738 Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (#15 Greatest Book of All Time)

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Oct 6, 2025

Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights stands out as a pinnacle of English literature, exploring themes of obsessive and vengeful love. The moors serve as a symbolic backdrop that heightens the characters' passions. Delving into psychological attraction, the discussion touches on the allure of 'bad boys' like Heathcliff and how readers' perceptions of him evolve over time. Controversies surrounding adaptations are examined, along with insights from literary giants like Virginia Woolf and Joyce Carol Oates, enriching the understanding of this complex novel.

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ANECDOTE

Good Guy In The Driveway

Jacke Wilson recalls being the 'good guy' while friends chose bad boys, illustrating personal bafflement at those choices.
He uses this childhood memory to frame why Wuthering Heights' Heathcliff fascinated him and others.

insights

INSIGHT

Landscape As Emotional Power

The moors and storms in Wuthering Heights function as the novel's sublime symbol, matching characters' overwhelmed passions.
Jacke ties Emily Brontë's landscape imagery to the novel's emotional scale and sense of awe.

insights

INSIGHT

Why People Choose Bad Partners

Jacke lists psychological reasons people choose bad partners: rebellion, the desire to 'fix' someone, and attraction to mystery.
He connects these motives explicitly to Catherine's tenderness toward Heathcliff.

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Why Wuthering Heights Still Fascinates

02:17 • 4min

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Summary of Wuthering Heights' Plot and Context

05:57 • 5min

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Landscape as Emotional Force

11:07 • 2min

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The Sublime and Passionate Love

13:10 • 3min

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Why Are We Drawn to Repulsive Behavior?

Psychology of Good Girls and Bad Boys

33:08 • 3min

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Casting Controversy and Race in Heathcliff

35:48 • 11min

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Readers' Reactions Across Ages

46:30 • 2min

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Director's Approach to an Unsanitized Adaptation

Opposites Attract and the Project Dynamic

53:36 • 6min

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Virginia Woolf on Brontës' Use of Nature

59:08 • 5min

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Joyce Carol Oates on Heathcliff's Appeal

01:04:14 • 4min

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Charlotte Brontë on Her Sister's Wild Craft

01:08:34 • 4min

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Elizabeth Hardwick on the Novel's Harshness

'Agnes Gray' by Anne Brontë tells the story of a young woman who becomes a governess to support her family after financial misfortune. Agnes faces numerous challenges, including unruly children and condescending employers, which reveal the harsh realities and social injustices of the governess profession during the Victorian era. The novel offers a realistic portrayal of Agnes's struggles and her quiet determination to maintain her integrity. Through Agnes's experiences, Brontë critiques the upper classes and explores themes of social class, gender inequality, and the importance of personal strength. The story is a poignant reflection on the life of a governess and the societal constraints faced by women in 19th-century England.

#173

• Mentioned in 92 episodes

Paradise Lost

John Milton

Published in 1667, 'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem in blank verse that follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man. The poem begins in medias res, detailing the descent of Satan and his followers into Hell after their rebellion against God. It explores two main narrative arcs: one focusing on Satan's actions and the other on Adam and Eve's story in the Garden of Eden. The poem delves into themes such as free will, obedience, revenge, and pride, and it portrays the complex characters of Satan, Adam, and Eve. Milton's work is known for its rich language, classical structure, and profound theological and philosophical insights.

#1115

• Mentioned in 25 episodes

Gone with the Wind

Margaret Mitchell

Published in 1936, 'Gone with the Wind' is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores the complexities of human passions during the American Civil War and Reconstruction. The story revolves around Scarlett O’Hara, the spoiled and manipulative daughter of a wealthy plantation owner in Georgia, as she navigates through heartbreak, ambition, and survival. The novel vividly depicts the dramatic changes and social upheaval of the time, featuring a cast of unforgettable characters including Rhett Butler, Melanie Hamilton, and Ashley Wilkes. It is a sweeping narrative filled with intricate character relationships, emotional depth, and a striking commentary on resilience in the face of adversity.

#696

• Mentioned in 34 episodes

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë

Published in 1847, 'Wuthering Heights' is a novel that tells the story of the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and the foundling Heathcliff, whom her father brings home to Wuthering Heights. The narrative, framed by the visitor Lockwood and the housekeeper Nelly Dean, explores themes of love, revenge, and the cyclical nature of life. Heathcliff's bitter vengeance against those who wronged him drives the plot, which spans generations and delves into the dark, passionate, and often destructive aspects of human nature. The novel is renowned for its dramatic and poetic presentation, its unique structure, and its vivid depiction of the Yorkshire moors as a reflection of the characters' inner lives.

#425

• Mentioned in 49 episodes

Jane Eyre

Edmund Morrison Wimperis

Edmund H. Garrett

Jant van der Weg-Laverman

Charlotte Brontë

The novel follows Jane Eyre from her childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she is mistreated by her aunt and cousins, to her education at Lowood School, and later her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she falls in love with her enigmatic employer, Edward Fairfax Rochester, but discovers a dark secret about his past that forces her to make a difficult choice. The novel explores themes of love, independence, and social justice, and is known for its realistic portrayal of the inner life of a woman during the Victorian era.

Emily Brontë only published one full-length book before dying at the tragically young age of 30. But that book, Wuthering Heights, which tells the story of obsessive and vengeful love on the rugged moors of Yorkshire, is still considered one of the pinnacles of English literature, landing at #15 on the list of Greatest Books of All Time.

In this episode, Jacke takes a deep look into Emily Brontë's classic "bad boy" novel, with assistance from Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth Hardwick, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Tyler, Alice Hoffman, Charlotte Brontë, and others.

Join Jacke on a trip through literary England (signup closing soon)! The History of Literature Podcast Tour is happening in May 2026! Act now to join Jacke and fellow literature fans on an eight-day journey through literary England in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠John Shors Travel⁠⁠⁠. Scheduled stops include The Charles Dickens Museum, Dr. Johnson's house, Jane Austen's Bath, Tolkien's Oxford, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, and more. Find out more by emailing jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or masahiko@johnshorstravel.com, or by contacting us through our website ⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com⁠⁠⁠. Or visit the ⁠⁠⁠History of Literature Podcast Tour itinerary⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠John Shors Travel⁠⁠⁠.

The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠gabrielruizbernal.com⁠⁠.

Help support the show at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/literature ⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com/donate ⁠⁠⁠. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature⁠⁠.

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