Wuthering Heights

From Wikipaedia:

Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's only novel. It was first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, and a posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte.

The name of the novel comes from the Yorkshire manor on the moors on which the story centers (as an adjective, Wuthering is a Yorkshire word referring to turbulent weather). The narrative tells the tale of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them.

Now considered a classic of English literature, Wuthering Heights met with mixed reviews by critics when it first appeared, mainly because of the narrative's stark depiction of mental and physical cruelty.[2][3] Though Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre was originally considered the best of the Brontë sisters' works, many subsequent critics of Wuthering Heights argued that its originality and achievement made it superior.[4] Wuthering Heights has also given rise to many adaptations and inspired works, including films, radio, television dramatisations, a musical by Bernard J. Taylor, ballet, opera, and song (notably the Kate Bush hit "Wuthering Heights").

And here are Kate Bush's lyrics:

Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green
You had a temper, like my jealousy
Too hot, too greedy
How could you leave me?
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you, I loved you too

Bad dreams in the night
They told me I was going to lose the fight
Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights

(Chorus) Heathcliff, its me, Cathy come home
I'm so cold, let me in-a-your window

Oh it gets dark, it gets lonely
On the other side from you
I pine alot, I find the lot
Falls through without you
I'm coming back love, cruel Heathcliff
My one dream, my only master

Too long I roam in the night
I'm coming back to his side to put it right
I'm coming home to wuthering, wuthering,
Wuthering Heights

(Chorus)
Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
You know it's me, Cathy
(Chorus)

I'm getting my copy today so I am ready to read!!!! thanks for the background stuff Bath, the Bronte sisters are fasinating within themselves.

You're welcome :) If you want to read a good synopsis (plot) then wikipaedia has a good one which might help to make sense of the novels slightly confusing beginning...well I was confused when i first read it but then again that was 20 years ago! I didn't want to post it here in case it is a spoiler.

I LOVE both the novel and the song :)

I studied it for year 12 literature, and at uni I had more than one lecturer proclaim it as the best novel ever written!

Did you watch the latest adaptation on ABC? I thought the Heathcliff was too pretty and not manly enough. I like my Heathcliff rough and gypsy-like! :p

Yes, I saw that a few weeks ago on the ABC and agree that the actor playing Heathcliff wasn't "right". But everything else was brilliant.

I just posted in the other thread- I'm joining in :) Just need to find a copy of the book. I might Amazon it this arvo...

I'll read it again. I think I first read it when I was 13 and was attracted to dark, broody type men for years after....

Someone also wrote a book about the bit in the middle when Heathcliff is away about what he got up to. Has anyone read it?

oooh who wrote that book Tashy?

Yay our own thread! I haven't read it and have no idea what it's about, the only thing I know is the characters names. I'm going to start it tomorrow.

Don't get to far ahead of us Tinks!! Some of us still need to find a copy!!! LOL

I have a hardcover copy with average sized text and it's only 372 pages so don't worry too much :) We won't allow spoilers here until a certain date... what do people think? Not that there's much to spoil I guess.

Good idea Bath.

What do people think is a good date? Open discussion after December the 31st? Or is that too soon? January 31st?

Dec 31st sounds good to me but if others need longer they can let us know.

Yep, I have to finish another book (Team of Rivals) but I should easily be able to make the 31st of Dec.... but it is a hectic time of year with lots of parties etc.

It is, I forgot about that. I'm happy with any date really.

I love this book - I last read it when I was in primary school - will have to pull my copy out to read again!