Wuthering Heights is one of the most famous novels of the literary force of the brontë sisters, published in 1847, it is the first and last novel by emily brontë. A gothic tragedy that centers on the character of Heathcliff, a troubled childhood orphan who becomes a wealthy owner of the Wuthering Heights estate. The fragmented narrative uncovers his life and his tortuous relationships, particularly with his adoptive sister Catherine.
has all the makings of a Victorian classic: forbidden love, destructive passion, a tangled web of relationships, the struggle of social hierarchy, revenge and death. All while taking place on the yorkshire moors, wicked imagery mimicking the raw, savage emotion apparent throughout this complex masterpiece. If you’re looking for more books like Wuthering Heights, these suggestions are a must read.
You are reading: Books like wuthering heights
9 books like wuthering heights
tess of the d’urbervilles, by thomas hardy
Thomas Hardy’s 1891 novel, tess of the d’urbervilles, deviates slightly from conventional victorian fiction. and angst, which is balanced by the pastoral depiction of Wessex for which Hardy is famous.
The novel is as famous for its heroine, the impoverished Tess Durbeyfield, as it is for its tragic plot in which we see Tess fall victim to the hands of men, sacrificing her personal happiness with the man she loves, Angel Clare. for economic survival with the cruel but rich Alec d’Urberville to devastating effect. tess of the d’urbervilles‘s bleak, factual depiction of social injustice makes for an absolutely gripping read.
rebecca, by daphne du maurier
rebecca is a story of love and infatuation, daphne du maurier’s gothic novel is as haunting as it is beautiful, and therefore the perfect choice for anyone looking for books like wuthering heights.
It has an equally complex plot told from the point of view of a mysterious anonymous narrator, the second wife of the wealthy Maxim de Winter who lost his first wife, Rebecca, under suspicious circumstances. Driven to the point of insanity, we witness the Second Mrs. Winter’s struggle to live in Rebecca’s ghostly shadow with the seemingly perfect image of her becoming an obsession as Rebecca’s overwhelming presence continues to haunt the newlyweds.
Set in the wilds of Cornwall, this psychologically charged novel leaves no doubt that rebecca will thrill you.
Have you already read this book? Then be sure to check out our list for more books like Rebecca!
the photo of dorian gray, by oscar wilde
Initially criticized for its controversial content, Oscar Wilde’s 1890 Gothic novel The Picture of Dorian Grey is now considered a classic and is an equally enjoyable read if you like Wuthering Heights.
Dorian Gray is a handsome, cultured and charming young man who immediately catches the attention of society artist, Basil Hallward when he paints him, and Gray becomes something of a muse.
Set in Victorian London, home to opium dens and debauchery where beauty is valued over good morals, Gray is heavily influenced by Lord Henry, a friend of Hallward’s, who introduces him to the superficial nature of the high society. Obsessed with how he looks and the fact that he won’t always look as good as he does in Hallward’s painting, Gray commits his soul to a life of eternal youth with ultimately tragic consequences.
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if you like supernatural elements in wuthering heights, you will surely enjoy reading the image of dorian grey.
Have you already read this book? Explore our list for more books like the picture of dorian gray!
the tenant of wildfell hall, by anne brontë
Published just a year after Wuthering Heights, Anne Brontë’s Wildfell Hall Tenant was initially considered quite shocking because it defied typical gender roles and portrayed domestic dramas, a subject considered taboo among the upper class. from Victorian England.
Today, we recognize a novel ahead of its time in its depiction of a strong female lead, Helen Graham, who breaks expectations and seeks a better, safer life away from her abusive husband.
common in gothic fiction and similar to the fragmented narrative of heathcliff flashbacks in wuthering heights, the tenant of wildfell hallis framed by a series of letters and journal entries between one of the central characters, gilbert markham to his friend about helen’s mysterious arrival in town.
no list of novels like wuthering heights would be complete without the appearance of other brontë titles and the tenant of wildfell hall will not disappoint.
ethan frome, by edith wharton
Cointed as edith wharton’s darkest novel, ethan frome has many of the same aspects that readers of books like wuthering heights will appreciate, such as the contrasting social views on marriage and marriage. divorce, obstacles in the way of desire. , tragedy and impressive images.
Set during a harsh Massachusetts winter, an unknown narrator tries to piece together the life of the elusive Ethan Frome from various sources throughout the small town of Starkfield, and the detail is cleverly left unsaid. Frome reveals himself to be a tragic hero, torn between his obligation to his sick and grieving wife Zeena and his true feelings for Mattie Silver, his vibrant young maid.
This is a punishable love story, mixed with Wharton’s renowned sense of irony, which sees him ultimately imprisoned in this love triangle for the rest of his life. ethan frome is as haunting as it is compelling and is truly a moving read.
anna karenina, by leo tolstoy
Another destructive love story, this time set in the wilds of Russia, Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina takes place amidst the historical changes that swept the country in the late 19th century.
The title character, Anna Karenina, is trapped in an unhappy marriage with Count Alexei Karenin, but during a family visit to Moscow, Anna meets Count Vronsky, a handsome military man. instantly falling in love, the plot unfolds and depicts the journey of a woman who risks everything in search of true love. the novel continues to circle around three couples whose lives intertwine as they navigate marriage, adultery, divorce, death, and families.
the description of the darker sides of love and what it leads you to do is a consistent theme with many of the other books compiled here, which means that if you like wuthering heights, you are bound to fall in love with anna Karenina too.
high expectations, by charles dickens
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if you’re looking for more books like wuthering heights because you like rags to riches tales, then great expectations by charles dickens will prove to be an absolutely delightful read.
The novel focuses on Pip, an orphan who falls in love with a beautiful young woman named Estella who treats him coldly and cruelly. To win her heart, Pip is forced to change her life so that one day he can be rich, educated and worthy enough to marry her. Unfortunately, rich and eccentric Miss Havisham, Estella’s aunt, has different ideas and is adamant about fulfilling an ancient act of revenge.
This intricately structured masterpiece with its complex coincidences, crossed wires, and a series of closely intertwined relationships makes Great Expectations a truly gripping novel.
carmilla, by sheridan le fanu
sheridan le fanu’s 1871 gothic horror, carmilla, departs slightly from the genre of other novels on this list; however, it does echo elements that fans of novels like Wuthering Heights will enjoy, such as infatuation, loss, the supernatural, and the destructive, all-consuming powers of love and lust.
Set in an isolated castle deep in the eerie Austrian woods, the novel is comprised of a young woman’s recollections of her encounter with a vampire and a doctor’s casebook, detailing a mysterious illness affecting peasant women. local in the area.
illnesses that coincidentally began at the same time as the arrival of carmilla, a young woman whose carriage breaks down outside the castle where the character laura and her father live. Famed as one of the first classic vampire novels, carmilla is sure to terrify and amaze you.
jane eyre, by charlotte brontë
Last but not least, the third Brontë sister to make the list of books as Wuthering Heights is Charlotte Brontë’s acclaimed gothic novel, Jane Eyre.
The novel follows grounded orphan Jane as she navigates life from escaping her cruel aunt, Mrs. Reed, to surviving the horrors of an evil school for orphans. But it’s when she takes on the role of governess at Thornfield Hall that she encounters love and heartbreak in the form of Mr. rochester, the secret and old owner of the estate.
jane eyre is another groundbreaking novel that is ahead of its time in portraying a woman who so yearns for freedom and is so fiercely independent. It’s quite clear to see why the Brontë sisters have left such an indelible mark on English literature and helped shape so many authors and literary themes today.
Have you already read this book? then be sure to check out our list of books like jane eyre!
As you can see, there are plenty of books like Wuthering Heights that are equally enjoyable and worth reading, whether for the supernatural elements common in gothic literature or the darker, more tragic sides of love and lust .
Are you looking for books like Wuthering Heights? Do you have any that are not on the list? tell us in the comments!
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