⚠️ Be aware of some minor spoilers at the end of the review!

I had a really hard time getting into Wuthering Heights, mainly because of the language. Although I read and watch a lot in English and usually have no problems, this novel was a real challenge. The dense, poetic writing and the old-fashioned dialects made it difficult to follow at first. However, after a few chapters—and with the help of the internet—I started to get a clearer picture of the characters and gradually became more accustomed to the language. Once I did, I could truly appreciate it.

„Wuthering Heights, where passion, vengeance, and unrequited love intertwine in an unforgettable narrative. In the heart of the tumultuous Yorkshire landscape, the enigmatic and relentless Heathcliff, rising from orphan to master of Wuthering Heights, is driven by an ardent desire for his childhood friend, Catherine Earnshaw. Their passion, intense and destructive, transcends life and death, captivating readers through a haunting tale of obsession and vengeance. As stormy emotions clash and dark secrets unfold, you will be plunged into a world where the line between love and hate blurs, and every character is marked by the unforgiving hand of fate. Wuthering Heights is a masterful exploration of the human condition, an enduring tale that promises to leave an indelible mark on your heart.“

Blurb

The words and sentences were masterpieces, and I often found myself wanting to underline so many passages. One quote that really stuck with me was:

“You said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe—I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”

Heathcliff

It perfectly encapsulates the wild, obsessive and destructive love that runs through the novel, and I felt its intensity deeply.

At the end of my edition, there was a short afterword by Virginia Woolf, where she commented that Emily Brontë’s novel is much more difficult than the works of her sisters, as Emily was more of a poet. That insight made so much sense to me. Wuthering Heights doesn’t just tell a story. It feels like poetry, with its stormy emotions, vivid descriptions, and unforgettable lines.

Most of the characters were truly awful in my opinion. They were selfish, cruel, entitled, filled with rage or everything at once. And yet, despite their flaws, they fascinated me. I actually cared for Hareton and felt so sorry for him when the others mocked him because he couldn‘t read. He was one of the few characters I truly sympathized with.

Heathcliff, on the other hand, remained as intense and obsessive in death as he was in life. His final days were unsettling—he stopped eating, spoke of feeling Catherine’s presence, and seemed almost possessed. When Nelly found him dead, his eyes were open, a strange smile on his face, as if he had finally reunited with her. The villagers later claimed to see him and Catherine wandering the moors, adding to the eerie, almost supernatural tone of his ending.

First I gave the book 4 stars but after sitting with it for a while and while writing the review, I had to change it to 5 stars as it really lingers within me and it is undeniably an amazing book. The writing is stunning, the emotions raw, and the poetic quality makes it stand apart from other novels of its time. It wasn’t an easy read, but it was absolutely worth it.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️