Wuthering Heights - Charlotte Brontë

First published in 1847, this is the ultimate autumnal reading - perfect with a hot chocolate. I read this novel years back and was excited to revisit the classic story of Heathcliff and Catherine. As suspected, it thoroughly made me want to don my floor length nightie and sing to Kate Bush out in the sheep field.

The novel begins in 1801 as Mr Lockwood arrives at Thrushcross Grange for a relaxing holiday in the Yorkshire Moors. He decides to visit the mysterious Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights, a four mile walk across the eerie, unforgiving landscape. When he later takes ill, his nurse and housekeeper Mrs Nelly Dean begins to entertain him with the haunting tale of her previous mistress, Catherine and her volatile history with Heathcliff.

The expansive tale relays the sad history of Heathcliff, found abandoned in the streets of Liverpool as a young child, who was kindly taken in and raised as a brother to Cathy. As they grew up, their relationship became dependant and almost obsessive, but Heathcliff could not shake his roots as a pauper and ran away, believing himself unworthy of Cathy's love.

When he returns a rich gentleman to find Cathy married to another, he will not rest until he has proved himself deserving of her affections. The relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine is one of the most intense and beguiling partnerships I've ever read about and it is clear that Brontë was far ahead of her time when writing this novel.

By far the best thing about this novel is the brooding scenery and haunting descriptions of Wuthering Heights, with its darkened rooms and roaring fires crackling away, providing meagre warmth in the unwelcoming halls. If you're looking for an autumnal read on these long, dark evenings, this is the novel for you!