The team at the Brontë Birthplace is celebrating a year that saw the historic house opened as a visitor centre.The Market Street house, where Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell Brontë were born, opened to the public for the first time in its 200-year history, following a major renovation. Funding from more than 700 investors, together with grants from Bradford 2025, the Community Ownership Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund led to the house being purchased and placed in the care of Brontë Birthplace Limited.In May, Queen Camilla officially opened the Birthplace as a visitor and education centre, with a cafe and overnight stay facilities. The Be More Brontë campaign was launched, to inspire children to take on new life challenges.In May, Queen Camilla officially opened the Birthplace as a visitor and education centre, with a cafe and overnight stay facilities. The Be More Brontë campaign was launched, to inspire children to take on new life challenges.Fundraising Co-ordinator Nigel West says: “It is an amazing story of Bradford City of Culture 2025, using their legacy funding, then 770 members contributing and the formation of a Community Benefit Society that will protect the Birthplace for the community. It is the most important heritage opening anywhere in the UK this year and as significant to this country as Shakespeare’s birthplace.”A range of events at the house this year has included author talks, educational workshops and theatre performances. Next year the team plans to build on the work and success of 2025. Adds Nigel: “This year has been a dream come true for everyone involved in the Birthplace project. We can’t wait to see what 2026 will hold for this amazing little house which has provided a lasting legacy for Thornton, Bradford and Brontë fans worldwide.”On a recent visit to Brontë Birthplace, I’m met by education officer Charlotte Jones, who has held a school workshop that morning. Charlotte is an excellent guide; a mine of information about the house, and Thornton, when the young Brontë family lived there, from 1815-1820. Market Street, she explains, was then the main road linking Bradford to Halifax, surrounded by moorland. Thornton’s landmark viaduct, and many of its houses, had yet to be built.We begin the tour in the hallway, with original staircase. When the Brontës lived here it was a busy household - home to Patrick, young curate of Thornton’s Bell Chapel, his wife Maria and their six children. You can almost hear them running downstairs and through the rooms.In the parlour stands a desk beneath a portrait of Patrick, who had two books published while living here. This room, furnished in Regency style, with the original fireplace, was where Maria entertained friends from the village.Items found in the house during last year’s renovation are displayed in a cabinet, including handwritten homework, which had slipped behind a skirting board, by a girl who once lived there - she returned to the house this year, Charlotte revealed - a Corgi toy box and animal bones from when the property was a butcher’s shop, with slaughterhouse at the back.The display reflects the history of the village, when its mills and houses were built in the mid-1800s. Pointing out a laudanum bottle, Charlotte tells of a Board of Health inspector in Thornton, horrified to find mothers giving their children opium as “infants preservative”.There’s an 1812 workhouse coin, a pair of child’s clogs, spectacles and, in one display case, things that would have been dear to Maria, including a lace shawl and kid leather gloves. “Maria gets a bit lost in the family’s story, especially in Haworth. This house was her domain,” said Charlotte.At the back is the kitchen, with original flagstones discovered by builders during the renovation, and the old wooden ceiling. The back stairs tell the story of Nancy De Garrs, selected by Patrick from the Bradford School of Industry, which trained girls for jobs in service. Nancy, 13, was nursemaid to the children and her sister Sarah, 12 was employed to help her. Nancy later became cook and housekeeper.“It is in this room where the children would’ve got under their feet, and where they told them stories,” says Charlotte. “We know now that early years learning is so important. Both Nancy and Sarah were so influential on the Brontës, yet they get so little recognition.”Upstairs, in Nancy and Sarah’s room, are dressing-up clothes and toys for today’s children to play with. “We do ‘laundry with Sarah De Garrs’ with school groups and quill and ink sessions,” says Charlotte.The three main bedrooms are now available to stay in. Charlotte’s room is where the children slept. “This is the only room in the world that all the Brontës slept in,” says Charlotte. “We think there may have been a dressing-room here, as there were reports of Patrick seen at the window shaving.”Emily’s bedroom was Patrick and Maria’s room, and Anne’s room is at the end of the landing, in the extension built after the Brontës’ time. At the original window, now restored, it is said the children could be seen, looking out for Patrick coming home. Each bedroom is beautifully furnished, with an en-suite bathroom.“There’s been a lot of interest in overnight stays,” says Charlotte. “We’ve had guests from Canada and Japan. A man from Germany stood in Nancy’s room and cried; he was so moved that the house was finally restored.”The tour ends in the education area and cafe. It was a pleasure to spend an hour with Charlotte - her passion for preserving and passing on the Brontë legacy really brought the house to life.The Brontës left Thornton in 1820 but this house still feels like a warm family home. Ahead of a new era of Brontëmania, with February’s release of Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights film, starring Margot Robbie, this modest mid-terrace house is a reminder that the story of Emily, Charlotte and Anne began here in Thornton. (Emma Clayton)
Planning permission has been granted to turn an historic building with links to the Bronte family into three properties.The planning permission relates to the former Red House Museum in Gomersal, a Grade II* listed building which operated as a small community museum before its closure in 2016.Listed building consent has also been granted as part of the proposals.Under the plans, the main house will be renovated and turned into two, three-bedroom homes, and the barn will be converted into a four-bedroom home, with part of the ground floor extended.The coach house will be renovated into ancillary accommodation for the barn.The main house – a two-storey detached building – was originally constructed around 1660 and extensively refurbished in the 19th century.The building has historic links to the Bronte family and is mentioned in Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Shirley’.In the application’s decision report, the council said the site was offered for Community Asset Transfer following its closure in 2016, but that “none of the proposals received were assessed as being realistically viable.”The site was later sold at public auction in December 2024.On the development’s visual amenity, the decision report said: “It is considered that although there will be some alterations to the buildings, the harm this will cause will be outweighed by the building remaining in use and being restored where it otherwise may have gone into disrepair.”No representations were received for the change of use application, however seven were received as part of the application for listed building consent.One of these was an objection and one was a general comment. (Catherine Gannon)
'Wuthering Heights' – Feb. 13Emerald Fennell's highly anticipated adaptation of Emily Brontë's only novel is already gearing up to be one of 2026's most swoon-worthy affairs. The trailer alone is pure cinema, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's electric chemistry leaping off the screen as the marketing reminds us that Wuthering Heights is "the greatest love story of all time." Fennell's gothic romance was primarily filmed in the rugged moorlands of the Yorkshire Dales, so viewers will get to experience the bleak landscape described in Brontë's 1847 novel backed by the avant-pop vocals of Charli XCX. As an added treat, breakout Adolescence star Owen Cooper plays Young Heathcliff, rounding out an already watchable cast that also includes The Night Agent's Hong Chau. (Josh Conrad)
Wuthering Heights (Feb. 13)The trailer for Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s famous novel calls it “the greatest love story of all time,” perhaps an unusual way of describing the escalating abuse and trauma of the source material. This version of Wuthering Heights stars Margot Robbie as 18-year-old Catherine Earnshaw and sees Jacob Elordi further establishing his Gothic bona fides as the Byronic hero Heathcliff. (Ben Rosenstock)
Wuthering HeightsBecause no era is complete without another attempt to make Wuthering Heights feel fresh. This new adaptation revisits Emily Jane Brontë’s classic tale of obsession, class, and deeply unhealthy romance. Expect windswept drama, brooding stares, and characters who desperately need therapy. The toxicity is the point.Release Date: February 14, 2026 (Kenzie Mastroe)
In my experience as an English teacher, despite having access to more books than ever before, schools often see books with glorified violence at the centre as “boy books”, and so fill the curriculum with this content. This does nothing to combat toxic masculinity – rather, it fosters it.We shouldn’t patronise boys by telling them what society thinks they should become, but instead give them a bit more credit in their reading interests. I’ve had plenty of young men tearing up in my classroom when reading Jane Eyre. Encouraging kids to read this kind of book won’t solve the entire problem, but it will certainly help in making more well-rounded young men. Louis Provis, Head of English, MyEdSpace
The cast of Jane Eyre is a collection of longtime thespians and some brand new to the stage. Angello Vasquez as John Reed and Noah brings enthusiasm to his roles as do Kayla Vasquez and Julia Nelson. Monica Bonnington as Miss Temple and Leah lends a gentle and solid presence. Mimi Hamilton as Mrs. Fairfax is full of warmth and goodness. Her eyes are so welcoming to Jane, yet contain flickers of concern for everyone. Laura Martin-Chapin is equally strong as Mrs. Reed and Lady Ingram. She provides a sharp contrast to Fairfax and delivers it with aplomb. Edward Rochester is a complex character, and we see a bit too much of Justin Parish rather than Rochester in his portrayal. His speech is stilted, and missing much of Rochester’s moody and sardonic nature. Still, he hits the mark in believability for his love of Jane. Carolina Ryklansky as Helen, Blanche, and Bertha was divine. These characters couldn’t be more different, and Rylansky nailed all of them. From bosom friend, to society snob, to madwoman, every moment on stage is used with intention and purpose. Quick wit, shy smiles, and heart-felt discourse mark Sophie Ruf’s portrayal of Jane Eyre. She gives Jane both an assertiveness and tenderness that bibliophiles will appreciate. With her earnestness and ease of manner, she is truly Jane Eyre. Marian Simpson as Old Jane has a wonderful voice for narration, and the audience is glad to finally meet her.Orinda Starlight Village Players makes the most of a small budget with good decision-making and priorities. As a playwright, Malcolm Cowler condenses the hefty book into a manageable size by introducing an older Jane Eyre as a narrative voice that is used during transitions for exposition and connecting the scenes. In conjunction with the narration, projections both fill out the space and move with the narrator’s voice through the house and countryside. The projections provide detail and a grand scale to the space. The costumes by Matt Cardigan-Smith work well for the time period and were flattering. His design was especially helpful in distinguishing different characters played by the same actor. The set design by Cowler is simple and clear, allowing the projections to do the heavy-lifting. As a director Malcolm Cowler has his cast well prepared. Early performances by community groups are often marked by stalls and stops, but this performance flowed with good pacing. (Kelly Rogers Flynt)
And that’s where the danger lies. In satisfying what Brontë only ever suggested, a film risks deflating the very power that has kept Wuthering Heights burning through centuries. Desire thrives in absence. When the audience sees everything, the spell can break.Yet, perhaps Fennell knows this. Perhaps the explicit is not meant to replace the implicit, but to refract it—to show how violently desire contorts when it’s been repressed too long. If she succeeds, this could be less a modernisation than a kind of exorcism—dragging the unspeakable into the light, not for titillation, but for reckoning.Still, the question remains: can a story built on haunting withstand heat? Can the spectral be made flesh without losing its sting?There’s no easy answer. But one suspects Brontë, radical in her own time, might have welcomed the attempt. After all, her novel was never polite. It was brutal, bloody, and wild long before Hollywood touched it.The real test will be whether this adaptation leaves us gasping not from what we saw—but from what still lingers after. (Shatakshi Ganguly)
Perhaps that is the lasting legacy of Emily Brontë’s singular work: not that it is impossible to adapt, but that each adaptation serves as a haunting reminder of how wild and untamed the original remains: which is a literary ghost that refuses to rest. (Marie Cris Estrada)
With the thudding, mind-numbing lyrics of “Fall in love again and again” senselessly repeated (again and again) along with erotic and bizarre images (what in the world is up with that fish?), the new Wuthering Heights trailer is the apotheosis of the intellectual depravity and moral baseness of media geared toward women.A lot of women’s media is an insult to their intelligence and moral compass, but the new Wuthering Heights trailer takes the cake. One can’t help but watch it and wonder, “Is this what society thinks women want? Just a hodgepodge of senseless sensuality and intellectual debasement?” (Meg Marie Johnson)
Now, BP Land Ltd has submitted plans to Kirklees Council to bring three residential properties to the site. Two will be located in the main mansion, if the application is approved, with the barn to be converted into a third home.In the main house, original windows would be refurbished, with a bay window to be replaced to the south. An existing window to the west would be removed, partially infilled and new windows then installed.The site would still be accessible from Oxford Road, with car parking provided for eight cars.The three units would provide “generous” family accommodation, according to the application, with the two properties within the mansion set for three bedrooms and the house in the barn earmarked for four bedrooms.A planning statement on behalf of the applicant added: “The application is driven by the desire to utilise, develop and refurbish a historically significant yet dilapidated site within a predominantly residential area for housing and to retain and convert the derelict listed buildings to help to retain the assets for future generations and diversify the local housing stock with properties of real character.”Due to the nature of the building, the applicant has applied for planning permission and Listed Building Consent. Both applications are expected to be determined by October 21, 2025. (Abigail Marlow)
Right now, the top audiobook titles on the “BookTok’s Current Obsessions” shelf are Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. The “Hottest Authors” include Zoe Whittall and Donna Hill.
The former Red House Museum at Gomersal will be turned into housing if Kirklees Council gives plans the go-ahead.Sitting off Oxford Road, the Grade–II* Listed Georgian mansion was auctioned off by the council back in December. This came as part of the local authority’s bid to raise some cash and relieve financial pressures. The property was first purchased by Spenborough Council in 1969.The Red House was built by wealthy local farming and textiles family – the Taylors – back in 1660, with Mary Taylor – a friend of Charlotte Brontë – residing there centuries later. It also receives a mention in Charlotte Brontë’s Shirley.Now, BP Land Ltd has submitted plans to Kirklees Council to bring three residential properties to the site. Two of which will be located in the main mansion, if the application is approved, with the barn to be converted into a third home. The coach house which also sits on the site would become a garage or ancillary accommodation for the barn house.Application documents say that there would be “minimal changes” to the outside of the existing buildings. In the main house, original windows would be refurbished, with a bay window to be replaced to the south. An existing window to the west would be removed, partially infilled and new windows then installed.The site would still be accessible from Oxford Road, with car parking provided for eight cars. The three units would provide “generous” family accommodation, according to the application, with the two properties within the mansion set for three bedrooms and the house in the barn earmarked for four bedrooms.A Planning Statement on behalf of the applicant adds: “The application is driven by the desire to utilise, develop and refurbish a historically significant yet dilapidated site within a predominantly residential area for housing and to retain and convert the derelict listed buildings to help to retain the assets for future generations and diversify the local housing stock with properties of real character.”Due to the nature of the building, the applicant has applied for planning permission and Listed Building Consent. Both applications are expected to be determined by October 21, 2025. (Abigail Marlow)
Haworth is an interesting industrial village with a history which also includes the Bronte Sisters and filming of The Railway Children. Explore the narrow, often cobbled streets on this short walk and experience a real sense of history.Park in one of the car parks at the top end of Haworth and make your way to top of the cobbled main street next to St Michael and All Angels Church. The Brontë Parsonage museum is set behind the church and worth a visit on your return. [...]Turn left and soon reach Haworth Station. There is a small quirky shop great for rail enthusiasts.Cross the rail lines at the west end of the station via the bridge and re-join Butts Lane that now leads steeply uphill and back in to the main village of Haworth. Once back in Haworth there is a variety of excellent cafes and pubs but before settling down turn right to the top of the village and find the Brontë Parsonage Museum.This is where the famous literary sisters lived their short but inspiring lives surrounded by the wild moors and suffocating industrial smog. A visit to the Parsonage Museum or one of the many cafes beckons. (Jonathan Smith)
Haworth is just under a two hour drive from Liverpool. The train journey can be slightly longer, but consists of travelling from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria then onto Hebden Bridge. From this station, visitors can jump on the B3 Brontë Bus which travels into Haworth. [...]The Brontë family lived in the Haworth Parsonage from 1820 until 1861, where some of the most famous books in English literature were said to be written. Brontë sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë wrote 'Wuthering Heights,' 'Jane Eyre,' and 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall'.Visitors of Haworth are able to visit their former home, which now acts as a museum celebrating the legacy of the Brontës and their literary works. (Hannah Rees)
A demonic presence. A forbidden love story. A haunted silver mine. An exorcism (or three). A conniving priest. And a mercury poisoning subplot inspired by an episode of "Grey's Anatomy."Isabel Cañas' latest book, "The Possession of Alba Díaz" (out now, pp. 384, Berkely), is the amalgamation of all the parts of her as a reader and writer. She says it's "part 'Grey's Anatomy,' part inspired by an intense Catholic upbringing, part all the gothics I read as a kid, especially 'Wuthering Heights,' and part what I really wished I could find on shelves."Because how incredible would it have been if 'Wuthering Heights,' instead of taking place in the Yorkshire moors, took place somewhere in Mexico? (Pamela Avila)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëJayne [sic] Eyre is a must-read for cottagecore enthusiasts and literary fanatics alike. It’s one of those novels that you have to read slowly, as if you’re enjoying a fine wine and want to savor every sip. Every single sentence is so beautifully poetic and thoughtful that you’ll be feeling separation anxiety with this novel the moment you finish. (Bre Avery)
La primera entrada de la newsletter de la periodista Adriana Herreros, Campo Visual, se llama ‘Andar por andar’, data de 2021 y comienza con una cita de Charlotte Brönte [sic], de Jane Eyre. “Al principio, andaba deprisa para entrar en calor, pero reduje la marcha y empecé a disfrutar y a analizar la índole de placer que la hora y el entorno hacían germinar dentro de mí”. (Marita Alonso) (Translation)
Despite everything I've outlined here, I'm actually excited for Wuthering Heights. While there is still room for a definitive adaptation of the classic novel, the new film looks to instead tell its story with a subversive, contemporary edge.I’ve found Fennell's films to be fairly empty in the past, but her new work adapts a classic work of literature already jam-packed with ideas. Whether delving into focusing on concerns about love and obsession, social status, or belonging, there is great room for Fennell to be thematically faithful to the source material while injecting it with her unique energy.Movies like 2023's Emily have shown how having great flexibility with the Brontë source material can pay off with an excellent film of its own. While not a direct adaptation of Wuthering Heights, the Emma Mackey-starring film did a great job integrating elements of that story to tell something that is strikingly new.The novel will remain a classic of Romantic literature, and this new film will not change that. Whether it is faithful is less important than whether it is effective in telling its story. There are already dozens of more faithful adaptations to choose from, including the 2009 Tom Hardy series, and this film will not erase them. (Karlis Wilde)
In 1996 Baz Luhrmann created his version of Romeo and Juliet. At the time, critics called it an adaptation for the MTV Generation, with its campy visuals, modern soundtrack and heart-throb lead Leonardo DiCaprio. The film turned Shakespearean drama into a pop culture feast for the eyes.Nearly 30 years on, something similar seems to be going on with the upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights. It’s helmed by Emerald Fennell, the director of Promising Young Woman and the somewhat controversial Saltburn, which also starred Jacob Elordi.After months of bizarre rumours, we’ve finally got a trailer for the film, which is slated for a February 2026 release… and it seems we’re in for a wild ride.The trailer gives the impression that the 19th-century romantic sensibility has been translated for a contemporary audience immersed in Instagram aesthetics, social media posts, and BookTok smut.1. The marketing-driven casting2. Highly stylised visual design makes for viral clips3. Amplifying the novel’s sex and violence4. The soundtrack by Charli XCX (Weronika de Oliveira) (Read more)
Of course Fennell is making an abrasive, porny movie that may or may not open with a corpse ejaculating. Of course it’s not going to be an earnest adaptation. Honestly, I think she’s having some fun with all of this (and with us). She sees your clutched pearls and laughs. Just look at the poster, which pointedly references another famous epic adaptation of a highly problematic literary love story (Gone With the Wind, if you’re new here).Personally, I am holding out hope that Fennell understands how deeply depraved this novel is, and is simply using the impressionist’s brush to portray said depravity in a modern way. She’s not usually that subtle, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be. (Emily Temple)
Book sales for the 1847 classic novel “Wuthering Heights” have shot up on Amazon since the trailer for a new film adaptation stirred controversy for its casting choices, overtly sexual tone and apparent inconsistencies with the original story.Sales of the 1997 Wordsworth Classics edition of "Wuthering Heights" shot up 504% between Thursday and Friday, Amazon said, making it the No. 2 bestselling gothic romance as of Friday.The Penguin Classics paperback edition, first released in 2002, has seen sales rise 187% and the book was the 98th bestseller across Amazon as of 10 a.m. Friday.The spike in popularity comes after Warner Bros. released the official teaser trailer for "Wuthering Heights" on Wednesday to the dismay of some viewers, who highlighted apparent inconsistencies between the novel and director Emerald Fennell’s adaptation.Critics said the film’s stars, Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw, were both poor choices as, in the novel, Heathcliff is described as dark-skinned (Eldori is white) and Catherine is a teenager (Robbie is 35).The trailer was also criticized for the longing stares and overt sexual tension that imply the film will be an errotic [sic] adaptation of an original story centered on abuse, violence and trauma. (Mary Whitfill Roeloffs)
The Spen Valley Civic Society hopes that the new owner of Red House Museum in Gomersal will give the historic building “the tender loving care it deserves.”The Grade II Listed building, which was owned by Kirklees Council, was sold at auction for £650,000 last week.Once the home of Charlotte Brontë’s friend Mary Taylor, the museum closed its doors in 2016 and was earmarked for a wedding venue years later but this plan fell through.The council announced last year that it was looking to dispose of several assets when it was facing a £47m deficit, although local community groups hoped that Red House could be saved.A spokesperson for the Spen Valley Civic Society said: “For all those local residents who campaigned to keep the Red House open as Spen Valley’s local museum and Brontë site, its sale for £650,000 is the end of the story.“A story of the loss of a public cultural and heritage resource. The Civic Society would like to see some of the proceeds being used for other public resources in Spen Valley, such as Spen’s Town Hall in Cleckheaton.“We hope that the new owner of The Red House will respect its historical value and give the building the tender loving care it deserves as a Grade II Listed building.” (Adam Cheshire)
The Banagher Brontë Group welcomed famous author Martina Devlin to Crank House on Saturday afternoon for the launch of her acclaimed book “Charlotte”.James Scully warmly welcomed Martina and the audience to the launch of “this wonderful book.”He gave some background information about what Banagher Brontë Group is. “We are an organisation founded in December 2023 with the aim of highlighting the connection between Banagher and the famous Brontë literary family from Haworth in Yorkshire, England.“This connection began in 1845 when an Irish curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls, who had grown up in Banagher, became the new curate helping Patrick Brontë, incumbent curate of Haworth and none other than father of the famous writers, Anne Brontë, Emily Brontë and Charlotte Brontë. This same curate, less than ten years later, in 1854, became the husband of Charlotte Brontë and he brought her to Banagher on their honeymoon.”James said the Group has enjoyed a great year and has been very active. “We visited Haworth. We took part in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Banagher. We have a growing collection of tapestries and marionettes. We have a number of plans for the future. And now we are delighted to welcome the acclaimed novelist and Irish Independent journalist Martina Devlin to our town for the launch of her highly-praised novel 'Charlotte'. I first met Martina in the summer of 2021 and I was delighted when she said Mary Anna Bell Nicholls, who lived in Cuba Court House here in Banagher and became the second wife of Arthur Bell Nicholls, was going to feature prominently in her novel 'Charlotte'.”The audience was then treated to a fascinating and detailed interview process between Maebh O'Regan of Banagher Brontë Group and Martina Devlin, during which Martina revealed her incredibly extensive knowledge of the Brontës.Maebh began the interview by saying she had hugely enjoyed the novel. She asked why was Martina so interested in the Brontës?Martina said her deep interest goes back to her childhood when she read 'Jane Eyre' and loved it. “Many things struck me when I read the novel, many lines leapt out at me, including the powerful line spoken by Jane, 'I am no bird and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.' I loved that fierce, independent spirit. It was very attractive. In a way my novel 'Charlotte' is an act of homage to 'Jane Eyre'. 'Charlotte' also grew out of the fact that I wanted to draw people's attention to the huge Irish connection, the huge Irish influence in the Brontë story. Take for example the gothic elements in Jane Eyre or in Wuthering Heights, I think there is something very Irish which has inspired those elements. Also, Charlotte's father Patrick, who was from County Down, was well known for being an excellent storyteller. I think the Brontë sisters may have imbibed some of that genius for storytelling from their father.”Maebh said Martina's novel is told from the viewpoint of Mary Anna Bell Nicholls. Why was this?“The more research I did,” replied Martina, “the more pivotal Mary Anna seemed. She met Charlotte and Arthur when they arrived in Dublin on their honeymoon. She spent some of their honeymoon in Cuba Court with them. Mary Anna was young, 22, and I thought it must have been quite dazzling for her to meet one of the most famous female novelists in the world. It would be like a young woman meeting Tom Cruise in Banagher now!“The novel covers quite a long time frame. There was the nine months of Charlotte and Arthur's marriage. The years that followed fascinated me and I wanted to tell the story of that.” (Read more) (Derek Fanning)
"We collaborated and talked about Swift as like a savvy Victorian novelist -- going back to the Brontës, actually, in some ways -- talking about all her re-recordings and marketing strategies in the context of 19th century publishing," she said.The elective class, LIT3301, rotates topics based on interest. The idea for a Swift class came when the trio was having lunch one day in the month of – you guessed it – August.But Jones, an associate professor, explains that while some thought the idea was legendary, others deemed it unnecessary."There was a letter to the editor in the Tampa Bay Times about how it was sort of an embarrassing thing for USF to be doing,” she said. “Like, back in the day, professors taught real things like Shakespeare and Milton and Jonathan Swift and the Brontë sisters." (Mahika Kukday)
Red House Museum in Gomersal has been sold at auction for £650,000.The historic Grade II Listed Georgian mansion, which was owned by Kirklees Council, went under the hammer with Pugh Auctions on Tuesday, December 3.Once the home of Charlotte Bronte’s friend Mary Taylor, the museum closed its doors in 2016 and was earmarked for a wedding venue years later but this plan fell through.The council announced last year that it was looking to dispose of several assets when it was facing a £47m deficit. (Adam Cheshire)
This is the book that spawned an entire subgenre of domestic thrillers about “the one before” (though Charlotte Brontë deserves some of the credit), as well as a clutch of direct “Rebecca” retellings.
Hong Chau (The Instigators), Alison Oliver (Saltburn), and Shazad Latif (Magpie, Star Trek: Discovery) have landed the three remaining major roles in Academy Award winner Emerald Fennell’s buzzy Wuthering Heights adaptation for Warner Bros, MRC, and LuckyChap.Sources tell us Chau is playing Nelly Dean, the film’s chief narrator, with Oliver as Isabella Linton. Shazad plays Edgar Linton, a wealthy, aristocratic man who marries Catherine Earnshaw (Margot Robbie). The actors come to the project after Warner Bros snapping it up in a fierce bidding war, with a commitment to a theatrical run with a big P&A spend. As previously announced, LuckyChap’s Robbie and Euphoria‘s Jacob Elordi lead the cast. (Matt Grobar)
A historic property that has Brontë connections goes under the hammer next month – with a £650,000-plus guide price.Kirklees Council is selling the Grade II*-listed former Red House Museum, at Gomersal.Dating back to 1660, the house and grounds are associated with Luddite activities and the Taylor family, particularly Mary, a radical feminist and friend of Charlotte Brontë.Charlotte was a regular guest at the property in the 1830s and gave it a starring role as Briarmains in her novel, Shirley.Bought by Spenborough Council in 1969, the building served as a museum from the early 1970s until it was closed to the public in 2016.The property was then earmarked for a wedding venue and holiday accommodation, but the plan fell through.Kirklees Council announced last year it was looking to dispose of several assets when it was facing a £47m budget deficit, and was hoping to bring in a minimum of £4 million from the various sales.Bought by Spenborough Council in 1969, the building served as a museum from the early 1970s until it was closed to the public in 2016.The property was then earmarked for a wedding venue and holiday accommodation, but the plan fell through.Kirklees Council announced last year it was looking to dispose of several assets when it was facing a £47m budget deficit, and was hoping to bring in a minimum of £4 million from the various sales.“It would make an outstanding family home, as it must have been for generations of the Taylor family, and contains some really exceptional original features, including stained glass windows in the dining room that are described by Charlotte Brontë in Shirley.”He added: “Not surprisingly we have had a great deal of interest from would-be buyers.”Charitable organisation Red House Yorkshire Heritage Trust was formed in November 2019 in the hope of saving the Red House site and its buildings so they could benefit the local community.
Haworth is probably the most cosmopolitan place in Yorkshire – between about 9am and 9pm.The works of sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë have been translated into 60-plus languages and have enchanted readers around the world. That’s not bad for three odd Yorkshire lasses who wrote these now classic novels to amuse themselves as they waited for the internet to be invented.Logically, fans of Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall visit the sisters’ locale to swallow the landscape and village that inspired them. Even outside peak season you can hear conversations in a wide range of foreign languages as well as non -British English. (...)But now there’s another kind of international tourist in Haworth. I ask a couple of young Chinese students on Haworth’s Main Street if they like the Brontës. They look at me puzzled.Following a very short and awkward conversation I realise they’re not here as Brontë fans. In fact, I’m not sure they had hitherto heard of the Brontës.I ascertain they’re from one of the Leeds universities and they’ve come to Haworth because they’ve seen photos of it on social media. I find this odd but apparently it’s pretty common among Generation Z.And as long as they’re spending money and not peeing in people’s doorways and making a din, who cares? (David Himelfield)
The British writer-director Andrea Arnold has worked in American episodic TV (“Transparent,” “I Love Dick,” the entire second season of “Big Little Lies”), and she made a 2011 version of “Wuthering Heights” that’s as stark and storm-tossed as a night on the moors. (Ty Burr)
And at the frillier end of cultural representations of men, the likes of Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights depend more on their ability to smoulder a lady to a crisp with a glance than on their emotional articulacy. (Catherine Bray)
Un dels seus llibres predilectes és Cumbres Borrascosas, una obra que esmenta amb freqüència com la seva favorite. (Dani Serrano) (Transaltion)
This very limited Australian season will mark the commencement of a South East Asian Tour for the production which will see the British company including many of the original London cast members returning to their roles.The lead roles of Heathcliff and Catherine will be played by John Leader and Stephanie Hockley respectively. Sam Archer plays Lockwood/Edgar Linton, Rebecca Collingwood Isabella Linton/Linton Heathcliff, Matthew Churcher as Hindley Earnshaw/Hareton Earnshaw, and Nandi Bhebhe in the role of Leader of the Moors. (...)“How exciting to be bringing our beloved Wuthering Heights to Sydney! Following in the footsteps of my productions of Tristan & Yseult, The Red Shoes and Brief Encounter, I hope Wuthering Heights will capture the heart of Sydney, just as Sydney has captured mine. Prepare for all the drama, humour and hope that you could wish for – I can’t wait to be down under again,” said Emma Rice.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, 1847Is it just us or is this book moving enough to make you run out of the house during a downpour and into your nearest park wearing an impractical long dress? This list wouldn’t be complete without paying homage to Cathy and Heathcliffe, whose impassioned souls roam over the Yorkshire Moors. A tale where the wild heath, the imposing house and the thrashing elements are famously ‘main character energy’. It would only be right to read this while welcoming in the start of a classic British winter. (Sophia Haddad)
Instead of her usual originality, Levy spends a lot of time reflecting on other people’s reflections. We get Levy’s take on Simone de Beauvoir’s take on Violette Leduc. Levy’s take on Elizabeth Hardwick’s take on the Brontë sisters. It’s all a bit meta. (Ceci Browning)
Yorkshire Bylines talks about how The Boggarts – a group of some of the country’s top writers – are crowdfunding to produce an anthology of poetry and prose about bogs:
Give Peat A Chance will be an anthology of prose and poetry by some of the country’s top writers including Amy Liptrot, Alys Fowler, Pascale Petit, David Morley and Rob McFarlane. It aims to create connection and understanding around peatland landscapes like Walshaw Moor, which looms above Howarth (sic), Hebden Bridge and Hardcastle Crags.
Widely thought to be the original Wuthering Heights, it’s a site of special scientific interest and it’s also a bone of contention currently with a proposal to build one of the UK’s largest wind farms attracting a passionate local debate. (Jimmy Andrex)
The 2009 miniseries Wuthering Heights is one of many adaptations of the classic 1847 novel by Emily Brontë. Hardy plays the leading role of Heathcliff, who is raised by the wealthy Earnshaw family. Later in life, he launches a vendetta against them. Heathcliff also falls in love with Cathy, and their romance becomes a danger for everybody around them. Charlotte Riley plays Cathy, Hardy’s now real-life wife, so it’s no surprise that the pair have very believable chemistry. (Alyssa De Leo)
6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëGoverness Jane has overcome a troubled childhood to work for Mr. Rochester.As their mutual attraction spikes, Jane wonders about the secrets he’s hiding at Thornfield Hill.The novel is known for being not only one of the best romantic books but one of the greatest novels of all time. (Alycia McNamara)
A date has been set for when a Grade II* listed former museum with Brontë connections will be auctioned off.Kirklees Council said the Red House, a Georgian mansion in Gomersal, would be listed for sale with Pugh Auctions on 3 December, with a guide price of over £650,000.The property, which was once the home of Charlotte Brontë’s friend Mary Taylor, was previously a museum which closed in 2016 and a plan to turn it into holiday accommodation and wedding venue fell through.Kirklees Council announced it would dispose of several assets to address a £47m deficit last year. The Red House Yorkshire Heritage Trust, formed to try and save the site in 2019, said they were "profoundly saddened" by the decision to sell it.A statement on their Facebook page said they had worked with Communities Together to put forward a bid to purchase the house and gardens with a view to restoring community access, but the council did not accept it."As a result, Red House will now be sold by auction," the group said.“We are profoundly saddened by this outcome and fully understand and share the community’s strong disapproval of the council’s decision.”According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Graham Turner, the council's cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said: "As this building is now surplus to the council’s requirements, it could generate crucial capital funding to help us deliver a better future for Kirklees.”Mary Taylor's family lived at the Red House and she met Charlotte Brontë at Roe Head School in Mirfield and maintained a lifelong friendship with the writer. (Abigail Marlow)
We’re on Main Street in Haworth, a few miles from Keighley. This steep, cobbled thoroughfare was the stomping ground – or in the case of Branwell, staggering ground – of the legendary Brontë family.The literary connection attracts thousands of international visitors to this Pennine high street lined with bookshops, cafes and gift shops. On a crisp but sunny Wednesday, the majority of visitors are British but you can hear the odd conversation in a foreign language.And yet Main Street is a working street with a surprisingly large number of long-established residents. It’s not all holiday rentals after all.Claire and her husband Barry have run Hawksbys, a gallery and craft shop near the top of Main Street, for 23 years. Because of Main Street’s persistent popularity the couple work seven days a week with only sporadic breaks.“When you go out of the village you get a lot of perspective. You realise how beautiful it is. You get that ‘homecoming’ feeling,” says Claire, 43.“You look down the street and you think, how many people have that view?...and it’s so atmospheric.”I ask Claire if she’s a Brontë fan because one shouldn’t assume everyone on Main Street is. “I prefer Jane Austin [sic],” she says and laughs.Down the hill with slightly less of a view is a woman we’ll call Janice. Janice (she doesn’t want to give her real name) is more openly ambivalent.“It’s lovely,” she says before adding cautiously, “I just wish the tourists would be a bit more respectful.” [...]Janice finds some of the international tourists amusing, especially those from parts of the US where a 100-year-old building is considered ‘ancient’.“They think our houses are [film] sets or fascias. They don’t realise they are real houses,” she says.And while Janice doesn’t necessarily love Haworth’s visitors, she has a soft spot for Japanese visitors. The Bronte canon is immensely popular in Japan to the extent signs to the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens are in Japanese.“You can be shamed by the Japanese tourists; the amount they know about it,” says Janice. (David Himelfield)
Tell us about your new book, Charlotte. Where did the idea come from?The novel is about memory, family secrets and the power of objects. It tells of Charlotte Brontë’s brief marriage to Irishman Arthur Nicholls through the voice of his second wife, Mary. The idea sprang from my interest in the Brontë sisters and their work – they wrote women characters with emotional depth who were independent and resourceful, like themselves. I’ve visited Haworth several times and the museum in the parsonage where they lived is a little jewel.What do you hope this book instils in the reader?For people to realise that Ireland exerted a stronger pull on Charlotte Brontë’s imagination than has necessarily been acknowledged. And that although the Brontës are regarded as jewels in England’s literary canon, they had an important Irish connection which fed into their work. Their father, Patrick, was Irish and fired his children’s imaginations with stories, books and newspapers.What did you learn when writing this book?That in marrying Arthur, Charlotte was reaching out to life and hope. We have a view of the Brontës as doomed, tragic figures but Charlotte was happy with Arthur during their nine months of married life; also, the sisters’ letters show them to be creative, loyal, resilient, witty and sharp observers. They were proto feminists in an era where women were more or less the property of a father or husband. (Sarah Gill)
It’s a story that echoes the power of writing theme Connolly explored in his Lost Things series and, despite a second visit involving Emily Brontë’s Cathy feeling slightly rushed, a worthy addition to his impressive oeuvre. (Pat Carty)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, The Awakening by Kate ChopinI read them quite early on in the album process, and it’s only now I’ve thought about them again. I hadn’t really been exposed through education to feminism. I was in a relationship that wasn’t balanced, and these books showed me women that were fighting for that balance and fighting to be equal. I read them, and they stuck with me. And then I went on with my life. Looking back on those books, what they were about, why they made me feel certain things – it’s so much of the character traits that I really was too afraid to embody myself. When I came to the end of the record and I had finally learned to embody these characteristics, like dignity, independence, sticking to your moral compass despite what society wants, equality in a relationship. Especially with Jane Eyre, she wanted to be seen as an equal and didn’t want to sacrifice her own values. All of these qualities were things I had to learn in the making of this record. And now that I’m finally getting there with those qualities, these books have popped up again in my head. (Konstantinos Pappis)
Helen Mirren once said ‘All you have to do is look like crap on film and everyone thinks you’re a brilliant actress. Actually, all you’ve done is look like crap’. It’s a bold statement, the kind you can only expect from a seasoned professional who’s been around the image-conscious Hollywood block a few times. But although Mirren is nearly eighty, her proclamation is no less resonant nowadays than it was during her days as a young actress. [...]A BBC article hyperbolically entitled ’Wuthering Heights: Hollywood’s worst casting decisions’ (surely that title belongs to James Corden in Cats?) begins with a summary of the novel that reads like a thirteen-year-old’s panicked last-minute copy-and-paste from Wikipedia: ‘Catherine is a teenager who lives on a farm in England in the late-1700s. Heathcliff is a dark-skinned foundling of the same age’. The treatment of Heathcliff’s race as his defining feature in the second sentence comes across as somewhat problematic, and what the rest of this article impeccably (if inadvertently) encapsulates is the problem with movie releases in the Internet epoch, when social media vultures seize on a singular piece of casting information like a freshly killed impala and tear it apart with frightening zeal — without actually having seen the film. The professed motivation behind the freshest feast is that Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie are considered too polished and beautiful to play Emily Brontë’s tortured, gurning, windswept youths. The author expresses this by describing them as ‘impossibly good-looking’, but then fumbles around for something to back up this superficial argument, going on tangents about so-called ‘iPhone face’ (a phenomenon whereby certain actors’ faces look too modern or ‘Instagrammable’ for period dramas) and Heathcliff’s ethnicity (equating the absence of a black actor in the ambiguous role of a traveller to Laurence Olivier playing Othello in blackface). But the beauty argument is an empty critique, as it is patently untrue that glamorous actors cannot play dishevelled or unattractive characters. Were that the case, millions of hair and makeup artists would be out of work. (Daisy Simpson)
A date has been set for when Kirklees Council hopes to offload the historic Grade II*-listed former Red House Museum, which has Brontë connections.Tuesday, December 3, will see the Georgian mansion - dating back to the 17th century - go under the hammer with Pugh Auctions, with a guide price of £650,000 plus.Bought by Spenborough Council in 1969, the building served as a museum from 1974 until it was closed to the public in 2016.The museum was earmarked for a wedding venue and holiday accommodation after it closed, but this plan fell through.Kirklees Council announced it was looking to dispose of several assets last year when it was facing an eyewatering £47m deficit, and was hoping to bring in a minimum of £4m from the sales.Auctioneers say the historic property is likely to be suitable for redevelopment or change of use and could potentially be returned to its original use as a large private residence.The property’s many original features include an 18th-century wooden staircase leading to a galleried landing, as well as several fireplaces, and striking stained glass windows featuring portraits of William Shakespeare and John Milton.Other options for some of the properties included Community Asset Transfers – where a site is handed over to be owned and managed by the community - though in the case of Red House, the Council is pushing ahead with an auction.Will Thompson, a director at auction house Pugh, said: “In keeping with its four decades as a museum, the Red House is a fascinating treasure trove that is drenched in the history of this part of West Yorkshire."It would make an outstanding family home, as it must have been for generations of the Taylor family, and contains some really exceptional original features, including some stained glass windows in the dining room that are described by Charlotte Brontë in Shirley.”He added: “The house is also in the highly sought-after village of Gomersal and not surprisingly we have had a great deal of interest from would-be buyers.”Charitable organisation Red House Yorkshire Heritage Trust has commented on the news.The group was formed in November 2019 in the hopes of saving the Red House sites and its buildings so they could benefit the local community.A statement on their Facebook page says: “Communities Together and Red House Yorkshire Heritage Trust collaboratively put forward a bid to purchase the house and gardens with a view to restoring community access."Kirklees Council did not accept this bid. As a result, Red House will now be sold by auction.“We are profoundly saddened by this outcome and fully understand and share the community’s strong disapproval of the Council’s decision.”Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “Next month we’ll be auctioning off Red House in Gomersal."As this building is now surplus to the council’s requirements, it could generate crucial capital funding to help us deliver a better future for Kirklees.”
“Ultimately, ‘Jane Eyre’ is a tale of redemption,” Director Linda Cooper, associate professor and chair of Theatre Arts, said. “I’m hoping … (the audience) will understand what forgiveness is and that God tempers judgment with mercy, and so there’s hope for everyone.”The expanded stage showcased numerous locations, including the peaceful forested garden of Thornfield Hall and the heartless atmosphere of Lowood School. These scenes are brought to life by the musical’s creative team, production staff and orchestra, which is conducted by adjunct music professor Kathryn Wert.“Jane Eyre is a hero of mine, full of spirit and fortitude,” Cooper said. “She faces this world with only God as her guide and listens to his still, small voice in all situations. Even when her flesh is weak, it is her moral compass that gives her strength to carry on in the face of adversity.”“Helen Burns is my favorite character because of how her character shaped the rest of Jane’s journey from beginning to end,” Jesse Wilkerson, who plays the role of Mr. Rochester, said. “If it wasn’t for Helen, I don’t think Jane would ever have been able to forgive Mrs. Reed or Rochester, and her story would have been completely different.”The cast of “Jane Eyre” faced several difficulties, including an unforeseen last minute cast change requiring Wilkerson to switch to the role of Rochester in the final week of rehearsals. Despite this, Wilkerson has remained optimistic in the success of the musical.“It has been a very busy week diving deep into the life and character of Edward Rochester, but I can confidently say this has been the greatest experience I’ve had with learning a (role) and the most challenging,” Wilkerson said. “God has blessed me a lot in this process.”Wilkerson is not the only cast member who is excited to be working on this musical. His co-star, senior Presley Calonge, plays the leading character, Jane Eyre. Calonge said she hopes the audience will be able to appreciate the musical’s story of hope and redemption.“This entire show is to recognize that hope in life,” Calonge said. “In the same way you can look at the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, and I mean … what a hopeless time. … Later he rose from the dead, and now we have eternal life with him. And I think that is so beautiful and knowing that even in the times where life seems the most hopeless, there’s always an ounce of hope.”Calonge described Eyre as “a force of nature” and someone who “sticks up for herself and others.”Calonge said Eyre’s outfit stands out from the others; her sage green dress acts in contrast to the darkened hues of maroon, purple and navy that adorn the rest of the cast.“She is a representation of hope and light within all these peoples’ lives that she interacts with,” Calonge said.As “Jane Eyre” embarks on a journey for the eternal benefit of each of its characters, a few central themes carry throughout.“(The musical is) a haunting story of love, hope and redemption,” Calonge said. (Kadence McKinnon)
7. Supongo que al tener que acotar el libro a diez personajes, habréis tenido que dejar fuera otros que también os gustan mucho. Si pudierais añadir uno más, ¿cuál sería? ¿Por qué?C: Creo que, como lectoras voraces desde niñas, podríamos hacer una lista interminable de personajes que podrían haber aparecido en el libro. Pensándolo ahora podría decir Alicia, de Lewis Carroll, Julieta Capuleto, Jane Eyre, Catherine Earnshaw o Anna Karenina.A: Todas ellas, sin olvidad a Jo March y Anne Shirley, dos de mis personajes icónicos y que habríamos disfrutado mucho buscando sus voces. La verdad es que nos gustan tantos, desde nuestros personajes favoritos de la infancia como dice Cris, como Rapunzel o La Sirenita, hasta muchos más contemporáneos como Hermione Granger. (Translation)
A date has been set for when Kirklees Council hopes to offload the historic Grade II* Listed former Red House Museum with Brontë connections.Tuesday, December 3 will see the Grade-II Listed Georgian mansion dating back to the 17th Century go under the hammer with Pugh Auctions, with a guide price of £650k plus. Once the home of Charlotte Brontë’s friend, Mary Taylor, the museum closed its doors in 2016 and was earmarked for a wedding venue and holiday accommodation years later, but this plan fell through.The council announced it was looking to dispose of several assets last year, when it was facing an eyewatering £47m deficit, and was hoping to bring in a minimum of £4m from the sales. (...)Charitable organisation, Red House Yorkshire Heritage Trust, has commented on the news. The group was formed in November 2019 in the hopes of saving the Red House sites and its buildings so they could benefit the local community.. A statement on their Facebook page says: “Communities Together and Red House Yorkshire Heritage Trust collaboratively put forward a bid to purchase the house and gardens with a view to restoring community access. Kirklees Council did not accept this bid. As a result, Red House will now be sold by auction…“We are profoundly saddened by this outcome and fully understand and share the community’s strong disapproval of the council’s decision.”Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, said: “Next month we’ll be auctioning off Red House in Gomersal. As this building is now surplus to the council’s requirements, it could generate crucial capital funding to help us deliver a better future for Kirklees.” (Abigail Marlow)
Austin Shakespeare’s production of Jane Eyre offers a strikingly modern and feminist take on the iconic story of a woman’s resilience against the oppressive forces of her time. With music, movement, and a thoughtful focus on Jane’s journey as a woman rather than just her romantic entanglements, this production breathes new life into the well-known narrative. This National Theatre and Bristol’s Old Vic’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic, places Jane's life at the center of the story and explores the deep themes of gender inequality, institutional abuse, and the role of the church in perpetuating these societal injustices. The production very much succeeds at reframing the beloved novel with a bold, unapologetically feminist lens. (...)In the absence of standout performances, there are several moments of brilliance that resonate deeply with the audience. A highlight occurs when a young, wide-eyed Jane (portrayed with youthful rebellion by Taylor Flanagan) befriends Helen (played enchantingly by Cassie Martin) at the Lowood institution. Their conversation about the injustice of a system that only teaches them to be “accomplished” (through piano or sewing) rather than encouraging intellectual or emotional growth is both heartbreaking and inspiring. This scene is a poignant reflection on the limitations placed on women, and the bond between the two actresses makes it unforgettable. (...)Austin Shakespeare’s Jane Eyre is a clever, bold, and invigorating reimagining of a beloved classic. The combination of feminist themes, sharp satire, and inventive use of music and movement creates a unique and thought-provoking theatrical experience. This adaptation offers a fresh perspective on a story we thought we knew, and it’s especially recommended for those in Austin looking for something fresh and daring in the world of theatre. I highly recommend it because of its timely theme and artistic approach to the text. (Sabrina Wallace)
Charlotte, Emily and Anne initially published their works under the male pseudonyms Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell respectively. They did this to be ensure their works would be taken seriously.
Which books do you reread?Mostly these days all I want to do is reread. I want to get a picture of who I am now as opposed to who I was when I first read—for example—Wuthering Heights. It seems like romance was the only thing on my mind (would Cathy and Heathcliff ever “get together?”) back then, as opposed to being fascinated, more recently, with what Emily Bronte had to say about the deadly toll Romance takes on the human psyche.
When I was an undergrad in university, I was assigned an essay on Jane Eyre and Great Expectations, and the intertextuality between these books. It was my first time being introduced to the term intertextuality; the idea that books are in conversation with each other, even when they’re written decades apart by completely different people in entirely different contexts. (Adiba Jaigirdar)
2. Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights (2009)Based on the Emily Brontë-penned classic, Wuthering Heights is a captivating piece that follows the various relationships between the Earnshaws and the Lintons, two families with turbulent connections. Acclaimed for its depiction of class conflicts, domestic abuse, and interrogation of Victorian ideals of morality, the story would be cemented as a profound and influential piece. In 2009, the tale was reinterpreted, once again, with Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley portraying Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, respectively. The two-part series, Wuthering Heights, was released at the end of August that year, attracting over 3 million viewers for both parts.Despite a mixed reception overall, many critics agreed on Tom Hardy's exceptional portrayal of Heathcliff. Capturing the character's envy, abandonment, and entitlement, publications such as The Observer highlighted Hardy's convincing portrayal, considering him the series' strongest attribute. (Mohamed Ndao)
Wuthering Heights (1847)Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a defining title in both gothic literature and romanticism, and the heartbreaking yet strange love triangle between Cathy, Heathcliff, and Edgar proves this. There are multiple Wuthering Heights adaptations worth watching, too, each of which offers a unique take on the Earnshaws and Lintons growing up around the Yorkshire Moors and grappling over choosing love and social status.The romance between Cathy and Heathcliff, and later Edgar, is even more impactful across the generations. The non-linear narrative adds detailed layers to Heathcliff’s point of view, especially.It’s quite creepy when Heathcliff digs up Cathy’s grave and embraces her decaying corpse, but this also represents his never-ending love for her in life and death, which is a rather gothic image. The Emily Brontë biopic Emily, which is partially fictional, delves into the author writing Wuthering Heights, and it’s definitely worth checking out for a better understanding of how her novel changes the gothic genre. (Rebecca Sargeant)
Arnold treats animals compassionately in her films – the pet spaniel hung by its collar on a fence in Wuthering Heights, the tethered horse cared for by the raped girl in Fish Tank, the foredoomed subject of the documentary Cow. It might be gleaned that Arnold respects beasts more than humans with their capacity for cruelty and degeneracy. (Graham Fuller)
Kirklees, which counts Huddersfield as its main town, is considering selling the former Red House Museum, a 17th-century Georgian mansion with links to Charlotte Brontë, which the authority shut in 2016 to make cuts. It is also examining land sales. (Richard Partington)
Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, despite not being explicitly scary, left me with chills due to its Gothic plotline. I read it when I was 12, and the vivid descriptions of a wrecked Victorian mansion surrounded by wilderness, coupled with themes of physical and emotional abuse were eerie. The novel’s portrayal of desolation and dysfunctional relationships also kept me on edge at all times. Even years and multiple rereads later, the first memory of this book lingers, and it takes me on a rollercoaster of emotions.Mariya Kapasi, 32, engineer
11 Jane Eyre (2006)Orphaned as a young girl, Jane Eyre spends her days under the care of her cruel aunt, Mrs. Reed. After years of neglect, when Jane finally comes of age, she is hired by the housekeeper of Thornfield Hall, who trains her to become the governess at Thornfield Hall. Soon, she meets her employer, the very charming Mr. Rochester. As their relationship blossoms, Jane discovers dark secrets about the Rochester family and its past.Tender Tale Of Romance And IndependenceIn Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë birthed one of English literature's most progressive heroines of all time. And while the 2011 movie adaptation of the same story is famous enough, it is this adaptation that does her the most justice.The four-episode series unfolds like a haunting dream; its every frame burning with intense drama, sublime writing, piercing social commentary, and breathtaking chemistry. Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens infuse their characters with subtle emotions combined with extreme devotion, turning Jane Eyre into a masterpiece. (Soniya Hinduja)
Kirklees Council is looking to get rid of four more key buildings as it continues its efforts to dig itself out of a £47m black hole in its budget. [...]F our major buildings would be impacted by such plans – the former Red House Museum at Gomersal, the DRAM (Dalton, Rawthorpe and Moldgreen) Sport and Community Centre, the HUDAWI Centre on Huddersfield’s Great Northern Street and 1 Beech Street at Paddock. On top of this, the council wants to sell several patches of land.The former Red House Museum, which closed in 2016, was previously earmarked for a wedding venue and holiday accommodation but after failing to receive any viable Community Asset Transfer (CAT) applications in 2021 the council is looking to sell it. The Grade II*-listed Georgian mansion dates back to the 17th century.For many years it was the family home of Mary Taylor, a close friend of writer Charlotte Brontë who met her when they were pupils at Roe Head School in Mirfield. Charlotte regularly visited Red House and it was the inspiration for the fictional Briarmains in her novel Shirley. The characters, the Yorke family, were based on the Taylors, who made their money from industry. (Abigail Marlow)
A decision has been made to form a Brontë Society in Banagher, County Offaly. The objective of the group will be to foster a growing awareness of the association of Charlotte Brontë and her husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls with the town of Banagher.The inaugural meeting will be held on Saturday, December 2 in Charlotte's Way guest house, (formerly Hill House), at 5pm. and participants will then adjourn to Flynn's restaurant on Main Street for refreshments at 6.30pm. approximately.Initial objectives of the society will include hosting literary events annually in late April, near to 21st April, Charlotte's birthday and again near to December 2nd, the anniversary of Arthur's death. Also it is hoped to republish 'Dear Martha', letters by Arthur written from Hill House to Martha Brown, a lifelong servant of the Brontë family. This was originally published by The Brontë Society in 2004 and edited by Geoffrey Palmer.Consideration will also be given to the creation of a triptych mural of Charlotte, Arthur and Mary Anna Bell, Arthur's second wife whom he married on his return from Haworth in 1864 and lived with for forty-two years in Hill House until his death in 1906. Other related initiatives will also be considered.
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