Reinventing a classic — the grim tale of “Wuthering Heights”

This year, I’ve joined a “Read-and-Watch” bookclub through Patreon with the Sisterhood Book Club. Started by two sisters, Kristen and Maddie, the club now has hundreds of (mostly) women talking books together.

I skipped the January book, “A Game of Thrones,” by George R.R. Martin because I read the series previously and didn’t feel the need for a re-read. I did participate in the February book — “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte.

I have not read a classic in such a long time — despite Erin’s pestering me to read “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen — so I was excited to give it a go in a book club setting.

We began by watching the film “Emily,” a 2022 semi-fictional account imagining Bronte’s story. While the movie’s romantic element was imagined, the gothic atmosphere and setting of the wild moors of northern England in the 1800s is a great set up for reading her novel.

Another thing I kept in mind while reading is that Emily and her sisters, Charlotte and Anne, grew up without their mother. Maria Bronte died when Emily was just 3 years old.

“Wuthering Heights” was published in December 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. The Bronte sisters all published under male-sounding pen names — Currer Bell for Charlotte and Acton Bell for Anne.

In September 1848, Branwell Bronte, their brother, died. In December 1948, at 30 years old and one year after the release of “Wuthering Heights,” Emily died. The following year, Anne died. Charlotte lived the longest, but still passed in 1855 at just 39 years old.

The Brontes lived on a parsonage, a home owned by the church, because their father was a clergyman. It is speculated that the Haworth Cemetery, just a few feet from their home, was overfilled and poorly oxygenated, so decomposing material had filtered into the water supply.

Though much of the Bronte’s grim tale occurred after the writing of “Wuthering Heights,” it’s eerily similar in tone to the story. It’s important to note that this book is not a romance. Rather, it is a gothic work of fiction filled with tragedy and raw human nature.

When released in 1847, “Wuthering Heights” would have caused a major stir. It would have shocked readers, even going so far as to be considered horror. This is important to remember.

The story takes place in two parts – the first part features the first generation including siblings Hindley and Catherine Earnshaw, their “adopted” brother Heathcliff and the siblings Edgar and Isabella Linton.

The second part features the next generation — Catherine Linton, Linton Heathcliff and Hareton Earnshaw — as they attempt to change the narrative of toxicity and unnecessary cruelty.

The movie, however, only focuses on the first half of the book, and cuts Hindley’s character out completely. Instead, they combine much of Hindley’s behavior into Mr. Earnshaw, Catherine’s father.

The movie opens in a way that is so completely off-putting and out of left field that I turned to Erin and asked if we were in the correct theater. As it turns out, we were. As the movie continues, there are many elements so completely unsavory that you can’t help but wonder if it’s just Hollywood trying to go for shock value.

In listening to the discussion from Kristen, Maddie and her husband Mitch, I realized how brilliant the move was. The contents of the book are still distasteful in 2026, but they aren’t as shocking as they would have been at its publication time.

The lack of morals, female infidelity, savage violence and obsessive passion was shocking in 1847 and yet just another day in 2026 with popular shows like “You,” and “Game of Thrones.”

The movie’s director, producer and writer, Emerald Fennell, wanted to give the 2026 audience the same shock value original readers would have felt. With this in mind, the movie makes more sense.

If you’re looking for a book to movie adaptation, you won’t find that in “Wuthering Heights;” however, if you’re looking for a movie companion to the book or a movie inspired by the book, you may walk out feeling satisfied.

I did enjoy the movie, though there were certainly times I looked at Erin and said, “that was NOT in the book,” during some of the more vulgar scenes.

The movie certainly gives more romance behind Catherine and Heathcliff than the book did. While certainly immoral that Catherine is cheating on her husband, you can’t help but understand the dilemma she is facing as she tries to contain her all-consuming love for Heathcliff.

I cried. I did cry when Heathcliff was racing on his horse from Wuthering Heights to Thrushcross Grange at the end of the movie. I think there’s a part of many of us women who would like to think our spouse would also forsake all to be with us.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to read and watch with a group of likeminded readers. In March, we are to read “Kindred,” by Octavia Butler and watch the one season on Hulu from 2023.

April will be a big challenge as we take on the behemoth “The Count of Monte Cristo,” a cool 1,400 pages, after the release of the eight-episode TV adaptation starring Sam Claflin (swoon), releasing on PBS later this month.

I hope to have more reviews for you in the future!