This is one of the books I try to re-read each year. I've missed a year, so this January and February I'll be stuck in the land of Emily Bronte, which means, I may be re-reading her biography, her poetry, and so forth. Of course this could go on for months. It depends on how my writing goes and if I begin to take notes again. I find this novel remarkable, especially for its time period and also, because it's sort of like a dark fairy tale. There is no other book like it. There are many Jane Eyres, but no other Wuthering Heights. I think Bronte lovers fall into two categories, those who are Jane Eyre addicts and those who are Wuthering Heights addicts. Not to diminish either. Jane Eyre is a good novel, especially the first half. The second half kind of flounders. But the first half!--all that brutality, starvation, and illness at the cold, cold Lowood. Now that's a tribute to class warfare.
Wuthering Heights is a novel that does not interpret easily. Sure there's a class issue, but it's more about The Other. Or maybe it's about Heaven and Hell. I don't know. I've read it many times and I still don't know what it's all about. That why I keep re-reading it.
There's a new film version of it. (I own all versions.) Laughing. I want to see it so bad, but it's going to be in Memphis like for one day at the Brooks Art Gallery. I've read reports that say there is no soundtrack in the typical way, that's it the wind of the moors that we hear. I find that sort of thrilling and Heathcliff is mixed race, which I think is clever. Also one of my favorite actresses is playing Cathy.
She really looks good without all that make-up that is currently so popular but
makes all the young actresses look silly and old. Black mascara and eye liner were the
curses of the 1970s. Bad as bell bottom jeans.
My goal one day is to write a book about Wuthering Heights and Emily Bronte. A novel. I've been throwing around some ideas and chapters for years. Maybe. Maybe not.
I love that book. I get annoyed when people criticise it, some people don't understand the complexities of the characters and the obsession. They want it to be a typical love story, not the gothic, rather nasty tale that it is. I adore it, of course.
ReplyDeleteWell, if they really knew Lord Byron and Heathcliff is a sort of Byronic character, they would understand. Byron was a bad, bad boy who never really loved anyone but himself and a couple of other people. He destroyed everyone.
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