History of Wuthering Heights in Timeline
"Wuthering Heights", penned by Emily Brontë under the pseudonym "Ellis Bell", is a solitary novel published in 1847. Set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, the story revolves around two aristocratic families, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their tumultuous connections with Heathcliff, the Earnshaws' adopted son. The novel draws inspiration from Romantic and Gothic literary traditions.
1916: John Cowper Powys Acknowledges Emily Brontë's Vision
John Cowper Powys, a contemporary of Virginia Woolf, praised Emily Brontë's "tremendous vision" in 1916, recognizing the depth and power of her writing in Wuthering Heights.
1920: First Film Adaptation of Wuthering Heights
A.V. Bramble directed the earliest known film adaptation of Wuthering Heights in England in 1920; however, it's uncertain if any copies of the film are still in existence.
1925: Virginia Woolf Praises Wuthering Heights
In 1925, modernist novelist Virginia Woolf recognized and celebrated the literary significance of Wuthering Heights.
1926: Charles Percy Sanger's Analysis of Wuthering Heights
In 1926, Charles Percy Sanger published a chronological study of Wuthering Heights, challenging the perception of Emily Brontë as an "unconscious artist," as her sister Charlotte had characterized her, and highlighting the meticulous planning and literary skill evident in the novel. However, Albert J. Guerard, a later critic, believed Brontë's control of the novel wavered at times, despite its splendor.
1934: Lord David Cecil Highlights Contrasting Settings in Wuthering Heights
In his 1934 work, Early Victorian Novelists, Lord David Cecil analyzed Wuthering Heights, drawing particular attention to the stark contrast between the two primary settings of the novel: Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.
1934: Lord David Cecil on Emily Brontë's Undervaluation
Lord David Cecil, in his book Early Victorian Novelists published in 1934, argued that Emily Brontë and her work, including Wuthering Heights, were not truly appreciated by readers and critics during this time. Even those who admired her work considered her an "unequal genius."
1939: Wuthering Heights: A Cinematic Milestone
The 1939 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon and directed by William Wyler, became the most famous adaptation, even though, similar to other adaptations, it omits the second generation's storyline and takes creative liberties with the source material. Despite its inaccuracies, the film received critical acclaim and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film, along with an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
1948: F.R. Leavis Excludes Wuthering Heights from the Canon
In 1948, literary critic F. R. Leavis made the controversial decision to exclude Wuthering Heights from his influential work, "The Great Tradition," which established a canon of great English novels. He deemed it an anomaly with an undetectable influence on literature.
1949: Simone de Beauvoir Critiques Romantic Ideal in Wuthering Heights
In her groundbreaking feminist work, The Second Sex, published in 1949, Simone de Beauvoir offered a critical analysis of Catherine's declaration "I am Heathcliff" in Wuthering Heights. de Beauvoir argues that this statement signifies a collapse of Catherine's identity as she becomes subsumed by Heathcliff's, perpetuating a harmful romantic ideal that positions the male figure as superior and the woman as dependent.
1953: BBC's First Television Production of Wuthering Heights
Richard Todd and Yvonne Mitchell starred in the first BBC television production of Wuthering Heights in 1953, using a script by Nigel Kneale. No recordings of this live broadcast are known to exist.
1954: Walter Allen Interprets Symbolism of Houses in Wuthering Heights
In 1954, literary critic Walter Allen, in his book The English Novel, proposed that the two houses in Wuthering Heights symbolize opposing forces that ultimately achieve harmony.
1954: Mexican Film Adaptation: Abismos de pasión
Luis Buñuel directed a Mexican adaptation of Wuthering Heights in 1954, titled "Abismos de pasión," which transposed the story to a Catholic Mexican setting.
1958: Wuthering Heights on CBS's DuPont Show of the Month
Rosemary Harris and Richard Burton starred in a 1958 television adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which aired on CBS as part of the DuPont Show of the Month.
1959: Australian Television Adapts Wuthering Heights
During a time of limited original drama productions in Australia, Nigel Kneale's script for Wuthering Heights was adapted for Australian television in 1959. The live broadcast from Sydney was telerecorded, but the existence of this recording remains unknown.
1962: Second BBC Adaptation of Wuthering Heights Using Kneale's Script
Claire Bloom and Keith Michell starred in the second BBC adaptation of Wuthering Heights in 1962, again utilizing Nigel Kneale's script. The British Film Institute (BFI) holds a copy of this production, but it has not been made available to the public.
1964: French Miniseries Adapts Wuthering Heights
The French miniseries, Les Hauts de Hurlevent, consisting of six 26-minute episodes, was filmed in black and white and broadcast on ORTF between 1964 and 1968. Jean-Paul Carrère adapted and directed the series.
1965: David Daiches Offers Alternative Interpretation of Settings
In the 1965 Penguin English Library edition of Wuthering Heights, literary scholar David Daiches presented a different perspective on the symbolism of the settings in Wuthering Heights. While acknowledging the persuasiveness of Lord David Cecil's interpretation, Daiches found it not entirely convincing.
1966: Indian Film Adaptation: Dil Diya Dard Liya
The Indian film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, titled "Dil Diya Dard Liya," directed by Abdul Rashid Kardar and starring Dilip Kumar, was released in 1966.
1967: BBC's Four-Part Wuthering Heights Miniseries
In 1967, the BBC produced a four-part television adaptation of Wuthering Heights, with Ian McShane and Angela Scoular in the lead roles.
1968: Conclusion of Les Hauts de Hurlevent
The final episode of the French miniseries adaptation of Wuthering Heights, Les Hauts de Hurlevent, aired in 1968, marking the conclusion of this six-part television event.
1970: First Color Adaptation of Wuthering Heights
The first color adaptation of Wuthering Heights was released in 1970, starring Timothy Dalton as Heathcliff. This version, initially met with mixed reviews, gradually gained recognition for its unique portrayal of certain characters. It presented a more sympathetic depiction of Hindley Earnshaw, deviating from his portrayal in the novel. Additionally, it subtly hinted at the possibility of Heathcliff being Cathy's half-brother, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative.
1971: Daphne du Maurier Champions Wuthering Heights as a Romantic Masterpiece
Daphne du Maurier, a renowned novelist, asserted in 1971 that Wuthering Heights deserved recognition as the ultimate romantic novel.
1975: Terry Eagleton Examines Power Dynamics and Social Change in Wuthering Heights
In 1975, Marxist literary critic Terry Eagleton, in his book Myths of Power: A Marxist Study of the Brontës, delved into the complex power dynamics at play in Wuthering Heights, particularly between the established landed gentry and the rising capitalist class. He argued that the novel reflects the social and economic upheavals of the time, particularly in regions like Haworth, where large estates and industrial centers coexisted.
1976: Genesis's Album Wind & Wuthering
English rock band Genesis released their album "Wind & Wuthering" in 1976, with the album title and two track titles referencing the Brontë novel.
1977: Thomas John Winnifrith's Religious Interpretation of Wuthering Heights
In 1977, Thomas John Winnifrith, author of The Brontes and Their Background: Romance and Reality, argued that the allusions to Heaven and Hell in Wuthering Heights carry profound religious weight, suggesting that for Heathcliff, losing Catherine is akin to experiencing Hell itself.
1978: BBC Serialisation of Wuthering Heights
In 1978, the BBC released a five-part television adaptation of Wuthering Heights, featuring music by Carl Davis.
1978: Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" Song
Kate Bush released her iconic song "Wuthering Heights" in 1978, inspired by her viewing of the 1967 BBC adaptation.
1980: Pat Benatar's Cover of "Wuthering Heights"
Pat Benatar released a cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" on her album "Crimes of Passion" in 1980.
1985: French Film Adaptation: Hurlevent
A French film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, titled "Hurlevent," was released in 1985.
1988: Japanese Film Adaptation by Yoshishige Yoshida
Yoshishige Yoshida directed a Japanese film adaptation of Wuthering Heights in 1988, featuring a transposed setting to medieval Japan.
1989: Jim Steinman's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"
Jim Steinman revealed that he wrote the song "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" in 1989 while inspired by Wuthering Heights, connecting the song's themes of obsessive love to the novel.
1991: Filipino Film Adaptation: Hihintayin Kita sa Langit
The Filipino film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, "Hihintayin Kita sa Langit," directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna and starring Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta, was released in 1991.
1992: Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights Film
The film "Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights," starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, premiered in 1992. This adaptation is notable for including the often-omitted second generation story.
1993: Angra's Cover of "Wuthering Heights"
Brazilian heavy metal band Angra released their version of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" on their debut album "Angels Cry" in 1993.
1995: Maryse Condé's Windward Heights
Maryse Condé's novel "Windward Heights (La migration des coeurs)" published in 1995, reimagines Wuthering Heights in Cuba and Guadeloupe at the turn of the 20th century.
2002: Mizumura Minae's A True Novel
Mizumura Minae's novel, "A True Novel (Honkaku shosetsu)," published in 2002, draws inspiration from Wuthering Heights, adapting the story to a post-World War II Japanese setting.
2002: Oxford Companion to English Literature on the Ending of Wuthering Heights
The 2002 edition of the Oxford Companion to English Literature states that the novel's ending suggests a harmonious union between the distinct worlds and moral orders represented by Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.
2003: MTV's Modern Wuthering Heights Adaptation
In 2003, MTV released a modern adaptation of Wuthering Heights set in a California high school, which was poorly received.
2003: Robert McCrum Includes Wuthering Heights in Top 100 Novels List
Writer and editor Robert McCrum included Wuthering Heights in his 2003 list of the 100 greatest novels of all time, published in The Guardian.
2007: Wuthering Heights: A Love Story or an Exploration of Abuse?
Despite a 2007 British poll crowning Wuthering Heights as the greatest love story, diverging opinions arose regarding its true nature. While some perceive it as a celebration of love, others argue that it delves into the dark complexities of evil, abuse, and revenge, prompting discussions about romanticizing toxic relationships.
2008: Death Cab for Cutie's "Cath..."
Indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie released the song "Cath..." in 2008, inspired by Wuthering Heights.
2009: ITV's Two-Part Wuthering Heights Drama
ITV released a two-part drama series of Wuthering Heights in 2009, starring Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, Sarah Lancashire, and Andrew Lincoln.
2011: Wuthering Heights Film by Andrea Arnold
A film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, directed by Andrea Arnold and starring Kaya Scodelario and James Howson, was released in 2011.
2011: Classical Comics' Graphic Novel Adaptation
Classical Comics released a graphic novel adaptation of Wuthering Heights in 2011, adapted by Sean Michael Wilson and illustrated by John M. Burns.
2013: Hilary Scharper's Perdita
Hilary Scharper's ecogothic novel "Perdita," published in 2013, was heavily influenced by Wuthering Heights, particularly in its portrayal of powerful and desolate landscapes.
2015: Lifetime's Wuthering High
"Wuthering High," a TV movie adaptation set in Malibu, California, premiered on Lifetime in 2015.
2015: Robert McCrum Positions Wuthering Heights Among 100 Best Novels in English
In 2015, Robert McCrum further solidified Wuthering Heights's place in literary history by including it in his list of the 100 best novels written in English.
2015: Wuthering Heights Ranked 7th in BBC Culture's Greatest British Novels List
In 2015, a poll of 82 international book critics conducted by author and reviewer Jane Ciabattari for BBC Culture placed Wuthering Heights as the 7th greatest British novel.
2017: Tanya Grae's Wuthering
Tanya Grae's poem "Wuthering," published in 2017, uses Wuthering Heights as an allegory.
2018: Jimmy Urine's Cover of "Wuthering Heights"
Jimmy Urine released an electropunk cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" in 2018.
2018: Penguin Recognizes Wuthering Heights as a Must-Read Classic
Penguin, in 2018, included Wuthering Heights in its list of 100 must-read classic books, ranking it at number 71 and acknowledging its enduring influence on writers across generations.
2019: Valerie Browne Lester's The West Indian
Valerie Browne Lester's novel "The West Indian," published in 2019, reimagines Heathcliff's origins in 1760s Jamaica.
2021: Theatrical Version by Emma Rice
Emma Rice directed a new theatrical adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which premiered online and at the Bristol Old Vic in 2021.
2021: K-Ming Chang's Bone House
K-Ming Chang's chapbook "Bone House," published in 2021, offers a queer Taiwanese-American retelling of Wuthering Heights.
2022: Biopic: Emily
"Emily," a biopic about Emily Brontë starring Emma Mackey, was released in 2022, exploring Brontë's life and the inspiration she drew from the Yorkshire countryside.