Is it Gordon Brown? Is it Heathcliff? Is it a wild Highland chief?

People on the Brontë Country Area might just have something interesting to do next Sunday, April 26, thanks to the Brontë Country Partnership according to the Telegraph and Argus:

People living in Keighley and the Worth Valley are being encouraged to sample attractions on their own doorstep later this month.
The Brontë Country Partnership (BCP) marketing group is promoting and co-ordinating “Go Local Sunday”, on April 26.
The initiative, first suggested by Keighley Bus Museum chairman Graham Mitchell, will see visitor destinations open their doors for free to local people.
To qualify for entry, people will need to provide proof of residency in BD20, 21 or 22. This can be in the form of a recent utility or council tax bill.
BCP chairman Samantha Lawson said: “It is often the case that people don’t visit the attractions on their doorstep.
“Many of us who are local residents drive past the sites daily and yet have never been inside.
“The free entry represents huge value for money, particularly for families.
“We hope that it will demonstrate the wealth of attractions and things to do in the area while sightseeing, such as walking, shopping and dining.
“And we hope it will show how accessible these activities are for local residents.
“The area also benefits from excellent public transport links, walking routes and the Worth Valley railway, so staying local is environmentally friendly too.”
Among places participating in the day are the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, the Brontë Parsonage, the Museum of Rail Travel, in Ingrow, and East Riddlesden Hall.
The BCP comprises tourist destinations, local councils and providers of visitor accommodation in and around Keighley and Haworth.
Its main aim is to increase the amount of time and money visitors spend in the area. More information on “Go Local Sunday” is available online at visitbrontecountry.com.
Attraction opening times will vary and visitors are advised to check relevant websites or contact their local tourist information centre for details.
The bus museum will be running a service across Keighley linking the destinations free of charge.
A vintage bus will begin operating from Hanover Street, Keighley, at 10.25am and will run until 2.55pm. (Miran Rahman)

You can find further information here.

The rest of today's news is all about comparisons to Wuthering Heights and its characters.

Coronation Street character Ken Barlow is described as follows in the Business Gazette:

Ken’s a snob with nothing to be stuck-up about. His principles are dubious, his questionable morals are justified by the romance he’s learned from Wuthering Heights and he justifies his unhappy indiscretions by always playing away with a Salford version of Lady Macbeth.

And this comes straight from the Daily Mail's sex advice column on 'I can't stop obsessing about my very first boyfriend':

You would grumble about his bad habits, the predictability of his sexual technique and his inability to sustain Cathy and Heathcliff style romance. (Rowan Pelling)

Honestly, we do think that a lifelong 'Cathy and Heathcliff style romance' might not be all that desirable.

The Yorkshire Post runs an article on Paddy Ashdown, who is well-known over here on BrontëBlog for being...

who first dubbed Gordon Brown as Heathcliff, but he also calls him a "wild Highland chief" who "sends hatchet men out to do the work of the tribe." (Sheena Hastings)

It looks like the one's multiple facets are equal to the other's description resources.

On a different note - or perhaps not quite so different - CastingCallPro (UK) is looking for actors and actresses to play Edward Rochester, Betty Bunce / Helen / Adele / Diana and Charlotte Bronte / Mrs Fairfax for a two-night production of Jane Eyre at The Colourhouse Theatre. Do check the website for more information if you're interested.

Let's now take a look at the blogs:

Jennifer's Random Musings interviews debut-writer Vanessa Kelly. This is how she describes her novel:

Mastering The Marquess is a Regency-set historical with Gothic overtones. It’s about a woman determined to save her young sister from incarceration in a madhouse, and the arrogant marquess she must turn to for help. A bit like Jane Austen meets Jane Eyre!

Phemios Aoidos has a post in German on Sturmhöhe: both the novel (Wuthering Heights) and the recent ballet adaptation are discussed. A promotional video of this ballet can be watched on the right.

Violet Room (in Thai) and Confessions of an Optimist also post about Wuthering Heights, the novel. The Page-Turner writes briefly about Jane Eyre. Comics Worth Reading reviews Classical Comics' Jane Eyre. Declaration has created a poll on 'which Brontë sister do you like best?'

Heldfondbookgallery has uploaded to YouTube a video displaying the Limited Editions Club's edition of Wuthering Heights illustrated by Balthus. And Muskiefan4ever has uploaded spoof of said novel created by the Xavier Player's Workshop 2009.

Finally, Flickr user CountyPix shares a photograph of North Lees Hall.

Categories: Books, Dance, Haworth, Humour, Jane Eyre, Theatre, Weirdo, Wuthering Heights