Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights is a historical fiction novel set in the early 1800s and written by Emily Bronte. It was originally published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell in 1847. It is her only finished novel. After Emily's death at 30 years old, her sister Charlotte edited the second posthumous edition in 1850. Wuthering Heights is now considered classic literature, which influenced many subsequent authors of Romanticism pieces. However, public opinion of the book was deeply polarized at the time. It was controversial because it challenged Victorian views of morality, religion, class, gender inequality, and feminism. It also provided an unusually blunt depiction of mental and physical cruelty. Excerpt: Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed: one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the architect had the foresight to build it strong: the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones.