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Welcome to the World of Emily Brontë (Patreon)

Published:
2022-01-06 17:48:55
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Today we're meeting Emily Brontë.

If we listen closely enough, perhaps we can hear the poet's voice whisper to us from between the lines of her sublime Wuthering Heights.

But first we need to learn about the mythologising of the writer, the Brontës' Irish family history, their Yorkshire home of Haworth, and the mysticism and mental health struggles of Emily. 

We'll also learn how the poetry and solitary novel of Emily Brontë, seemingly destined to remain forever a secret, came into the light for us to appreciate today.

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 the struggle to find Emily
  • 1:20 Charlotte the Brontë mythologiser
  • 2:30 the best biographer of Emily Brontë
  • 4:00 Emily Brontë’s poetry
  • 5:00 the men of Emily’s world
  • 6:00 the Brontës' Irish heritage
  • 7:00 Haworth and the Yorkshire saga
  • 10:00 Heathcliff as Irish orphan
  • 11:30 the great bog eruption of Crow Hill
  • 13:00 the landscape in Wuthering Heights
  • 15:00 the imagination of Emily Brontë
  • 18:00 Emily’s mysticism and mental health
  • 19:30 kitchens, food, and starvation
  • 20:30 how Charlotte discovered Emily’s poems
  • 22:30 why Emily kept her poetry secret
  • 23:00 there three sisters publication efforts
  • 24:00 Jane Eyre, Agnes Grey & Wuthering Heights
  • 26:00 the success of Wuthering Heights
  • 26:30 the death of Emily Brontë

As you make your way into the world of Wuthering Heights, you might find it useful to ponder over these two questions:

1) Can you discern the voice of Emily Brontë? If so, what characterises her voice? And what is she trying to tell us?

2) Is Wuthering Heights a novel that only a poet could write? Is Emily poet or novelist first?

Happy reading, everybody!

Files

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Welcome to the World of Emily Brontë

Comments

Emma Yap

Thank you so much for this great video, Ben. I have already read WH twice, so this will be my third read! I first read it as a teenager and loved it! Then I read it in my twenties and hated it - I found the characters annoying and self-indulgent. I got quite impatient with the whole thing. I'm interested to see what new impressions a third read will bring, especially since I can't really remember much at all about what happens

hardcoreliterature
>>82486337

That's such an interesting ebb and flow, from appreciation to hating it - I've had this for a few books myself. I am keen to hear how you respond to the work now. I think 'Wuthering Heights' is one of those special books that reflects our change, and is perfect for returning to many years later!

Susan Knox

I am new to the book club. I re-read Wuthering Heights earlier this year, 35 years after spending one summer reading and swapping WH and Jane Eyre with my dad. That was a great reading experience and a memory I treasure. That summer I fell in love with Jane Eyre and despised WH. Since then I have gladly returned to Jane Eyre again and again and also have the audiobook as a comfort read for nights when sleep eludes me. I did not plan to ever subject myself to WH again but was tempted by a group who were reading it together. This time I loved it! The broody moors, the hate-filled characters, the twisted depiction of hearth that the novel is studded with (until the “redemption of the hearth” in the charming scenes at the end). I do think the concept of lived life changing how we relate to and interact with a work is what created this turnaround for me and WH. During your lecture, as the beautiful artwork flashed upon my screen, I thought wistfully of how we don’t have as much time to wander aimlessly, to roam, to know intimately the land around us. A sense of place is one of my favorite elements in well-written novels and spills over into my love of nature writing. Even our nature based vacations are often filled with checklists of things to do and places to see, not allowing for the time needed to knit our souls to a place. But, as my jealousy and romantic ideal of Emily’s ability to devote so many hours to wandering the moors grew, I was brought back down to earth. Love of nature can be a great comfort and solace but cannot solely negate deprivation of physical needs and a lack of thriving community. But through Emily’s sufferings we are granted beauty. I have started to think lately about the finding the sweetness in the midst of our sufferings and shall add her poetry as a positive example to my mental catalog. I am really looking forward to the rest of the lectures.

hardcoreliterature
>>91623438

Hi Susan! Welcome to the club. We’re so happy to have you here reading with us. Your memory of swapping Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre with your father is a truly special one. That’s incredible to hear that your opinion on WH has changed so significantly. This doesn’t surprise me too much - Wuthering Heights is the book that seems to most frequently have this effect on readers. Those who develop a deep love for it often have a first memory/experience of despising it. It’s quite an extraordinary novel in that regards. I also preferred Jane Eyre when I was younger and my love for WH has deepened after returning to it several times over the years. You make a really profound point about us not having nearly enough time to appreciate this beautiful world. I’ve recently moved to the countryside, and this thought isn’t too far from my mind. I’ll look up at the stars, or enjoy the scenery on these long hikes, and I have to remind myself to slow down, breathe, take as much in as possible vs rushing on to the next spot on the itinerary. Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful appreciation of this book with us, Susan. I can’t wait to hear more of your thoughts!