Heathcliff's Tale

by Emma Tennant

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Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published April 14, 2005

About the author

Since the early 1970s, when she was in her mid-thirties, Emma Tennant has been a prolific novelist and has established herself as one of the leading British exponents of "new fiction." This does not mean that she is an imitator of either the French nouveaux romanciers or the American post-modernists, although her work reveals an indebtedness to the methods and preoccupations of some of the latter. Like them, she employs parody and rewriting, is interested in the fictiveness of fiction, appropriates some science-fiction conventions, and exploits the possibilities of generic dislocation and mutation, especially the blending of realism and fantasy. Yet, although parallels can be cited and influences suggested, her work is strongly individual, the product of an intensely personal, even idiosyncratic, attempt to create an original type of highly imaginative fiction.

Reviews

[Sarah]

I love Bronte's novel and was excited to read this different interpretation. However, this story fell flat for me and I found it a tedious exploration of what is such a haunting story to begin with. 

Undoubtedly, Tennant's writing has atmosphere. The use of pathetic fallacy in the opening scenes was particularly effective in establishing the gothic I have come to associate with Heathcliff. Yet, I thought the novel was too disjointed, not aided by the frequent author notes, and believed it took itself too seriously in an attempt to prove that Bronte was not the real writer.

I did not get a sense of danger or threat for Henry. In fact, I thought his entire expedition was ruining the Heathcliff legacy. As the novel progressed, I found myself increasingly protective of Bronte's original works and wanted Tennant to leave this adaptation alone. Indeed, I was concerned that I would have fewer positive associations with this classic as a result of reading this novel.

I like the premise that Tennant has explored but I thought the execution was too wordy. The only reason why I did not give this just one star was because of the Bronte connection and I enjoyed reading a different interpretation of Heathcliff's character. However, for the majority, I found Henry's character to be weak, insipid and forgettable.

In conclusion, this is an interesting idea and I think some Bronte fans will appreciate Tennant's interpretation. Personally, I thought this offering too wordy, too disjointed and not honouring the original classic enough.

With thanks to Agora books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan]

Recent papers discovered tell the tale of solicitor's clerk Henry Newby who had been asked by his uncle, Henry Cautley, publisher, to retrieve a manuscript from Haworth Parsonage. A manuscriptby Ellis Bell, that they had paid for in advance. He arrives there on New Years Eve 1848. He discovers papers but are these the manuscript or a confession of evil deeds. And who is the real author.
A story that is useful to have read Wuthering Heights and to know something about the Brontes.
Overall an interesting story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[kumori]

A weird, absurd, delirious, delusional af Wuthering Height's fanfiction that deserves the obscurity and all the low rating it gets. It is about the debatable authorship of the book between Emily and Branwell, the origin of Heathcliff before he comes to Wuthering Heights and also his adventure when in heartbreak over Cathy's words he then runs away from home. There's also an implication of incestuous relationship between Emily and Branwell as an inspiration of Heathcliff and Cathy's relationship which in turn is also an incest because according to this book Heathcliff is actually the bastard son of Mr. Earnshaw. But the most ridiculous thing is how in the ending it reveals that young Catherine's real father is in fact Heathcliff and not Edgar because he manages to bed Cathy before she dies? This book is a mess. Period.

[Mark Farley]

Heathcliff's Tale is a delightful conspiracy and satirical edge of the "Wuthering Heights" legend. This is a rounded and well written piece through the eyes of one Henry Newby, dispatched to collect Emily Bronte's posthumous novel for publication in London from the safe countryside surroundings of Hawthorne Parsonage and is haunted by the ghost of the vile Heathcliff and the spirit of the novel begins to disturb and tease the mind of Henry. He questions the true identity of the author which tortures and excites him throughout his stay and the depositions that he writes to his uncle. Emma has written a glorious and edgy take on the events that will astound thee, continuing her tradition of alternative reworking and bastardising of the oh so pure classic stories gathering dusk on our bookshelf, breathing a new heart and vigour into them each time.

[Hannah]

First an admission. It took me a while and a few goes before I appreciated Wuthering Heights. I still can't describe myself as a massive fan, but I will fiercely defend Emily Bronte as the writer.

Emma Tennant's Heathcliffe's Tale did sound like the kind of book I love, as I enjoyed reading her Pride and Prejudice spin off when I was first getting into Austen. However, I found this book did a great disservice both to the source material and to the Bronte family.

Wriiten in the 18th century style, this is the tale of Henry Newby, who visits Haworth Parsonage on a mission to find the elusive Ellis Bell, along the way finding fragments of original manuscripts which tell additional parts of the story of Heathcliffe and also illuminate who may have written the manuscript and their inspiration. It is all very confused and confusing and places Bramwell, the brother of Emily Bronte in the forefront of candidates for the author of the novel. I'd heard of the theory of Bramwell as the author previously, and wasn't really impressed, I'm afraid I was even more disappointed that a female author placed him as the author. There is little sense of the family in the book anyway, at the point it's set Charlotte is elsewhere and the other Brontes have all died aside from Patrick and the servant. Worse still, the novel is supposedly inspired by a potential incestuous relationship between Emily and Bramwell and the found manuscript includes and explanation whereby Heathcliffe is the bastard son of Mr Earnshaw and Cathy his incestuous daughter by Catherine! I thought this aspect was sensationalised and unnecessary. The relationship is already forbidden by way of the class differences and the fact that Heathcliffe's parentage is unknown, he can have an interesting backstory and motivation without it being incestuous and Emily can be as passionate and complicated as Bramwell, enough to write WH especially without making the backstory all about 'Byronic' passions between her and her brother.

I found Nelly Dean by Alison Case a much better exploration of the world of WH.

[Annie Leadley]

In what could have been a very chilling tale that revisits Wuthering Heights, a place high on the Moody Moors that still stir deep feelings & emotions should you go & visit them , Tennant shines a wavering light on the mysteries that surrounded Miss Emily Bronte and fetches her to life in enthralling and unexpected ways! The reader if they haven't actually read this classic book `Wuthering Heights' & I urge them to do so , or if they haven't been to Haworth & it's Parsonage the home of the Bronte Family ( it's now a Museum ) should briefly know that Wuthering Heights is a tale of deep obsession between the Dark broody Heathcliff & Cathy & her obsession with him , which was whisked up in the Brooding landscape in which their story is set. !
Although this Book is based about another Book of fiction , but when you delve deeper into the lives of the Bronte's & others who enter their circle lines between real life & fictional life become blurred , as though ghostly misty fingers are coming down off on the Moors too smudge those lines .#FB,#GoodReads, #Instagram,#NetGalley, #Amazon.co.uk,#, #, #. Enjoy

[Lori Sinsel Harris]

I have read Emily Bronte's" Wuthering Heights " and have some knowledge of the Bronte sisters and their family, but that being said I was still more than slightly confused and a bit put off by this story.
A Mr. Newby is tasked by his uncle to retrieve a manuscript that they own the rights to after the author has passed away. The author being Emily Bronte and the manuscript, her second telling more about Heathcliff and Cathy and their disastrous romance.
This novel, written in the style and language of the times for which it was intended jumped all over the place. The only coherent story line I could fathom was that Mr. Newby was somewhat a coward, afraid of thunderstorms and things that go bump in the night. I just found the whole notion of him going to the parsonage, looking through other peoples things without permission and without prior knowledge of exactly who's manuscript it was and what it was about a bit far fetched.
I am sorry, although the book is well written the overall storyline needs some work. Well a good idea for the story I don't feel it quite held up to expectations.
Thank you to the publishers at Agora Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

[Brenda]

Dark Wuthering Heights is a divisive book. Though much of it is disturbing and shocking for its time, it is a work of art, a Classic, beautifully written. Emma Tennant takes this a step further as she writes about the ghastly and cruel character of Heathcliff and his obsession with his equally obsessed Cathy and how she feels it could have gone.

Part parody, part fiction and part nonfiction (which presumably would be tricky to do!) the story includes the Bronte family members as well as Wuthering Heights characters plus new characters, particularly that of a lawyer who seeks to learn more by locating a burnt manuscript. This takes him down a ghostly twisty turny path as he has encounters which are closer than he would like. He fears he himself is going mad. So does his uncle. I love that the book is partly epistolary and written with various character perspectives including Isabella's views. I have read and re-read all of the Bronte sister books over and over so was ecstatic to see this.

Though parts of the book aren't believable (Branwell's role) or accurate, I enjoyed it purely for its intriguing fiction and perspectives. Much-maligned Heathcliff is definitely a psychological study to be reckoned with! What a great topic to write about.

My sincere thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this fascinating re-publication in exchange for an honest review. It was a fun read!

[Irene]

A solicitor’s clerk is sent to Yorkshire to find and reclaim a manuscript. He’s a nervous chap, scared of his own shadow! He then reads it and is both compelled and horrified by it. Definitely atmospheric with vivid descriptions. But “love of his life”?? Sounds very contemporary! It’s always interesting seeing what modern people do with long dead author’s characters especially such a strong one as Heathcliffe. Worth a read for anyone who likes the Brontës. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise]

This had me confused from the start,and that's probably due to my lack of knowledge of the Bronte's.
Once I'd fully established it was actually our main character who was more confused than me,things fell in to place a bit better.
Whilst it did a good job of fleshing out the stories of some of the characters,the book jumped around a bit too much for my liking.

[Annarella]

An atmospheric and fascinating book that filled some gaps in the Wuthering Heights but it's also a gripping story on its own.
I liked the style of writing and think it's well researched and well written
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Judy]

I couldn’t read this, I tried many times but it just didn’t work for me. I guess the reality is I didn’t like Wuthering Heights all that much either. I know I am probably the minority but this was just way too hard to read. I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Agora Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Ben Lovegrove]

This book seems to be well written and contains interesting speculation about the content of Emily's second novel which was allegedly burned by Charlotte. Unfortunately it loses much of its credibility and seems poorly researched due to some glaring errors - such as the description of Top Withens as a ruin at a time when it was a fully intact working farmhouse.

[Gisela]

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