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Book Review of Emily's Ghost: A Novel of the Brontė Sisters

Emily's Ghost: A Novel of the Brontë Sisters
reviewed on + 1438 more book reviews


Emily had a romance? In this fictional novel, the author shaped a story about the Bronte sisters for the physical setting while including the known historical facts. The book focuses primarily on Emily. Writing with dramatic flair, Emily created Wuthering Heights (Heathcliff, Catherine, and the moors!) which may be linked to a kind young curate who gained her friendship and trust. However, he was nothing like Heathcliff. Eccentric and independent, Emily loved her family and animals. She found the outdoors calming and invigorating which is reflected in the novel.

These bright young women recognized that change resulted from the lives they lead which deviated from what was expected of young women of their time. I felt that this, too, is what made Wuthering Heights such a beautiful book.

Patrick, their father, is portrayed as a loving and caring individual. Not much is written about Emily's sisters except for Charlotte. Was Charlotte really such a prick? One can expect rivalry among such talented sisters. The plot is developed along this line focusing often on personality differences and I found this novel a provocative and fascinating look at that aspect. Still, one of my favorite books is Wuthering Heights.