A recent Polish thesis with a Brontë-related topic: by Szklarz, Weronika July 1, 2026
Zarówno w Wichrowych Wzgórzach Emily Brontë, jak i w Pogance Narcyzy Żmichowskiej występują elementy charakterystyczne dla „formuły gotyckiej”. Niniejsza praca stanowi analizę porównawczą sposobu wykorzystania przez pisarki wątków gotyckich, a jej celem jest wskazanie ich funkcji w wymowie obu dzieł. Autorka wyznacza najważniejsze cechy powieści gotyckiej, przeprowadza analizę konstrukcji przestrzeni i ich wpływu na bohaterów, a także omawia kreację postaci przypominających gotyckich łotrów. Ponadto podkreślono znaczenie sił nadprzyrodzonych w obu utworach oraz wyjaśniono, w jaki sposób gotycka maska służy wprowadzeniu kwestii takich jak związki nieheteronormatywne, dyskryminacja rasowa oraz opresyjność norm płciowych. Praca dowodzi, że wątki gotyckie w utworach Brontë i Żmichowskiej nie tylko tworzą atmosferę grozy, lecz za sprawą kategorii „niewypowiadalności” umożliwiają równoczesne ukrycie i wyeksponowanie tematów niemożliwych do wyrażenia wprost. Tym samym zestawienie Wichrowych Wzgórz i Poganki ujawnia transgresyjny potencjał gotycyzmu, pozwalający na wpisanie obu powieści w szeroki kontekst społeczno-kulturowy.
Both Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë and The Heathen by Narcyza Żmichowska feature elements from “the Gothic formula”. The thesis is a comparative analysis of the usage of Gothic themes, and its aim is to state their functions in the novels’ message. The author of the thesis outlines the most important features of the Gothic novel, analyses the construction of the spaces and their influence on the characters and considers the characterisation of these who resemble Gothic villains. Furthermore, meaning of the supernatural forces is highlighted, and also it is explained how the gothic disguise serves to introduce issues such as queer relationships, racial discrimination and oppressiveness of gender norms. The thesis proves that the gothic themes in Brontë’s and Żmichowska’s novels not only create horror atmosphere but also, through the category of “unspeakable”, enable the simultaneous concealment and unveiling of topics that cannot be expressed directly. Therefore, a comparison of Wuthering Heights and The Heathen reveals the transgressive potential of Gothicism, which allows both novels to be situated within a socio-cultural context.
A talk given at a recent Russian conference: Dmitrienko K. V. Current issues of translation, linguistics, history of literature and folklore: collection of articles from the XIV International scientific conference of young scientists dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Department of Foreign Languages (Ekaterinburg, February 19-20, 2026). - Ekaterinburg: Publishing house "Azhur", 2026. - P. 1224-1236.
This article analyzes how the Chartist movement is reflected in Charlotte Brontë's social novels Shirley (1849) and Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South (1855). It examines ideas about Chartism that existed in British society and how they were depicted in women's fiction of the second half of the 19th century. Particular attention is paid to the images of the characters through which the writers convey their attitudes to the social problems of their era.
According to EnVols, 'If you’re obsessed with Pride and Prejudice, these 7 classic novels offer the same romantic atmosphere (they’re perfect beach reads for this summer!)' And so here's Jane Eyre as a beach read then: Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë An orphan raised in difficult circumstances, Jane Eyre refuses to submit to the injustices that mark her life. After becoming a governess at the mysterious Thornfield Hall, she meets Edward Rochester, a landowner who is as fascinating as he is enigmatic. Darker than Pride and Prejudice, this great classic nevertheless shares one of its essential ingredients: an intelligent, independent heroine determined to preserve her freedom. Charlotte Brontë crafts an intense romance driven by a protagonist whose strength of character recalls that of Elizabeth Bennet. (Amandine Enard-Hauger)
Guyana Chronicle reviews the novel A Tall History of Sugar by Curdella Forbes. Beware of spoilers, though. What truly makes a love story memorable is loss. Death casts a shadow over the lovers’ hopes and lends their passion gravity. Emily Brontë kills Catherine in Wuthering Heights; Erich Segal kills the beloved Jenny in Love Story; Tolstoy sends Anna Karenina beneath the wheels of a train. Even when death is absent, yearning serves the same purpose. Scott Spencer’s lyrical Endless Love sustains itself on obsession, separation and unattainability. The finest love stories rarely offer satisfaction. Instead, they leave behind hope, longing and an enduring belief in the impossible. Curdella Forbes’s A Tall History of Sugar belongs to this tradition. (Berkley Wendell Semple)
Far Out Magazine lists '10 movies that cast the right actor in the wrong role' and one of them is Alison Oliver in ‘Wuthering Heights’ (Emerald Fennell, 2026) Wuthering Heights earned a lot of backlash for Jacob Elordi’s casting as Heathcliff, who is implied to be a mixed-race character in Emily Brontë’s novel, but there is just as much issue with Margot Robbie being cast to play Catherine Earnshaw, who was too old to play a character who dies when she is a teenager, and she also has too much rigidity and spunk to portray a romantic lead defined as reserved. The obvious casting choice to play Cathy would have been Alison Oliver, who appears in the film as Isabella Linton, and has much better chemistry with Elordi. While Isabelle is an exaggerated character, it’s easy to imagine Oliver having the emotional capacity to make the role of Cathy both heartbreaking and tragically naive, based on her impressive performance in the HBO drama series Task. (Liam Gaughan)
Herald on Sunday (New Zealand) has an article on Brontë Country. From Thornton to Haworth: Brontë country offers a gothic escape for literary travellers. Ghosts are a prominent theme in the Brontë sisters’ work, so perhaps it’s fitting that my first evening in their birthplace is spent listening for creaks on the staircase. Like Jane Eyre lying awake in Thornfield Hall, it’s almost too easy to visualise spirits lurking somewhere in the shadows beyond my phone charger. I am lucky enough to spend two nights at Brontë Birthplace, the character homestay in Thornton, located on the western edges of Bradford. The restored Georgian home also doubles as a museum and cafe. Once the home of Patrick and Maria Brontë, the sisters and their brother Patrick Branwell are thought to have all been born here before the family moved to Haworth in 1820. Anna and Mark, the custodians of the property and passionate history buffs, greet guests with infectious energy. Painstaking effort has been put into furnishing the space with genuine antiques, including a four-poster bed, chaise lounge, and a chamber pot discreetly tucked under the bed. Mark gently asks me not to use it, and I very considerately oblige. (...) (Imogene Bedford)
A Brontë event organized by the Bradford Heritage Festival and the Brontë Parsonage Museum:
Once a day, 13-19 July, 2:00pm Meet outside the Museum Shop
For Bradford Heritage Festival, we're holding a guided moorland walk to Penistone Hill once a day. We’ll discover the landscape that inspired the Brontës and explore some remnants of its industrial past. Approximately takes 1hr 30mins. The walk is quite short, but includes some hills and rough ground underfoot, so sturdy footwear is essential. If the event is cancelled, we’ll contact you. We reserve the right to make changes to our programme. All information is correct at the time of booking. We kindly ask that you do not bring dogs or other pets to our in-person events unless stated otherwise (if you'd like to bring your service dog to an event, please let us know).
This is quite surreal. The Telegraph and Argus reports that the Bradford City football team have a new mascot called Brontë Bantam who has been to the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Bradford City have announced their new mascot, Brontë Bantam, in an announcement video that links to world-renowned authors Charlotte and Emily Brontë. The club have now created a sibling duo of mascots that truly represent the community and family atmosphere that surrounds the club. But they have also done it by bringing in the local area, specifically highlighting Haworth and the Brontë sisters, a beloved part of the West Yorkshire area and its history. (Sophie Bates)
The Globe and Mail has arts editor Judith Pereira and book critic Emily Donaldson answer readers' questions about summer reads.
How do you approach reading classics? I find it hard to get past the older language. Donaldson: I think the main challenge is attuning your ear to the unfamiliar language and pacing. But what feels awkward on page five often starts to feel natural by page fifty. Start with classics that are genuine page-turners: Jane Eyre, The Picture of Dorian Grey, The Count of Monte Cristo and virtually anything by Austen or Dickens all have strong narrative momentum, making the language easier to settle into than, say, behemoths like Moby-Dick, Middlemarch or The Brothers Karamazov. And do not feel obligated to slog through every book you try. Some became classics because they changed literature, not because they’re rollicking yarns. I also don’t think the goal shouldn’t be to check titles off a list – it’s to find the books that have earned their reputation because they still have the power to move/grab us.
Hardy and Free has been created by award-winning Yorkshire photographer Carolyn Mendelsohn and takes its name from a line in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights: “I wish I were a girl again, half-savage and hardy, and free...” It was originally commissioned by the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth in 2023 as part of its contemporary arts programme and then a new series of large-scale portraits with audio from the women involved, was created for Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture and adorned Kirkgate Shopping Centre. The photographs, which are three metres by two metres each are hung in a huge barn where they used to show the pigeons on the Yorkshire Show Ground. Hardy and Free explores the relationship between 12 contemporary women and the natural world, all sharing a profound emotional link with the landscapes that shape them. (Catherine Scott)
Several Brontë-related alerts at the Bradford Literature Festival for tomorrow, July 12:
Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 Loading Bay, BD1 3QR
Join volunteer Mark Musolf as he reflects on his remarkable journey at the Brontë Birthplace growing from casual helper to committee member, acclaimed tour guide, and a cornerstone of the Birthplace community.
As part of the Brontë Birthplace team he shares the fascinating stories of the Brontë family and this special house, helping others to connect with the Brontës’ legacy and leave with a deeper appreciation of both the family’s story and the place where it began. In this insightful talk, Musolf charts the history of the project, its evolving aims and the tremendous successes achieved through dedication, collaboration and local pride.
Irene Lofthouse
Folkloric Legends and Influences of the Brontës
Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 13:30 – 14:30 Loading Bay, BD1 3QR
The Brontë children were surrounded by storytellers from birth, hearing tales from different voices and areas. With parents from the North of Ireland and Cornwall, both places redolent with myths, legends, and their own stories related in geographical accents. Listening to genteel Thornton company would have contrasted much with servants’ speech, which in turn would have been different to that in Haworth and Keighley. Dialect, myths and legends in each place were influenced by past migration, and new communities settling in the areas during the Brontës’ lives. In this talk, Irene looks at these influences, the accents and dialect the Brontës heard around them, on visits to Keighley, and how these may have found their way into their written work. Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 14:45 – 15:45 Loading Bay, BD1 3Q
Step into the shadowed world of passion, obsession and moral ambiguity in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Join acclaimed Brontë scholar Dr Claire O’Callaghan and popular literary culture specialist Dr Jo Parsons for a thought-provoking discussion exploring the novel’s dark romantic legacy and its influence on contemporary phenomena, such as Twilight, After and The Vampire Diaries. Together, they will examine the enduring appeal of dark romance tropes including longing, intensity and toxicity, while questioning the ethics behind these narratives. Is Heathcliff a romantic hero or something far more troubling? Discover why stories of destructive love continue to captivate audiences across generations and popular culture today.
Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 16:00 – 17:00 Loading Bay, BD1 3QR
With new adaptations and viral discussions bringing classic literature to new audiences, the Brontë sisters are once again at the centre of cultural conversation. Join acclaimed author Lucasta Miller and renowned Brontë scholar Dr Claire O’Callaghan as they explore how our understanding of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë continues to evolve in the 21st century. From Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre to modern film and television adaptations, this engaging discussion examines why the Brontës’ stories of passion, ambition and rebellion still resonate today. Discover how contemporary audiences are reshaping the myths, legacy and enduring appeal of one of literature’s most celebrated families.
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