Wuthering Heights

Penguin Classics

By: Emily Brontë

Narrated by: Aimee Lou Wood, Kristin Atherton

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Aimee Lou Wood, star of Netflix's Sex Education. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Pauline Nestor.

Lockwood, the new tenant of Thrushcross Grange on the bleak Yorkshire moors, is forced to seek shelter one night at Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord. There he discovers the history of the tempestuous events that took place years before: of the intense passion between the foundling Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and her betrayal of him. As Heathcliff's bitterness and vengeance is visited upon the next generation, their innocent heirs must struggle to escape the legacy of the past.

(P) Penguin Audio 2020

Artwork © 2025 WBEI

the preface and introduction are really good

wish they put those at the front of the book lol, they set an excellent tone for themes to look out for. now I wanna read it again with an eye for vulnable boundaries, the “other” and the flux and yearning for and fear of such shifts.

MASTERPIECE

It is WORTH THE CREDIT to listen to this version narrated by Aimee Lou Wood. She is a FANTASTIC narrator, and brings each character to life with incredible accents. Now in to the actual book:
This novel, this MASTERPIECE surpassed not I my my expectations of the work itself, but of classic literature in general. While it is often shelved beside Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice, it is nothing if the sort. Emily Bronte’s novel is GOTHIC. She has created an incredibly atmospheric world within the moors of Wuthering Heights and the Grange, to the point that it is nearly a character itself. Her storyline is, by simplest definition, EPIC. It documents the lives of two generations, tracking the causes and effects one’s choices can have on the future. The characters are remarkably relatable and come to life off the pages, especially with the aid Emily Bronte’s excellent SARCASTIC style. Truly I laughed out loud throughout. It is as accessible and engaging to a novice as it is to a seasoned reader of classics. It may have the most quotable insults since Shakespeare. Yet, intermingled with the witty comedy is truly devastating tragedy. This is NOT a romance, by any means. It is a portrait of excellently crafted characters, their development throughout their lives, and their interactions with one another in a small community (basically two families). It tells the story of what happens when an outsider comes into a set structure and overturns it completely, and the swinging balance of equilibrium. It is a story of love, but more so of regret, loss, revenge, and forgiveness. It is truly one of the most incredible works I have ever read, far exceeding other classics of equal or greater prestige. It lingers with me still, and I’m still reeling from the unexpected twists and turns of both plot and emotion… and taking notes for my own work. Whether you’re looking to read one of the greatest pieces of literature in English history, or simply searching for a story unlike any other, Wuthering Heights may be the answer of your longings.

Its Wonderful

If you like grim, gothic, bitter realism, and a touch of romance, then this is it. I wanted to read this book so badly but could not get through a chapter without looking up the language from 19th century England. There is no need to dive into the dictionary when you listen to Aimee Lou Wood narrate the book, she brings these charecters to life! Her knowledge of the time and language really pays off, and makes this audio book feel like a long conversation with a friend. After 13 hours of listening to this book I sometimes transport from my daily life to the fire at Wuthering Heights, chatting up with Cathy and Hareton having a blanket over my lap and a cup of warm wine. Sometimes I hear Ellen retelling my day as it goes by. I feel so well acquainted with these characters and their lives, I feel I’ve lived some of it with them. Emily Bronte has reached inside my soul and awakened a part of it I never knew was there. This book taught me so much in so little time about what it means to be a woman, and what it means to be a man. It taught me about revenge and it awakened things I’ve never imagined. Who would have thought the dreary English moors would be the setting of such a vibrant piece of art. The ending was like a warm drink on a cold day, it warmed my belly and made me feel okay, by the end I felt everything was right again. The ending makes the internal suffering of the novel worth it. You see everything goes around and comes around and balance will be restored.

Great

First time reading. This book was fantastic and Aimee Lou Wood was a perfect narrator.

A beautiful story

The story itself is very depressing and sad but the book does such a wonderful job on pulling on your heart strings and making you love certain characters or hate or pity others. I was fully invested in their lives and thought the ending was well written.