Love beyond vampires

Why teens today are buying up a 19th century classic

What does Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight (and now movie) series–chock full of teen vampire angst and supernatural romance–have in common with a classic novel like Wuthering Heights? A lot, apparently. Twilight fans have sent the Penguin classic, by Emily Bronte, to the top of the bestseller charts—more than a century after it was written. A new version of 1847’s Wuthering Heights has been released by Waterstone. Its cover design closely resembles that of the Twilight books. And its publisher’s synopsis reads: “Love the Twilight books? Then you’ll adore Wuthering Heights, one of the greatest love stories ever told.” Meyer’s Twilight characters cite Wuthering Heights as their favourite book—and thematic parallels between the classic love tale and the modern-day vampire sensation aren’t hard to spot. Just as Cathy, Bronte’s 19th century heroine, is caught in the middle of a love triangle, so is Meyer’s Bella (albeit, one with a werewolf and a vampire). “I don’t think a vampire’s recommendation has ever sent a book to number one before,” said Waterstone’s classics buyer Simon Robertson.

Guardian UK