with the death of Heathcliff). 

Despite it's cold reception, Wuthering Heights has become one of the greatest classic novels in English history. Although Charlotte Bronte's work (Jane Eyre) is considered the greatest work of the Bronte sisters, many subsequent critics of Wuthering Heights argue that the depth of the novel makes it considerably greater. Emily's depiction of physical and mental abuse in the character of Heathcliff make for a very interesting read, and I am sure that the ending of the book will both surprise and shock you.

Statistics

Original Language: English
Title: Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte (also Elis Bell)
Publication Date: December 1847
Illustrator: NA
Publisher: Thomas Cautley Newby, Gramercy Books
Country/Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Catalan, Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Russian, Polish, Danish, Swedish, Icelandic, Greek, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian
Pages: 380 (Gramercy Classics 2005 Edition)
Series: NA
Followed By: NA
Film Adaptation: The most famous adaptation is the 1939 film directed by William Wyler, with other notable adaptations including the 1970's film staring Timothy Dalton and the 1992 film staring Ralph Fiennes (I would recommend watching this version of the film, as it includes the entire story, nearly unaltered)  
Book Tip: Wuthering Heights has been printed many times, but Gramercy Classics has a cute, easy to carry version. Otherwise, Penguin Books offer a small, cheap paper back version as well!

Author's Other Works

Wuthering Heights was Emily Bronte's only work, but her sister Charlotte Bronte has two works, Jane Eyre and Villette. 

You May Buy Wuthering Heights at:

1. The Book Depository:http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781853260018?redirected=true&gclid=CMLKq43tsKwCFaiJ4godOnL9Gw
2. Amazon (Gramercy Classics):http://www.amazon.com/Wuthering-Heights-Miniature-Gramercy-Classics/dp/0517227827
3. Dymocks:http://www.dymocks.com.au/ProductDetails/ProductDetail.aspx?R=9781593080440&gclid=CJ3Tt5_6sKwCFckF4godBA4nFw
4. Alweb Store (Gramercy Classics): http://www.a1webstores.com/wuthering-heights-mini-gramercy-classics/itemdetail/0517227827/
5. Kobo Books (ebooks): http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Wuthering-Heights/book-lQrBF1HxPkmF8cKibjF8DQ/page1.html

Other Links:

1. Wuthering Heights Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights#Adaptations
2. Emily Bronte Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Bront%C3%AB
3. Charlotte Bronte Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Bront%C3%AB
4. The Reader's Guide to Wuthering Heights (A Fantastic Site): http://www.wuthering-heights.co.uk/faq.htm
5. Senses of Cinema, Wuthering Heights: http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/feature-articles/hurlevent/

Ralph Fiennes

        
Enjoy and thank you for reading! I had some trouble with pictures in this blog, so I apologize for the layout!