Catherine

The greatest tragic love story ever told – but this time, Catherine tells it herself. In Catherine, Essie Fox breathes new life into Wuthering Heights, transforming a gothic masterpiece into a haunting confession of obsession, madness and love that even death cannot end.

With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow – until Mr Earnshaw’s death leaves Hindley, Catherine’s brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.

Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty – but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.

Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and seek redemption.

Essie Fox’s Catherine reimagines Wuthering Heights with beauty and intensity – a haunting, atmospheric retelling that brings new life to a timeless classic and lays bare the dark heart of an immortal love.

Review

'A dazzling feminist retelling of the greatest tragic love affair in fiction … gothic, defiant and heartbreakingly human' Louisa Treger

‘Exquisite’ Liz Fenwick

'Passionate, vivid, utterly mesmerising … satisfyingly familiar and yet sparking with wild gothic originality’ Kate Griffin

‘Haunting, authentic, exquisite … a fresh and relevant story of obsession and revenge’ Anna Mazzola

'A new level of understanding is brought by the change in perspective, and the joy, anguish, passion, obsession and destruction are not only witnessed but embodied. Essie Fox doesn’t write from the heart, she writes from her soul … stunning' Barbara Havelocke

‘Wuthering Heights has been re-imagined by one of our most prominent Gothic novelists … Read it by candlelight, surrounded by shadows, and let the deathly icy-cold fingers of its protagonist clasp you and send shivers down your spine’ Dr Michael Stewart

'Beautiful! I loved being back in that world' Emma Carroll 

‘Expertly written, cleverly melding original text with reimagined interpretations … a feminist retelling that retains the emotional truth of Emily Brontë’s original. Essie Fox has lovingly and meticulously reconstructed the story to draw out its dark, twisted heart – wild, windswept and gloriously gothic’ Katherine Clements

‘Dark and poignant, it’s a book to sink into on a cold winter’s evening’ Frances Quinn

‘Essie Fox brings fresh passion and insight to one of the most compelling relationships in English literature … With aching beauty and sadness, Catherine  enchants and captivates’ Dr Tim Rideout

‘Death-tinged, dreamlike and darkly poetic, this rich reimagining of Catherine Earnshaw's inner world will send you rushing back to Emily's Bronte's novel and poetry to reconsider scenarios you thought you knew’ Emma Liggins

'Darkly, wildly romantic' Kate Lord Brown

'Steadfast to the original story, but with some delightful gothic touches of the author’s own … Essie Fox’s love of Victorian literature and the Yorkshire landscape shines through on every page’ Karen Powell

'A sumptuous Gothic treat, regardless of whether you are a fan of Wuthering Heights' C.S. Green

About the Author

Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing.    After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, then the book publishers George Allen & Unwin – before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design.   Always an avid reader, Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4's TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Her latest novel, The Fascination is based in Victorian country fairgrounds, the glamour of the London theatres, and an Oxford Street museum full of morbid curiosities.    Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian  She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.