Wuthering Heights

By: Emily Brontë

Narrated by: Michael Kitchen

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Michael Kitchen gives us a masterclass in narration with this intelligent and believable performance of Emily Brontë's classic work. Listeners will be swept up in Heathcliff and Cathy's turbulent love affair, not to be released until long after the final word.

The only novel written by Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights was originally published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, and at first was thought to be the work of Emily's sister, Charlotte, the author of the classic Jane Eyre.

Wuthering Heights tells the tale of Heathcliff, a young orphaned gypsy boy, who is brought to the windswept moors of Yorkshire by Mr Earnshaw, the master of Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff's childhood there is riddled with bullying and humiliation, but the master's daughter, the precocious and untameable Cathy, becomes his ally, and a childhood fondness for one another grows to a great passion.

Following a misunderstanding, Heathcliff believes that Cathy has rejected him, and he leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return after three years have passed. When he returns, now mysteriously rich, he learns of Cathy's marriage to another and vows to focus his passionate nature on merciless revenge. Heathcliff's retribution proves so destructive that left in its wake are not only his enemies, but the very object of his obsession and, ultimately, himself.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Search no further. A masterful vocal talent has found a masterpiece of world literature to perform....Kitchen's intoxicatingly rich voice is the perfect medium for Bronte's romantic lyricism." (AudioFile)

Outstanding!

I could not put this down! Had read in high school lit class but was confused and bored, and with this reading I was riveted and sensed actually standing in the hallway of the Grange or beside Nelly as she narrated the unfolding of Wuthuring Heights tales to Mr. Lockwood. Fascinating character development at its best - could sympathize with Catherine’s selfishness and Heathcliffe’s anger and the frailty of romantic loves. Excellent reader! Kept me totally enthralled to the end!

A stupendous narration

A stupendous narration by Michael Kitchen. Extremely convincing and true to the author's intent in every respect.

Always wanted to read it, but was intimidated

What a great book! No wonder it is a classic! I had always wanted to read the book but was intimidated by the number of pages. I love Mr. Kitchen's British accent for this book. Thank you!

Kitchen is a great reader

A reader/listener has to get beyond the horrors of Wuthering Heights to see the beauty of the writing & depth of characters. Kitchen was a fantastic narrator.

loved it!

What did you love best about Wuthering Heights?

Wuthering Heights is one of my all time favorite novels for I really enjoy reading of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff's love which started from their childhood when they found refuge in each other's company, survived their marriages to other people, and lasted until death. Their burning love consumes them and arguably drives both to madness.

What other book might you compare Wuthering Heights to and why?

It's hard to compare Wuthering Heights to another novel that I have read before, but perhaps it is similar to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre in that they both present unconventional men whose love push them to ignore social mores to be with the women they love.

Have you listened to any of Michael Kitchen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first of Michael Kitchen's performances that I have heard so I can make no comparisons; however, Kitchen did an excellent job. He varied his voice well for each character, and used a perfect voice for Heathcliff; it was deep, passionate and fiery.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

True love or obsession?

Any additional comments?

The wholesome love that Edgar Linton has for Cathy serves as a nice contrast for Heathcliff's roaring ardor, but Edgar's behavior doesn't bring the explosive energy that Heathcliff's actions bring. I also appreciate Bronte's use of setting to set tone and reveal character.

Beautiful Narration of this Classic

This story is just as powerful as it ever has been, and Kitchen is the perfect narrator. People looking for a sweet love story should go to "Pride & Prejudice", this book is about the destructive power of love, not the redeeming power of it. Love destroys Heathcliff and Catherine and everyone in their lives, and it's a beautiful story in its gothic horror.

i had forgotten how great this story is

if you had to read this is high school (or not) and enjoyed it, you will enjoy listing to the narrator bring it life. I remembered that i loved the story but it had been so long that i had forgotten major details. i now know why and that, i really love this book.

It was OK

The plot is familiar enough, but I did not realize that the story was narrated mostly by the housekeeper telling her memories of the main characters. Had I known that I would have chosen a different narrator-maybe a version with 2 actors (1 male, 1 female). This narrator did a good job, but I think I would have enjoyed 2 voices instead of one.

Perfect narration of the perfect English novel

Michael Kitchen is superb, and the book surely speaks for itself as the ultimate gothic novel.

Unsentimentally challenging

Let me say first that although I have seen a couple of the filmed versions of this classic, I have never been able to make it through the text. Seeing it narrated by Michael Kitchen invited me to try the book again, and as I had hoped, his elegant reading got me through to the end.

This is a very difficult book for those who approach it expecting grand romance. This is a tragedy born of selfish obsession and revenge. If you expect to see the tormented devotion of Laurence Olivier’s Heathcliff, go back to the movies. Bronte gave him no such sentimentality or romance. He is steely hard in his determination to wreak vengeance on Hindly for his mistreatment, and on Cathy for abandoning him for the soft life as a rich man’s wife. These three primary characters lead wreaking ball lives that resonate into the next generation so that even their children are unloved pawns of their parents’ ruined lives.

How does this grim tale survive as a classic? I believe it’s because as we get deeper into the stories of the second generation we find (finally) some hope and redemption. There is hope for nature to triumph over nuture even when that nurturing has been so dreadfully toxic. It’s also helpful that Bronte knows how to write eloquently, communicating the bleakness of the moors as a co-conspirator in the creation of the hard natures of those who inhabit this land. Kitchen’s reading struck all the right notes. If you want to tackle this challenging story, I highly recommend selecting this version.