Villette Introduction by Lucy Hughes-Hallett

There are only two locations in Wuthering Heights: the two estates of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange in Yorkshire, England. The nearest village is mentioned at most, and so the characters are relatively isolated throughout the plot. The harsh moorland landscape forms the perfect backdrop for the tragedy that spans three decades and two generations. Manipulation, physical and psychological violence and ruin: Emily Brontë’s novel, published in 1847, came as a shock, as Victorian literature was characterised by moralism and rationality and knew no such barbarism. The fascination with the unhappy love story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff has endured for over 170 years and, thanks to Kate Bush’s song Wuthering Heights (1978), has also found its place in pop culture and is still shocking and captivating today.

This is not a love story. Not even close. Emily Brontë has nothing to do with Jane Austen. It’s not about passion or unrequited love. This is a horror story with more villains than heroes. It’s about obsession, insanity and cruelty. A sheer endless circle of violence and domestic abuse. With insufferable characters and their vile actions. They loathe and destroy each other on purpose. They are self-centered, stubborn and unreasonable. Among all these lunatics lives the housekeeper, a young woman, telling us about the people she grew up with. This story is so vicious, it shocks its readers until this day. And it is a masterpiece. Just don’t try to make it something it isn’t. If my description above appeals to you, you’re in for a treat. If you’re looking for romance, read something else.

This tale of love and unrelenting vengeance truly deserves to be called a classic. The story follows Heathcliff an orphan that is adopted by Mr. Earnshaw and falls in love with his daughter Catherine. Because of circumstances that I will not spoil to future readers Catherin will not marry Heathcliff and here begins the revenge. From now on Heathcliff does everything to harm Catherines husband, their children and everyone else he deems worthy of his revenge. Emily Brontës descriptions of the English moors are stunning and breathtaking and were besides the plot the main reason I fell in love with this book. It took me a while to get used to her writing style but it is completely worth the effort and I can only recommend it to everyone who enjoys spooky English moors and a tale of revenge and love.

Ich kenne die Geschichte schon aber wollte immer einen Buch der genauso eindrucksvoll ist. Dieses Cover ist atemberaubend! Bücherliebhaber:innen: kann ich nur empfehlen!

Also, was aknn man zu diesem Buch sagen, es ist einfach wundervoll. EMILY Bronte hat es mit Heathcliff geschafft einen Bösewicht zu erschaffen, den man nur bedauern und lieben kann, und Catherine (also die alte) hätte ihn sicher zu einem besseren Menschen gemacht. Ein wundervolles Liebesdrama