I don't rememner when I first read "Wuthering Heights", I just remember that it was in translation (decades later I did read the original, and was amazed once again at the genius of the translator), and I must have been quite young.
I do remember reading"Jane Eyre" first, and I loved it, and re-read it numerous times too, but "Wuthering Heights"...I was completely transfixed, and it's not a book that someone..grows out of, so to say.
Its staying power is comparable with all the best books ever written, and it's a part of my "take 30 books you love the most" when moving across the globe.
I'm very attached to our very old edition, that falls apart, so at certain point I bought a newer one, with the unsatisfying cover (covers are frankly oddly important. to yours truly. especially for the books one met early and felt in love).
I did find a comprehensive website once, of some "Wuthering Heights" fan, who also dedicated a page to a glossary (Joseph's speech used throughout the book)...I'm very grateful to this person, because later it was much easier to read the original.
This fan shared my opinion that a good cinema adaptation to the book doesn't exist yet, even though he did range and rate them from very bad to better ones.
I do think that Kate Bush, in four minutes, does a job thousand times better than any of the adaptations. I also can listen to it on the loop.
(it was a funny moment though, in Mona Awad's "Bunny", when the heroine, wary of some new surroundings, and the song blasting there, thinks "wuthering, wuthering, wuthering heights, how long is this song anyways":)
I did see the limited series on Bronte's family, "Walking Invisible" I think. I still can't really understand how they managed to write so brilliantly, and especially it boggles the mind that Emily, who hardly left their house, wrote "Wuthering Heights".
My edition does contain some of her poetry too.
Thank you for this excellent post, Jillian- I knew the kids in the family were highly creative, yet you illustrate it perfectly.
Chen--so much to comment on here. But I'll just say that I love that you had such a wonderful experience reading WH in translation! And then, again, in the original. I'm also shocked by how I didn't outgrow it. If anything, I experienced the book more deeply this time around. I'm planning on re-reading Jane Eyre soon, and I wonder if I'll feel the same way about it. As for what you said about Kate Bush: 100%!
Off topic : Translators are AMAZING !!!!!! One of my all time favorite books is Madame Bovary - which I first read in French ( it’s so beautiful ) and some of the translations are absolutely incredible - it’s sooooo hard to do .
Wow, did not know about these miniature books. Wonderful detail on the sisters, Jillian. I love reading about long-dead writers, even famous ones! Now when I re-read these classics, I'll be picturing them as little girls getting started with their writing careers. Lovely images.
Thank you for this. I read Wuthering Heights when I was in high school, back in nineteen bla bla bla, and became a fan of these Ladies. Over the years, I occasionally have reflected on these stories, and with the recent resurgence in interest, I began to look deeper into their lives.
RE: the cause of death(s) - yes, tuberculosis was a common cause, but the family had been ill for a long time. There are thoughts that contaminated water from nearby privies and a cemetery uphill from their home, may have cause some of their health issues.
This is so fascinating! I've often thought it funny (in a tragic kind of way) how the Romantics and Victorians spent so much time worrying about air, when they really should have been worrying about water!
Actually, I first learned about the Brontës' mini-books at a conference twenty years ago! But in general, I've spent so long researching notes and notebooks, I've got such a long list of all the material I want to explore. There's so much out there!
Off topic but I just finished reading every single post on the Noted Substack and I cannot wait until your new book is available! It took me almost a year. Guess I’ll have to re-read my favorites until then. Noted was exactly what I was looking for when I found it.
I don't rememner when I first read "Wuthering Heights", I just remember that it was in translation (decades later I did read the original, and was amazed once again at the genius of the translator), and I must have been quite young.
I do remember reading"Jane Eyre" first, and I loved it, and re-read it numerous times too, but "Wuthering Heights"...I was completely transfixed, and it's not a book that someone..grows out of, so to say.
Its staying power is comparable with all the best books ever written, and it's a part of my "take 30 books you love the most" when moving across the globe.
I'm very attached to our very old edition, that falls apart, so at certain point I bought a newer one, with the unsatisfying cover (covers are frankly oddly important. to yours truly. especially for the books one met early and felt in love).
I did find a comprehensive website once, of some "Wuthering Heights" fan, who also dedicated a page to a glossary (Joseph's speech used throughout the book)...I'm very grateful to this person, because later it was much easier to read the original.
This fan shared my opinion that a good cinema adaptation to the book doesn't exist yet, even though he did range and rate them from very bad to better ones.
I do think that Kate Bush, in four minutes, does a job thousand times better than any of the adaptations. I also can listen to it on the loop.
(it was a funny moment though, in Mona Awad's "Bunny", when the heroine, wary of some new surroundings, and the song blasting there, thinks "wuthering, wuthering, wuthering heights, how long is this song anyways":)
I did see the limited series on Bronte's family, "Walking Invisible" I think. I still can't really understand how they managed to write so brilliantly, and especially it boggles the mind that Emily, who hardly left their house, wrote "Wuthering Heights".
My edition does contain some of her poetry too.
Thank you for this excellent post, Jillian- I knew the kids in the family were highly creative, yet you illustrate it perfectly.
Chen--so much to comment on here. But I'll just say that I love that you had such a wonderful experience reading WH in translation! And then, again, in the original. I'm also shocked by how I didn't outgrow it. If anything, I experienced the book more deeply this time around. I'm planning on re-reading Jane Eyre soon, and I wonder if I'll feel the same way about it. As for what you said about Kate Bush: 100%!
Off topic : Translators are AMAZING !!!!!! One of my all time favorite books is Madame Bovary - which I first read in French ( it’s so beautiful ) and some of the translations are absolutely incredible - it’s sooooo hard to do .
1000%
Wow, did not know about these miniature books. Wonderful detail on the sisters, Jillian. I love reading about long-dead writers, even famous ones! Now when I re-read these classics, I'll be picturing them as little girls getting started with their writing careers. Lovely images.
Those are lovely images to carry with you into your next re-reading!
The original "first family" of literature...
Well said, David!
Thank you for this. I read Wuthering Heights when I was in high school, back in nineteen bla bla bla, and became a fan of these Ladies. Over the years, I occasionally have reflected on these stories, and with the recent resurgence in interest, I began to look deeper into their lives.
RE: the cause of death(s) - yes, tuberculosis was a common cause, but the family had been ill for a long time. There are thoughts that contaminated water from nearby privies and a cemetery uphill from their home, may have cause some of their health issues.
You may find this of interest:
https://lithub.com/apparently-the-brontes-all-died-so-early-because-they-spent-their-lives-drinking-graveyard-water/
This is so fascinating! I've often thought it funny (in a tragic kind of way) how the Romantics and Victorians spent so much time worrying about air, when they really should have been worrying about water!
This was utterly delightful and inspiring. So much I didn't know! Thank you.
You're very welcome!
I didn’t know there were 4 siblings. Just Emily and Charlotte.
Actually, there were 6, but two died in childhood.
Oh sad!!!
Amazing! Those tiny books!
Right?! They're an artist's dream.
Fascinating
Thanks, David!
I saw the film was coming out. I really liked “Wuthering Heights”, need to reread my copy. I don’t remember the violence. Hmmm.
It's definitely worth a re-read!
Ok :) shared the article. So interesting how these great authors just used scraps of items to write.
Fabulous!
Thanks, Jo!
Fascinating! Thanks—
Thanks, Lowell!
Amazing details. Where in the world do you find all these notes and manuscripts? What an intriguing look at the lives of the young Brontës.
Actually, I first learned about the Brontës' mini-books at a conference twenty years ago! But in general, I've spent so long researching notes and notebooks, I've got such a long list of all the material I want to explore. There's so much out there!
Remarkable! Thanks, Jillian 🙂
Off topic but I just finished reading every single post on the Noted Substack and I cannot wait until your new book is available! It took me almost a year. Guess I’ll have to re-read my favorites until then. Noted was exactly what I was looking for when I found it.
Great post. What a treat. FAVORITE writer ever. "Reader, I married him." This source material is rich, no lush. Again, TY. Sharing abundantly. 🐦⬛
I love getting "the inside scoop" from you - so interesting! Thank you!
I’m trying to imagine marginalia in the tiny books 🥹