REVIEW: Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë)

Book: Wuthering Heights

Author: Emily Brontë

My rating: 4.5/5

Premise: The windswept moors are the unforgettable setting of this tale of the love between the foundling Heathcliff and his wealthy benefactor’s daughter, Catherine. Through Catherine’s betrayal of Heathcliff and his bitter vengeance, their mythic passion haunts the next generation even after their deaths. Incorporating elements of many genres—from gothic novels and ghost stories to poetic allegory—and transcending them all, Wuthering Heights is a mystifying and powerful tour de force.

I had mostly forgotten the plot of this book and for some reason thought it was a romance similar to the works of Austen. But I was wrong. This novel really explores the darker side of human relationships: obsession, control, stubbornness, cruelty, revenge. If you go in expecting a traditional romance, then you'll be surprised. For me, I preferred the second half of the book, which follows the next generation from Cathy and Heathcliff - it's in this half that the dark side of Heathcliff is fully exposed. The female characters, whilst at times annoying and pathetic, were generally quite strong willed and sassy in some ways. The story is rather tragic for many characters, giving it a bittersweet edge. A wonderful book - I can see why it's a classic!