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Book Review: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Book Review: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Author: Emily Bronte

Year: 1847

Genre: Gothic Fiction, Bildungsroman, Romance, Tragedy.

I absolutely enjoyed reading Wuthering Heights. I came across many reviews that consider this book as not good because the story is depressing. I would not agree to such views since I believe literature as a reflection of life and I don't think life is fairy tale and everything happens in the way we expect them to be.  

This novel was written in 1847 by Emily Bronte, under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. The initial response to Wuthering Height was extremely negative, with critics considering the book to be "too savage, too animal-like, and clumsy in construction." 

The story revolves two families living in West Yorkshire moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons and their turbulent relationship. When Mr. Earnshaw returns from a trip to Liverpool with young Heathcliff in tow, the lives of the Earnshaws are forever changed. Young Hindly Earnshaw detests Heathcliff, while his sister, Catherine, adores him. Thus begins a decade- long story of love and revenge that inextricably binds two generations of families.

The story of these two houses Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange is told to Mr. Lockwood by Nelly. She is the narrator of the story and is referred to as Ellen. I liked the way author presented the story very much. Mr. Lockwood narrating the story until the chapter 4, from there Nelly narrates the history of these two families to Mr. Lockwood. There are 34 chapters in the novel, the main events happen at the middle of the novel and rest of the chapters are kind of a resolution.  

The characters in the novel are some what detestable expect Nelly, which adds to the mood of the novel because this is not a happy story for the most part. I also liked how the author places Nelly in the story. Catherine Earnshaw really loves Nelly and she tells many things that are very important to the story and she also observes everything that's going on with different characters. 

While reading the novel the two houses Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange hold the attention of readers through its beautiful architecture; dark, intricate, and dismal in its appearance. Both the houses are Gothic architecture, which I am a huge fan of. The novel also contain many of the gothic elements beside these two houses. Horror, death and romance are the central themes of the novel. 



The novel is beautifully written, I was a bit confused at the beginning about what is going on and then through out the novel everything is explained. Although the second half of the novel is really depressing and I have to read it segmented, the novel ends with happiness.



All together I would definitely recommend this wonderful composition by Emily Bronte to everyone unless you cant afford to read a few chapters which are depressing. I assure you that it is not a nihilistic novel, the ending is a positive one.

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