The honour of engaging with literature, heritage, and curatorial disciplines on a daily basis

In Your Area features a local student who will be working at the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

Elysia, 26, from Nelson, near Burnley, recently delivered a special talk for enthusiasts worldwide on Emily Brontë’s links to vampires. It included sharing rare items from the archives to lift the lid on the novelist and poet’s literary love of bloodsuckers.

The talk traced the influence of German literature and vampire stories on Wuthering Heights and tracked how Emily Brontë’s writing has gone on to shape modern vampire media like Twilight. In 2009, teenage fans of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series sent the 1847 novel Wuthering Heights - a favourite of the books’ hero and heroine - soaring to the top of the classics bestseller charts.

Elysia, who is now studying MA Nineteenth Century Studies at Edge Hill, said: “I’m privileged that I get to physically engage with the legacy of the Brontë family, and share their incredible story with visitors of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world.

“I have been able to take my love for the Brontës’ novels and poetry - deepened thanks to my studies on modules at Edge Hill - and apply it in my career. I have been supported both by my tutors at Edge Hill and my colleagues at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in following my passion for the Brontës into the world of work, and have the honour of engaging with literature, heritage, and curatorial disciplines on a daily basis.” (Emma Boff)

The Cambridge Tab reviews the local stage production Washed Up.

Never did I think I would see the day where Jane Eyre was a gun-slinging baddie, or as the Footlights aptly dubbed her, “one kick-ass motherfucker”. Filled with a sense of whimsy and randomness, the Footlights presented to Cambridge: Washed Up. I laughed, I smirked, I chuckled, at one point I even guffawed. A two-hour sketch show is no easy task, but I am happy to say the Footlights certainly pulled it off in stellar fashion. (Anuk Weerawardana)

BNN argues the case for Hayley Williams and Emma Mackey being 'Pioneering Voices in Punk and Period Drama'.

Emma Mackey as Emily Brontë: A Rebel's Life

Emma Mackey's role as Emily Brontë in the upcoming movie 'Emily' offers a glimpse into the life of a literary icon who was both a reclusive and free-spirited outsider. The film, highlighted by Alexandra Dowling, delves into Brontë's journey of finding her voice against the conservative backdrop of 19th century England. This portrayal by Mackey is poised to shed light on Brontë's complexities, emphasizing her rebellious nature and her profound impact on literature through 'Wuthering Heights'.

The parallels between Williams and Mackey's narratives are striking. Both women, in their respective fields, challenge the status quo, offering narratives of defiance and determination. Williams's journey with Paramore underscores the possibilities that emerge when boundaries are pushed in the music industry. Similarly, Mackey's portrayal of Emily Brontë invites a reevaluation of the life and legacy of a literary figure who defied societal expectations to create enduring art. Together, their stories highlight the importance of artistic expression as a means of challenging and overcoming barriers. (Shivani Chauhan)