By the way, The Times confirms that Brontëites can be found even in Darfur.Jacket Copy: In "Zeroville," your most recent novel, movies shape the way the main character perceives the world. Are there any books that do the same for you?
Steve Erickson: I'm not sure there's a difference between books that affected the way I see the world and books that influenced me as a writer. The first books I remember having an impact on me when I was a kid were L. Frank Baum's "Oz" books, which were much stranger than the movie, at once rather whimsical and really dark. Later Faulkner's novels made sense to me for the way time was never literal, the way it seemed hot-wired to memory rather than experience, and Henry Miller's early work was revelatory for the way it so willfully assaulted all the formalist notions about literature that get taught in English classes. There was something very punk about Miller's juxtaposition of the transcendent with the primal, the sky with the gutter. When I was 25, during one scorching summer when I was house-sitting for a buddy, I read Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights." Dostoevsky is considered the first "modern" writer, but I vote to Emily -- one of the most subversive novels ever made, with a sexually obsessed main character whose object of desire is a dead woman, an utterly unreliable narrator, a structure built on a psychological interior that shifts like a house with moving walls. I had fever dreams that whole month. Gabriel Garcia Marquez influenced me for the way he applied Faulkner to his own landscape. All of these books, I think, were most influential in that, as far-flung as they were, there was something in them I instinctively recognized, something about them that confirmed what I already knew about the world but didn't know I knew. (Carolyn Kellogg).
When Daphne du Maurier died in 1989, she left instructions that her diaries were not to be read for 50 years. Faced with this embargo, Justine Picardie has taken the unusual step of imagining three eventful years in the writer's life. The book opens in 1957 with du Maurier uncovering her husband's affair and ends in 1960 when her mother died. Amid these difficulties, she was writing her biography of Branwell Brontë, aided by Branwell enthusiast J Alexander Symington. Picardie widens her focus by alternating characters every few chapters, switching between the imagined thoughts of du Maurier, Symington and a PhD student researching a thesis on Branwell. All are seeking to elevate Branwell's literary status to that of his sisters.English composer Tristram Cary died last April 24th as it is reported in several newspapers (check The Telegraph for instance). He is connected to the Brontës through the soundtrack for the six-part 1963 BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre.
As a biographer, Picardie is impressive; her book is well researched and grounded in letters and interviews. But does it work as a novel? Her prose lacks sparkle and her only completely fictional creation, the PhD student, is whiny and unsympathetic. Most grating of all are the fantasy thoughts of du Maurier and Symington, when the reader craves dialogue and description. As Picardie's PhD student observes with regard to Brontë biographies: 'It's the literary equivalent of catching butterflies, and then killing them, in order to pin them down and display them in a box.' (Katie Toms)
New Century Club will host its annual Guest Tea at 1 p.m. Thursday in the parlor of First Presbyterian Church.
Lisa Harbison will review “The Shaggy Muses: the Dogs Who Inspired Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Barrett Brown, Edith Wharton and Emily Bronte” by Maureen Adams. (Muskogee Phoenix)
Infobae and La Nación publish reminders of the performances of Roberto Pieri's adaptation of Wuthering Heights in Buenos Aires: Cumbres Borrascosas. More information in these previous posts.
We also report last Friday's talk given by Janet Stobbs at the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera in Elx, Spain, with the title "La loca del desván" (The madwoman of the attic) as published on És Elx.
On the blogosphere: Emily Brontë's poem Last Words in Portuguese (translated by Renata Cordeiro), Mitt liv med Lord Peter og Mr Darcy reviews Jane Eyre in Norwegian.
Today, February 22, there's a new chance to see the Roberto Pieri's Spanish adaptation of Wuthering Heights in Buenos Aires, Argentina:CUMBRES BORRASCOSAS adapted and directed by Roberto PieriCategories: Theatre, Wuthering Heights
Friday 22 February, 21 hrs
(and upcoming Fridays)
La Manufactura Papelera
Bolívar 1582, San Telmo, Buenos Aires
Pasión, ilusión, dolor, engaño, rebeldía. Una historia de amor de las que no se olvidan.
"Esta nueva adaptación basada en la novela de Emily Bronte, 'Cumbres Borrascosas', nos enfrenta a una obra de texto completo fundamentada esencialmente en la síntesis de las pasiones, los deseos frustrados, los amores no correspondidos, la venganza y los odios que mantienen cautivos a los personajes de esta historia de amor. Los dominios de la familia Earnshaw son el escenario ideal donde el germen de dichas pasiones envuelve a los protagonistas, Heathcliff y Catalina, en su mísera tormenta. Muy pocos de ellos quedaran al margen de los acontecimientos. Solo Elena, ama de llaves, y testigo privilegiado de estas contradicciones humanas, podrá confesarle a la joven Caty, última descendiente de los Earnshaw, el desdichado final de su familia".
CAST
Eugenia Lemos | Catalina Earnshaw
Roque Favale | Gimli Earnshaw
Sebastián Morgan | Heathcliff
Adrián Porra | Eduardo Linton
Mariana Fernán | Isabel Linton
Carolina Echagüe | Elena
Paola Sanabria | Mary
Ricardo Murad | José
Camila Ozcoidi |Caty
CREW
Dirección | Roberto Pieri
Asistente de dirección | Florencia Pieri y Magdalena Zili
Asistente de escena | Carolina Fisscher
Producción artística | Romina Di Gregorio
Escenografia y vestuario | V. Abramovich y S. Obsejevich
Asistente de escenografia | Nadia Frankowsky
Realización de vestuario | Roberto Martín
Vestidora | Luz Peña
Peinado y Maquillaje | L. Lezme Diaz y L. Margani
Retrato | Marcelo Moreno
Realización de chimenea | Celeste Cotignola
Iluminación | Marcos Stroker
Prensa | Alejandra Waisblat
Producción | Willy Salmón
Producción General | Juan Manuel Praderio
Jane Eyre is all over the news today:Writing the graphic adaptation of Jane Eyre for Classical Comics gave me a fantastic excuse and tremendous opportunity to immerse myself in its author’s mind. It quickly became obvious that Brontë was propounding the belief, perhaps gleaned from her Irish forebears, that real spirituality arises from a natural goodness in human beings that is inextricable from Nature.Check some of the illustrations that we posted some months ago and you will understand more clearly how these symbolisms are treated.
A potent mixture of Christianity and British folklore established a powerful psychological background for the love affair between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. Symbolism made the novel sparkle. Jane’s show of strength was linked with the moon rising. Mr. Rochester was described as a bird of prey. He often called Jane a tiny bird of one sort or the other, or a fairy sprite. (Amy Corzine)
(...) But of the veritable prisons Jane Eyre is forced to endure, many of these confinements do more to protect her than they keep her from liberty. If she hadn’t been locked away from Mrs. Reed and her cousins, she may have suffered a similar fate; she may have become as shallow, as wayward, as stilted or as resentful as any in the class of her “superiors”. If she had not endured the confinements of reason, she might have fulfilled the reputation of her childhood, and if she had not learned to control her reason she could have become as deranged as Bertha. (...)Rare Finds, the blog of Bauman Rare Books, informs about this magnificent first ed
ition of Jane Eyre, available for just 68000$:(BRONTË, Charlotte) BELL, Currer. Jane Eyre: An Autobiography. Edited by Currer Bell. London: Smith, Elder, 1847. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter brown calf gilt, raised bands, red morocco labels, marbled boards and endpapers. Housed in custom half-morocco clamshell box. $68,000.Darque Reviews interviews Lilith Saintcrow, author of the Dante Valentine series, who among very different influences confesses that:
First edition of one of the greatest and most popular novels in English literature in contemporary binding.
Charlotte Bronte’s decision to publish under the pseudonym “Currer Bell” aroused great public curiosity regarding the author’s true identity. Thackeray, Bronte’s literary hero, was sent a pre-publication copy, prompting this reply: “It is a fine book... Some of the love passages made me cry... I have been exceedingly moved & pleased by Jane Eyre . It is a woman’s writing, but whose?” (Barker, 535). The demand for Jane Eyre “was almost unprecedented. The first edition... was published on 16 October 1847; it had sold out within three months... By any standard, Jane Eyre was a resounding success” (Barker, 535-37). Bronte “had learned to combine extraordinary power of expressing passion with an equally surprising power of giving reality to her pictures which transfigures the commonest scenes and events in the light of genius” (DNB). Bound without half titles in Volumes I and II; and without publisher’s advertisements in Volume I. Wolff 826. Smith 2.
Page 13 of Volume I with repaired closed tear, occasional light foxing to text, binding about-fine. A rare classic, exceptional in handsome contemporary binding.
I also am a big Stephen King fan, and I reread Jane Eyre and Sleeping With The Enemy at least once a year.Finally, the only non-Jane Eyre item today: some days ago we presented the current performances of Roberto Pieri's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, Cumbres Borrascosas in Spanish, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here you can find a non official blog about the production.
In Santa Barbara, California:Jane EyreThe Santa Barbara Independent provides more information:
adaptation by Polly Teale
Performed by the Westmont College Department.
Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. in Porter Theatre at Westmont College.
Matinees Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26 for invited high school students in the first installment of the Found in Translation: Great Literature in the Theatre program.
For the Westmont Theatre Arts Department, Jane Eyre continues an established tradition of producing contemporary theatrical adaptations of classic novels. When first performed by the theater company Shared Experience in 1997, Teale’s version was acclaimed for its insight not only into the characters of the novel, but into Brontë as well.In Yankton, South Dakota:
This interest was keenly felt by the director of the current production, Mitchell Thomas, when he viewed Shared Experience’s performance of the play. Thomas said when he saw Shared Experience’s Jane Eyre in London two summers ago, he “loved the style of the production,” adding that Teale’s “adaptation honors the story, and makes it come alive — not just as a museum-quality production, but as a story told in an inspiring and dramatic way.”
Jane Eyre, long critically acclaimed as the ultimate example of gothic romance, follows the title character, a literal “plain Jane,” from her life as an unloved orphan to her new job as governess at the Thornfield Estate. In the play, Jane (Sarah Halford) meets the mysterious owner, Edward Rochester (Nolan Hamlin), and becomes drawn to him as her time at the house continues. Nevertheless, this momentary harmony is inevitably destroyed when some old secrets in the attic are revealed, leaving Jane to decide for herself what her true understanding of love must be.
Thomas said the play’s biggest departure from the novel is the “fusing of the mad woman in the attic with Jane as her younger self,” implying that Jane’s free-spirited alter ego is visible as a distant shadow throughout the course of the play. Thomas views the alteration of the novel as a transformation, explaining, “These are the fun things in reenacting literature — different things are highlighted in different adaptations, and different lenses are used to view the play. There is an insane, almost vampire-like person in the attic, yet we care for her, as she and Jane have a relationship that is multileveled and multifaceted.”
With an all-student cast that ranges from first-years to seniors, this Jane Eyre is entirely Westmont’s own. Six of the nine roles in the show are for women, revealing something Thomas said affected his choice to perform this particular play — the pool of profoundly talented female drama students at Westmont. (Miranda Green)
Jane EyreMore information can be read in Press & Dakotan:
Performed by the Yankton High School Drama Club
Oct. 19-20 and 22 at the Summit Activities Center's main theatre.
All performances are at 7:30 p.m.
Complete cast and crew here.
YHS faculty member Bob Beard directs the show with the assistance of Pat Kortan (Assistant Director) and Pam Kallis (Costumer).
"'Jane Eyre' is a very passionate love story," [Bob Beard] said. "Most people are familiar with 'Romeo and Juliet' but I think this romance surpasses that of 'Romeo and Juliet.'" (...)And finally, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Beard said he chose "Jane Eyre" because it fit the category of classic, which is a tradition for the YHS fall play, and it has many roles for female students.
"The classics tend to be heavy on the male roles," he said. "This play has a lot of female roles, and I think it was the first time I didn't have to turn down any female students."
In addition, Beard said the Gothic show has allowed everyone from the cast to the crew to step into another era.
"Our costumer, Pam Kallis, loves doing period pieces, and this show offers her many chances from the period dresses to the suits. When you say 'period pieces,' you can just see that sparkle in her eyes," he said. "This show also gives my assistant director Pat Kortan the chance to create the wonderfully gothic Thornfield Mansion. Everyone from the cast to the stage crew is doing an outstanding job of creating (the people and places of 'Jane Eyre')."
The show began practices just after Labor Day and has operated on a tight schedule, especially considering the very heavy line load many of the characters have had to memorize, Beard said.
"Bax Kavan, who plays Rochester, and Natalie Kathol, who plays Jane, really have a lot of lines," he said. "It has been really challenging for them but they have both stepped up and exceeded my expectations."
Kavan and Kathol, who are both seniors, said they have enjoyed their roles in "Jane Eyre."
"This part really has me going out of my comfort zone," Kavan said. "I've never played a character like Rochester before. It's been very challenging, but that's what I look for in a role."
For Kathol, the part has been a rewarding journey.
"I have enjoyed each night coming to play practice to live in (Jane's) world," she said.
Another senior, Emily Lundgren, said having read the novel, she believes the play is a good representation.
"People who have read the book will really see the words come to life," she said. "It is very good portrayal and they've fit everything in."
Blaine Mullican, senior, said the play offers audiences a new look on stage.
"It's definitely something different than we've done in a long time," he said.
Beard hopes to fill the YHS main theatre each night of performance.
"This really is an outstanding love story. We all need love stories," he said. "As the Beatles reminded us, 'All we need is love.' This show offers a great set, outstanding costumes and wonderful acting. What else could you ask for?" (Tera Schmidt)
Cumbres BorrascosasSome months ago we posted about this adaptation of Wuthering Heights, albeit with another cast.
Adapted and directed by Roberto Pieri
La Manufactura Papelera
Bolivar 1582 (San Telmo)
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Cast: Gabriela Blanco, Roque Favale, Sebastián Morgan, Adrián Porra, Belén Pais, Carolina Echagüe, Paola Sanabria, Ricardo Murad, Camila Ozcoidi.
Complete Crew, here.
Premiere: October 19, 21:00
Performances: Wednesdays 20:30
Cumbres borrascosasCategories: Theatre, Wuthering_Heights
Anacoretas del Arte Co.
Teatro Argentino, 21:30 PM
Jazmín Ríos as Catalina Earnshaw;
Darío Acuña as Eduardo Linton;
Martín Equiza as Heathcliff and Gimli Earnshaw;
Cecilia De Maggio as Isabel Linton,
Valeria D'Ankalo as Elena;
Orieta Giacoletto como Mary;
Willy Slamon as José and
Andrea Zappulla as Caty.
Directed and adapted by Roberto Pieri
Three theatrical adaptations of Wuthering Heights that are, will be or have been on stage this year and are adapted to different languages:
3. Humiseva Harju - Finland
Or we shoud more properly say Cumbres Borrascosas in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A theatrical adaptation of Wuthering Heights is performed in the Club del Bufón is performed today, March 11. Here are the details of this (it seems) unique performance:
Unless explicitly said
