One big landscape

Pendle Today brings our attention to a short film which highlights the Brontë connections to Lancashire with special attention to Wycoller Hall and which features Tracy Chevalier.

A new short film spotlighting Lancashire’s little known Brontë connections has been released.
Called “In Brontë Footsteps”, it features multi-million bestselling American historical novelist Tracy Chevalier.
Tracy visited Pendle this autumn for the first time, to find out about the area’s Brontë associations. [...]
The film also showcases the beautiful wild border country which inspired the Brontës, with views which Tracy Chevalier describes as “awe inspiring”.
Tracy said: “It is news to me that there are these Lancashire connections. But now I’m not surprised at all because it’s one big landscape.”
The novelist followed in the Brontës’ footsteps, walking over the moors into Lancashire along the Brontë Way and said: “It felt timeless and it was a feeling that I know the Brontës must have had.” Tracy Chevalier made the six mile journey with fellow novelist Jessie Burton, international bestselling author of “The Miniaturist”. They walked from Ponden Hall – thought to be the real Wuthering Heights - to Wycoller Hall, the real Ferndean Manor in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Jessie Burton was also captivated by the picturesque village and hall, set in its peaceful valley. She said: “It’s stunning, beautiful and quiet.”
Leader of Pendle Council, Coun. Mohammed Iqbal said: “Wycoller is just nine miles as the crow flies from the Haworth Parsonage. “Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë often crossed the border over the moors into Lancashire, as Tracy Chevalier and Jessie Burton discovered.
Coun. Eileen Ansar, who leads on tourism, said: “Tracy’s thoughts and feelings on visiting Wycoller for the first time have been captured in this atmospheric film. “We hope the film will encourage more people to come and visit our beautiful countryside and follow Brontë walks which can be found on our new website www.visitpendle.com.”
The film shows Tracy exploring the atmospheric village and ruined hall with John Crow, a volunteer ranger, storyteller and Friend of Wycoller. John will be leading the last in a series of 21 events in Pendle to mark the Charlotte Brontë bicentenary with a ghost walk in Wycoller on Sunday, October 30th at 1pm where he’ll tell some of the hair-raising stories which inspired the Brontës.
The video also features Nelson and Colne College student, Anna Stephenson playing the part of Charlotte Brontë. Anna (18), from Colne, is the youngest member of the international Brontë Society. The film ends with Tracy taking the old carriage track down into the village in the footsteps of the fictional Jane Eyre as she is reunited with her lost love, Mr Rochester. Tracy added: “I felt a little bit tearful as I was walking around. “I’m going to go home and re-read the last section of Jane Eyre and say ‘I’ve been there!’” (Will Cook)

We absolutely agree - Wycoller truly warrants a visit. A year ago we were rather worried about Wycoller Hall , so we are glad to see it being promoted this way.

The Everygirl recommends Wuthering Heights as one of 'The 10 Page-Turners You Should Be Reading This Fall'.

8. Wuthering Heights
Published way back in 1847, Wuthering Heights may have been way ahead of its time: Like in many modern-day novels (Gone Girl and Fates and Furies come to mind), the characters are self-absorbed and complicated, bordering on unlikeable. The story is complex, violent, dark, and captivating in a masochistic sort of way. Crack it open on a rainy fall day. (Daryl Lindsey)

All Romance Reads reviews the book Boyfriend by the Book by Laura Briggs.

But Jodi’s friends think she’s turning into a lonely workaholic. They try to fix her love life, buying her a copy of the bestselling relationship guide that claims women can find true love by channelling the wisdom of famous storybook heroines. Jodi thinks it sounds crazy—no way is she acting like Jane Eyre or Lizzie Bennet to find a man! [...]
Her attempts to think like the greatest heroines in romance lead her to meet everything from a modern Mr. Rochester to an angsty Heathcliff, and even a Darcy-esque novelist. 

Les Echos (France) reviews the film Mal de pierres, starring Marion Cotillard.

Gabrielle rêve d'amour fou. Jeune femme élevée dans la petite bourgeoisie agricole, cette Emma Bovary provençale ne craint pas de prendre des risques pour séduire celui qu'elle aime, quitte à s'affranchir des conventions et à choquer son milieu. Elle se fixe d'abord sur l'instituteur du village, pourtant marié et bientôt papa, qui lui fait découvrir les romans des soeurs Brontë. Quand il refuse ses avances, elle crise. Face à son comportement, qui scandalise le village, ses parents songent à la faire interner. (Thierry Gandillot) (Translation)

PopCrush tells you to 'Forget Mr. Darcy, Edward Rochester or Heathcliff: History’s most romantic figure is now officially Simon Konecki' because he made pink confetti full of love messages for his girlfriend singer Adele fall at the end of the concert she gave on the day that marked their fifth anniversary. Donostia Book Club celebrated its first meeting discussing Jane Eyre. The Brontë Parsonage Museum Facebook page reminds visitors that this is the last week for audio drama Tiny Shoes. Brussels Brontë Blog has another post on Villette translations in Germany.