A solicitor’s clerk is sent to Yorkshire to find and reclaim a manuscript. He’s a nervous chap, scared of his own shadow! He then reads it and is both compelled and horrified by it. Definitely atmospheric with vivid descriptions. But “love of his life”?? Sounds very contemporary! It’s always interesting seeing what modern people do with long dead author’s characters especially such a strong one as Heathcliffe. Worth a read for anyone who likes the Brontës.

I picked up this book because ... Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights... I'm morbidly fascinated and repelled by the character at the same time...

The book was interesting because it was part Wuthering Heights, and part the Bronte Sisters... and so much more... A good tale for those fascinated with Heathcliff and his Cathy.

I was intrigued to see what this book would bring as I am a huge fan of Wuthering Heights.

But I must say maybe that is why this one just didn't do it for me. I was expecting more and found this a bit hard to read although not an overly long book (which was good). It was a different aspect to a long loved story.

Interesting and worth the read but not a favourite for me I'm afraid.

I was invited to read this by the publishers but I really didn't enjoy it. The idea is an interesting one but the writing was dense and I couldn't connect with it in any way

I love Bronte's novel and was excited to read this different interpretation. However, this story fell flat for me and I found it a tedious exploration of what is such a haunting story to begin with. 

Undoubtedly, Tennant's writing has atmosphere. The use of pathetic fallacy in the opening scenes was particularly effective in establishing the gothic I have come to associate with Heathcliff. Yet, I thought the novel was too disjointed, not aided by the frequent author notes, and believed it took itself too seriously in an attempt to prove that Bronte was not the real writer.

I did not get a sense of danger or threat for Henry. In fact, I thought his entire expedition was ruining the Heathcliff legacy. As the novel progressed, I found myself increasingly protective of Bronte's original works and wanted Tennant to leave this adaptation alone. Indeed, I was concerned that I would have fewer positive associations with this classic as a result of reading this novel.

I like the premise that Tennant has explored but I thought the execution was too wordy. The only reason why I did not give this just one star was because of the Bronte connection and I enjoyed reading a different interpretation of Heathcliff's character. However, for the majority, I found Henry's character to be weak, insipid and forgettable.

In conclusion, this is an interesting idea and I think some Bronte fans will appreciate Tennant's interpretation. Personally, I thought this offering too wordy, too disjointed and not honouring the original classic enough.

With thanks to Agora books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A hauntingly evocative story which should be on the reading list of everyone who has enjoyed "Wuthering Heights".
Well written narrative that draws the reader in to great effect.

I couldn’t read this, I tried many times but it just didn’t work for me. I guess the reality is I didn’t like Wuthering Heights all that much either. I know I am probably the minority but this was just way too hard to read. I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Agora Books in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled with this book. It felt too old-fashioned in the writing, as if it were painstakingly copying Emily Bronte's style, which made it a challenge for a modern novel.

In what could have been a very chilling tale that revisits Wuthering Heights, a place high on the Moody Moors that still stir deep feelings & emotions should you go & visit them , Tennant shines a wavering light on the mysteries that surrounded Miss Emily Bronte and fetches her to life in enthralling and unexpected ways! The reader if they haven't actually read this classic book `Wuthering Heights' & I urge them to do so , or if they haven't been to Haworth & it's Parsonage the home of the Bronte Family ( it's now a Museum ) should briefly know that Wuthering Heights is a tale of deep obsession between the Dark broody Heathcliff & Cathy & her obsession with him , which was whisked up in the Brooding landscape in which their story is set. !
Although this Book is based about another Book of fiction , but when you delve deeper into the lives of the Bronte's & others who enter their circle lines between real life & fictional life become blurred , as though ghostly misty fingers are coming down off on the Moors too smudge those lines .#FB,#GoodReads, #Instagram,#NetGalley, #Amazon.co.uk,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.co.uk/badge/c566f42be23a0e25d120e78a3454e2d427c4beee" width="80" height="80" alt="50 Book Reviews" title="50 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.co.uk/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.co.uk/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>. Enjoy

I was really excited when I was approved to read 'Heathcliff's Tale' as I love gothic literature and have read 'Wuthering Heights' so many times. However I did struggle a little bit with this re-imagining.

At times the story line was difficult to follow, there was the same notion of the isolated and rural backdrop, stormy weather and unexpected arrivals to open the storyline; as well as the protagonist fearing his own sanity after the strange going ons. BUT the story often lost itself.

I hate leaving mixed reviews, there was so much of this story that was enjoyable, but it is a book you have to really COMMIT to, you can't put it down and come back to it as you lose the thread and have to start all over again

I wanted to love this book more. .

[digital arc provided via netgalley]

well, this couldn't possible be worse. i did not enjoy this at all and had to be done with it. not only is this poorly written but there is not an ounce of research done. there are some evident errors here and it frustrated me so. as would emily brontë.

On a stormy New Year’s Eve, a solicitor’s clerk, Henry Newby, arrives on the doorstep of Haworth parsonage. He has been sent by his uncle’s publishing firm to retrieve a manuscript, which the firm had paid for, by the late Ellis Bell. While there, Newby finds some pages burning in the fireplace that he picks out and reads. He seems to think they relate true events, however it’s clear to the reader that they are a continuation, or elaboration, of the story told in Wuthering Heights.

The novel is told through the writings of Henry Newby and the fragments of manuscript that he gathers, and it is interspersed throughout with ‘Editor’s Notes’ from a fictional, unknown editor publishing these papers after Newby’s death. But we are never really sure who wrote them in the first place, or whether they are confession or fiction.

This is a gothic imagining of the untold parts of Wuthering Heights, drawn partly from things we already know about the Brontës, with a dark take on the experiences and events that may have inspired the figure of Heathcliff.

As a lover of origin stories, I was excited to read this one, especially with all the hints and theories about Heathcliff’s childhood before being adopted by Earnshaw. But proceed with caution, as the novel is full of shifting points of view and competing, unreliable narratives which make it difficult to ascertain the ‘truth’.

What I enjoyed about this book was the use of heavily gothic, or Victorian gothic devices. The framing of the narrative by a legal clerk and the fears of supernatural forces of evil are reminiscent of Dracula, while the pathetic fallacy, the melodrama, the dark passions, are all ramped up in the style of The Mad Monk or the Vicar or Wakefield. The influence of the Bronte juvenilia is also clearly present.

I did question some parts of it: the supremely ignorant and unreliable Newby had me doubting my own knowledge of Brontë-lore at several points – I wasn’t sure why Tennant had him believe that Emily was the youngest sister (he mentions this several times!) unless it was to highlight his lack of knowledge and reliability. Likewise when he maintains that Branwell and Emily made up the Gondal stories I had to check that I was right in thinking Gondal was in fact the game of Emily and Anne, while Charlotte and Branwell wrote about Angria.

I also thought it let Hindley off far too easily and did poor Branwell a massive injustice, but I enjoyed reading from Isabella's persepctive.

Although I wasn't a fan of the ending and what it implied, this is a dark, dramatic tale of dysfunctional relationships and forbidden passions, with an interesting use of source material and a layered narrative that plays with the reader’s perceptions right up to the last page.

Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. Read my full review (contains spoilers) at the link below.

An atmospheric and fascinating book that filled some gaps in the Wuthering Heights but it's also a gripping story on its own.
I liked the style of writing and think it's well researched and well written
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A book that drew me right in brought me back to Wuthering heights .This is lyrically written full of haunting scenes atmosphere a truly excellent read.#netgalley #agorabooks

I struggled with this one. The format is strange and I felt the story didn’t flow at all. There were moments of great atmosphere and I loved the authors use of language but for me this one didn’t work.

I have read Emily Bronte's" Wuthering Heights " and have some knowledge of the Bronte sisters and their family, but that being said I was still more than slightly confused and a bit put off by this story.
A Mr. Newby is tasked by his uncle to retrieve a manuscript that they own the rights to after the author has passed away. The author being Emily Bronte and the manuscript, her second telling more about Heathcliff and Cathy and their disastrous romance.
This novel, written in the style and language of the times for which it was intended jumped all over the place. The only coherent story line I could fathom was that Mr. Newby was somewhat a coward, afraid of thunderstorms and things that go bump in the night. I just found the whole notion of him going to the parsonage, looking through other peoples things without permission and without prior knowledge of exactly who's manuscript it was and what it was about a bit far fetched.
I am sorry, although the book is well written the overall storyline needs some work. Well a good idea for the story I don't feel it quite held up to expectations.
Thank you to the publishers at Agora Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

A Revisit....
A revisit to Wuthering Heights, the tale and the characters therein - gaps filled and storyline expanded and characters explored, particularly the origin of Heathcliff- in an interesting and engaging narrative. Enjoy as a piece of fiction, an entertaining ghost story in its’ own right.

If like me you love the Brontes and are wild about Heathcliffe then you will enjoy this book. Just don't expect it to be the same.

Cleverly crafted through a nuance of styles this explores the story and characters from a different angle.

The prose is great and the narrative well constructed.

It is well worth a read.

Recent papers discovered tell the tale of solicitor's clerk Henry Newby who had been asked by his uncle, Henry Cautley, publisher, to retrieve a manuscript from Haworth Parsonage. A manuscriptby Ellis Bell, that they had paid for in advance. He arrives there on New Years Eve 1848. He discovers papers but are these the manuscript or a confession of evil deeds. And who is the real author.
A story that is useful to have read Wuthering Heights and to know something about the Brontes.
Overall an interesting story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heathcliff's Tale is a delightful conspiracy and satirical edge of the "Wuthering Heights" legend. This is a rounded and well written piece through the eyes of one Henry Newby, dispatched to collect Emily Bronte's posthumous novel for publication in London from the safe countryside surroundings of Hawthorne Parsonage and is haunted by the ghost of the vile Heathcliff and the spirit of the novel begins to disturb and tease the mind of Henry.