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| '''''Wuthering Heights''''' is |
'''''Wuthering Heights''''' is ]'s only ]. Published in ], it has become a classic of ], and has given rise to many adaptations, including several ]s, radio and television dramatisations, and a musical, as well as inspiring a hit song by ]. A posthumous second edition was edited by her sister ]. | ||
| The setting for the book is Brontë's native ]. It takes the form of the ] of a minor character, Lockwood, who through conversations is told the tale of the principal protagonists. This framing device gives distance to the events. (It was also effectively used by ] in ].) Nellie Dean, the secondary narrator recounts scenes of strong emotion, violence and sadism in a manner which is not completely dispassionate, but somewhat detached: she is not surprised at the extremes she recounts. | The setting for the book is Brontë's native ]. It takes the form of the ] of a minor character, Lockwood, who through conversations is told the tale of the principal protagonists. This framing device gives distance to the events. (It was also effectively used by ] in ].) Nellie Dean, the secondary narrator recounts scenes of strong emotion, violence and sadism in a manner which is not completely dispassionate, but somewhat detached: she is not surprised at the extremes she recounts. | ||
Revision as of 20:01, 6 August 2004
Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's only novel. Published in 1847, it has become a classic of English literature, and has given rise to many adaptations, including several films, radio and television dramatisations, and a musical, as well as inspiring a hit song by Kate Bush. A posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte.
The setting for the book is Brontë's native Yorkshire. It takes the form of the first-person narrative of a minor character, Lockwood, who through conversations is told the tale of the principal protagonists. This framing device gives distance to the events. (It was also effectively used by Joseph Conrad in Heart of Darkness.) Nellie Dean, the secondary narrator recounts scenes of strong emotion, violence and sadism in a manner which is not completely dispassionate, but somewhat detached: she is not surprised at the extremes she recounts.
The anti-hero is Heathcliff, who is taken in by the wealthy Earnshaw family as a child, and falls in love with their daughter, Catherine. But he is not considered good enough to marry her. Instead, Cathy marries a wealthy neighbour, and the embittered Heathcliff sets out to ruin the fortunes of her family, which he does over a period of many years.
Film Adaptations
Perhaps the best-known of the film adaptations was released in 1939. It stars Merle Oberon as Cathy Linton, Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff, David Niven as Edgar Linton, Flora Robson as Ellen Dean, Donald Crisp as Dr. Kenneth, Geraldine Fitzgerald as Isabella Linton and Leo G. Carroll as Joseph Earnshaw. The film was adapted by Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht and John Huston. It was directed by William Wyler. The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
A 1992 film adaptation was the first one to show both generations from the story; that is Heathcliff, Cathy, Edgar, and Hindley, as well as their children. Juliette Binoche plays two roles, Catherine Earnshaw and her daughter. Ralph Fiennes plays Heathcliff.
Opera
Carlisle Floyd wrote an opera based on this novel in 1958.
Role-Playing Game Adaptation
The Wuthering Heights Roleplay game is a role-playing game based on the French "René le Jeu de Rôle Romantique" by Philippe Tromeur.
This is a parody game, free for download here : http://philippe.tromeur.free.fr/rene.htm
External links
- Full text of Wuthering Heights from Project Gutenberg