The Moors Beyond the Garden Wall

The Arts Desk reviews the recent concerts of pianist Paul Lewis of Schubert's piano sonatas at Wigmore Hall:

Lewis’s Schubert is about essence and sublimity. Words cannot describe the sublime but we have to try, and might as well leave it to the experts: we are transported to a terrain described 18 years earlier that [the piano sonata] D.894 by William Wordsworth as “something far more deeply interfused / Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns”. Two decades later, in 1847, Emily Brontë would use the metaphor of the moor beyond the garden wall. We are invited to consider humanity’s inner and outer relationships to these things, and our death before their infinity, which in Schubert become intensely personal. And without consequence, though it is what it is. (Ed Vulliamy)

Make Shakespeare cool again in Her Campus:

I also think that the revival of classical literature should be extended past Shakespeare to other authors. Jane Austen, George Eliot, and the Brontë sisters all have extensive bodies of work that would make absolutely great movies for a wide array of audiences. Since everyone seems to be leaning into the frazzled English woman aesthetic, (ala 2000s Kate Winslet, Kiera Knightley, or Renee Zellweger) I think it would be fitting to adapt some more Victorian literature into the cinematic wheelhouse. (Giovanna Cicalesi)

The New Republic reviews The Darcy Myth: Jane Austen, Literary Heartthrobs, and the Monsters They Taught Us to Love by Rachel Feder:

My first literary crush, as a preadolescent, was on Edward Fairfax Rochester, the sarcastic, beetle-browed hero of Jane Eyre, who formed my early beau ideal of what a romantic partner would be. Decades later, rereading Charlotte Brontë’s novel, I was taken aback to rediscover the scene where Rochester dresses up as a palm-reading “old crone” in a bonnet and cape and creepily interrogates Jane on her love life. Strange dude! (Kirsten Denker)

Parade assignates a classic literary heroine to each zodiac sign:

Cancer: Helen Huntingdon (The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë, 1848)

As the youngest Brontë sister’s second and final novel before her untimely death at 29, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a testament to her belief in women’s autonomy. It was considered shocking at the time of its release, as Brontë challenged many predominant morals of her era through the novel’s protagonist, Helen Huntingdon. Helen exhibits Cancer’s emotionally driven nature when she agrees to marry a man for love despite troubling glimpses of his deep-seated character flaws, thinking she’ll be able to “fix” him as his wife. However, once married, her husband abuses her, especially after the birth of their son. After years of poor treatment, Helen takes a stand, breaking the law and the social expectations of the time by fleeing with their son, determined to prevent him from becoming like his father. In leaving, she displays Cancer’s loving and protective nature by putting her son's needs before all else, retreating to the safety of their new home.

Scorpio: Catherine Earnshaw (Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847)

Emily Brontë’s only novel is widely regarded today as a masterpiece of Gothic fiction and the romantic prose tradition. The most poetically inclined of her sisters and fellow writers, Brontë filled the pages of Wuthering Heights, as well as the character of Catherine Earnshaw, with raw emotion and angst. Catherine epitomizes all things Scorpio; she’s passionate, emotional, and intense, especially when it comes to her doomed romance with Heathcliff. These two share a deep and powerful love, but it’s marred by Catherine’s preoccupation with social class, Heathcliff’s bitterness and vengeful obsession, and both of their insurmountable stubbornness. Scorpio’s journey is about relinquishing control to facilitate transformation. Her story sets a greater change in motion that allows the next generation to heal the wounds left by their parents.

Aquarius: Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847)

Now regarded as one of the most famous romance novels ever, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre has stood the test of time thanks to its unforgettable titular protagonist. Jane Eyre manifests Aquarius’ humanitarian essence throughout the story as she is forced to contend with oppression, inequality, and hardship, yet upholds her personal convictions despite it all. Her strong belief in equality flies in the face of Victorian prejudices against women and the poor that were common for the era. Aquarius’ journey to fulfillment centers on achieving ultimate freedom, aligning it with Jane, who values freedom above all else. Her character arc throughout the story involves her struggle to gain the autonomy she desperately needs despite her circumstances. Only by staying true to herself and her integrity can Jane finally find peace and contentment. (Emily Bryn)

Times Now News selects 20 books "to read before you die". Among them:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a pioneering work that follows the lives of its namesake heroine, highlighting her moral and spiritual development. Jane's journey through hard surroundings and her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall, orphaned and impoverished, delivers a biting reflection on gender conventions and societal restraints in nineteenth-century England. Jane's character embodies dignity, intelligence, and integrity as she tackles themes of morality, religion, and women's freedom in the novel. "Jane Eyre" is a groundbreaking work in feminist literature because of Brontë's study of human liberty and the yearning for love and acceptance. (Girish Shukla)

The Telegraph & Argus lists things you can do in Bradford this Christmas:

Every year I take a trip to Haworth for the Festive Torchlight Procession. It’s really magical being out in a winter evening, with twinkling lights adorning the cobbled main street. Crowds gather, carrying torches, and children wave twinkling wands. Be sure to arrive early to gather around the Christmas tree before the procession starts at 4pm; there’s plenty of festive cheer with a brass band throughout the weekend and the village’s independent shops open late to buy those Christmas gifts. This year’s event is on Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10.  (Shannon Palmer)

Also in T&A a recommendation:

TV presenter Anita Rani has praised a Bradford cafe where you can find Yorkshire parkin, homemade bread, and vegetarian delights. (...)

She celebrated the occasion at Plenty at the Square, a vegetarian and vegan cafe based at the South Square Centre in Thornton. (...)

She added: “It’s significant that it’s in Thornton because Thornton was the birthplace of the Brontës.” (Natasha Meek)

UK's best pubs serving Sunday roasts according to The Times: 

The Hawthorn, Haworth, West Yorkshire

In the Brontë sisters’ home patch of Haworth, this elegant townhouse has been renovated to resemble a period Georgian tavern, with wood-panelled walls, mounted stags’ heads, burnished furniture and grandfather clocks ticking away in the background — a nod to the local clockmaker John Barraclough, who lived here in the Brontës’ day. Meat and veg comes from hand-picked small farms across the Dales and the Lakes, and the portions are generous: sides include garlicky roasted potatoes, leeks and peas, cauliflower cheese and greens (£16-19; thehawthornhaworth.co.uk). Just up the street, Weavers of Haworth continues the Georgian vibe, with pretty period rooms.

The Review Geek lists books like Grim Fandango. For some reason Wuthering Heights is chosen:

Wuthering Heights, penned by Emily Brontë, is a timeless classic that delves into the tormented and passionate relationships of characters residing in the desolate moors of Yorkshire. Similar to Grim Fandango, Wuthering Heights weaves a dark and Gothic tale, exploring themes of love, revenge, and the supernatural. Both works captivate readers with their intense and complex characters, taking them on a journey through the depths of human emotions.

The atmospheric settings and brooding atmosphere found in both stories create a sense of mystery and intrigue. With their exploration of the darker side of human nature and their enduring impact, Wuthering Heights and Grim Fandango are masterpieces that engage their audience with haunting narratives. (Kennie M)

The Iowa Press-Citizen recommends things to see in Iowa City this weekend:

Brontë: The World Without

This play follows the three Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, during the period in which they wrote masterpieces such as "Jane Eyre," "Wuthering Heights," and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" and the hardships they faced, from personal strife to being ambitious women in the 1800s. Originally premiered in Canada, the show is making its American debut at the Riverside Theatre, with three shows happening this weekend. On Dec. 9, following the 7:30 p.m. performance, there will be a talk with the director, Juliana Frey-Méndez, and scenic and production designer, Kaelen Novak, and others about the design process and bringing this play to Iowa City. (Jessica Rish)

Ridgefield's Hamlethub interviews Katie Burton, strategic storytelling at Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center:

KAD: Favorite book

K.B.: Depending on my mood, it’s either Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. But there are a lot of books that I hold close to my heart, that have shaped/inspired/comforted/excited/challenged me at different points in my life.

Impact Nottingham  talks about love triangles:

Love triangles are one of the most popular and yet most divisive tropes used in media today. We’re all familiar with the general idea – one character, often a woman, forced to choose between two love interests. This is by no means a new idea – the love triangle has been a reoccurring trope in literature for centuries, with some of the most notable examples being F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. (Abigel Lancaster)

The Stage reviews a production of Cinderella in Derby:

 This inventive and magical production stays true to the tale’s spirit, while finding fresh ways to present it, placing the story in the Derbyshire of the 1840s and giving it a rustic Regency spin, as if Jane Austen or the Brontës had reinterpreted it. (Chris Bartlett)

Aquí Madrid (Spain) presents De Viva Voz. Conferencias by Carmen Martín Gaite:

Una de las conferencias que se incluyen es la dedicada a «La mujer en la literatura», donde analiza la obra de Virginia Woolf, Emily Brontë, Rosa Chacel o Clarice Lispector y critica los controles ejercidos sobre la mujer a lo largo de la Historia. (Francisco R. Pastoriza) (Translation)

Mujeres a Seguir (Spain) gives a, let's put it mildly, controversial statement about Wuthering Heights:

Al hilo de estas conversaciones recordé una charla que mantuvieron, en la Biblioteca Municipal de Bidebarrieta, las escritoras Cristina Morales y Aixa de la Cruz. Esta última comentaba que le gustaría reescribir Cumbres borrascosas, una novela que se cuenta entre sus predilectas pero que está llenas de errores (problemas de ritmo, de construcción) que hoy no se cometerían debido al tiempo que ha pasado (esto es, al tipo de lector, inevitablemente distinto, que somos, aunque esto no lo dice Aixa, sino yo) y a la sofisticación de las técnicas narrativas. (Elvira Navarro) (Translation)

Ok Diario (in Spanish) and books for Christmas gifts:

‘Cumbres borrascosas’, Emily Brönte (sic)(Austral Singular)

Es uno de los grandes libros de la ficción clásica, y la única novela de Emily Brönte (sic), que falleció muy joven, dejando solo esta obra. Se publicó en 1847, un año antes de su fallecimiento… Y se ha leído por todo el mundo y se sigue leyendo, porque es un libro que no se deja de regalar. Así describe la noeva la editorial: «Esta obra es una larga y extraordinaria descripción de los actos y problemas psicológicos de unos seres locos o perversos que arrastran una existencia mísera y maléfica. Con ellos, su autora nos ofrece una visión de estos personajes que actúan demoníacamente por aridez protestante que se diluye en todas y en cada una de sus páginas». (Paloma Herce) (Translation)

RDT.Today alerts to the last days of the exhibition Fragrant Words, ending on December 10. KultuNews (Germany) publishes some pictures of the ongoing Jane Eyre ballet in Hamburg. Kreiszeitung (Germany) mentions the pseudonyms of the Brontës. EyreBuds have posted a new episode of their podcast now discussing the Jane Eyre 1972 Czech TV adaptation.