WW2 crime mystery set in Canterbury, Kent (and London)
Historical novel set in West Yorkshire
5th February 2026
Catherine by Essie Fox, historical novel set in West Yorkshire.
‘Catherine’ by Essie Fox is a retelling of Wuthering Heights for a modern audience, bringing one of the most famous tragic love stories to a whole new audience. Essie Fox has already established herself as an accomplished writer of Gothic novels, so who better to reinterpret Emily Brontë’s classic tale by taking on an imaginative new angle? The original novel told the story of Catherine Earnshaw’s great love for Heathcliff, mostly from the perspective of her maid, Nelly Dean. Some have said that Nelly is an unreliable narrator and so by choosing Catherine herself as the narrator, Fox offers a deeper insight into her heroine’s mind and motivation.
Catherine Earnshaw is the second child of a family who farm the remote West Yorkshire moorlands at the turn of the nineteenth century. Her older brother, Hindley, is set to be an educated gentleman, but Catherine is free to spend her time as she wishes. As a headstrong lass, she often opts to roam the moors and ride her horse, though she also loves her books. When her father returns from a business trip to Liverpool with a street child the whole family is shocked – even more so because he declares that the boy, who he names Heathcliff, is staying for good. Initially both Hindley and Catherine react badly, feeling supplanted in their father’s affections, but gradually a deep bond develops between Catherine and the Heathcliff, who is about her age. The relationship is only strengthened by various obstacles that are put in their path, including the brutality of Hindley and the death of Catherine’s beloved father. Catherine tries to take drastic steps to protect Heathcliff by turning to their young neighbour, Edgar Linton, for help. Heathcliff’s passion for Catherine is by now so strong that he can’t forgive what he sees as her betrayal of him.
Both Wuthering Heights and ‘Catherine’ are love stories but also psychological dramas, with complex relationships, deep character flaws, and actions that are often hard to comprehend. The story is very much of its time, with women afforded very little power over their own lives, and physical and mental cruelty being commonplace. There are also themes of class differences – the working family of the Earnshaws contrasted with the landed gentry to which the Lintons belong – and racism: the question of Heathcliff’s darker skin. This results in a Dickensian level of litigation, as well as dubious morality, with the destiny of some characters turning on the reading of wills and the destruction of legal documents. In places ‘Catherine’ can be an agonising read, as we witness cruelty on a grand scale from all of the characters. It’s well worth persevering in the hope of a happy outcome, though the lack of optimism persists right up to the final pages.
The West Yorkshire setting of ‘Catherine’ is described in terms of wildness and natural beauty, often reflecting the moods of the characters. The areas harsh climate and rugged terrain have a critical influence on the plot. Catherine’s love of the natural world both supports and balances her wild character, in terms of her bravery and her appreciation of the beauty that surrounds her. The supernatural element of the tale, in which Catherine is a presence long after her death, is deftly handled. As with the original, this is much more than a ghost story.
It seems unfair to compare ‘Catherine’ with Wuthering Heights, as the two are obviously the same story but Essie Fox has very much made it her own. Fox addresses some issues that are left vague in the original, answering questions that are perhaps deliberately left vague by Brontë. For me, Fox is simply stating the obvious, but scholars have long debated some of these questions – see what you think! The language is modern and accessible (though true Brontë fans might mourn the lack of Yorkshire dialect!) and this is a very rewarding way of enjoying a classic tale that echoes down the ages. One to read before the new film comes out later this year.
Sue for the TripFiction team
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