A contributor to The Article wonders whether 'docudramas feed a culture of misinformation'.
How about two centuries ago? Frances O’Connor’s newly-released biopic Emily raises a further problem. The Reverend Patrick Brontë’s evangelical curate, William Weightman, appears as the film’s guilt-stricken, hypocritical sex interest. Emily and Weightman have a passionate affair with sex scenes in the hay. But the lives of the Brontës are exceptionally well-documented and researched; there is no historical evidence that Emily Brontë had an affair with anyone.The Rev. William Weightman was in reality a pious evangelical who died in 1842 from cholera, which he probably caught while visiting the sick in Haworth parish. Much loved by his parishioners, he is honoured in Haworth church by a plaque that describes him as a man of “orthodox principles, active zeal, moral habits, learning and affability”.Weightman did indeed, as in the movie, send each of the Brontë sisters a Valentine and there is some evidence that there were warmer feelings between him and Emily’s younger sister Anne, but he was clearly no clerical sexual predator or hypocrite. Does traducing the long-dead Emily Brontë and Weightman matter? Is Frances O’Connor entitled to “re-imagine” the truth about them for our entertainment? (Ian Linden)
Bio (Sweden) announces that Emily will be screened as part of Stockholm Filmfestival 2022 on November 25th.
The Week has writer Lisa Unger tell about her '6 favorite books you won't want to put down' and one of them is
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847)I read this Gothic masterpiece too young to discern its layered commentary on feminism, class, and religion, but was transported into its whirlwind of mystery and romance, and the poignancy of Jane's coming-of-age. A Strong Young Heroine, a brooding lord, a Gothic mansion — teen catnip.
Writer Kate Forster discusses about her latest novel, Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross, on Culturefly.
Christmas can be an emotional time for people and sometimes this holiday can come with regret and sadness. I wanted to bring these two ideas together in my latest book, Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross. It was also influenced by the Victorian style of gothic fiction, with themes throughout the book from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James and even the Edwardian book, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. [...]Likewise, in Jane Eyre, some of the darkest moments happen to Jane at Christmas time. For example, when she is left out of festivities by her Aunt Reed, or the Christmas frosts that are mentioned that reflect her inner sadness and the coldness the world seems to have against her pursuit of happiness. [...]While my new book is set at Christmas time, its themes of life, and locking away people and memories influence the story, with my heroine, Eve, bringing the sort of sensible energy of Martha from The Secret Garden, or even Jane Eyre herself.The children in Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross are a pastiche of Myles and Flora from Turn of the Screw with a touch of little Adele from Jane Eyre, and The Secret Garden’s Mary Lennox. And my hero, Edward Priest is influenced by so many Victorian men of literature at that time, with him being offered a chance to grow and learn and trust himself and the love of the people around him.When I re-read these books, I remember that it is love that heals Colin in The Secret Garden. It restores life and eventually sight in Mr Rochester. I thought about how Christmas can be a painful time for some. Not everything is merry and bright but sometimes through the pain we can find meaning and love again, especially at Christmas time.
The Bingeful recommends the '24 Best Classic Monster Movies' and among them is
17. I Walked with a Zombie (1943)Many famous horror films are based on classic horror books, but I Walked with a Zombie by Jacques Tourneur is based on Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. They merely transformed the insane woman in the attic into an absolute monster.Betsy does everything she can to help Paul’s wife get better, but she is out of options. She might not be alive anymore.Or she might have been the victim of a mysterious ceremony, as the islanders think. This is one of the best classic monster movies. (Adeleke Adewale)
A contributor to Her Campus lists her 'essential songs' for November.
“Wuthering Heights” by Kate BushOne of Kate Bush’s most popular tracks to date, “Wuthering Heights” is the embodiment of unearthly unease generally felt in November, where Halloween’s grip is still strong enough to send a chill up one’s spine. It’s a great representation of the fons et origo of the early romantic gothic literary genre, as the title of the song is a reference to Emily Brontë’s novel. I recently read Bunny by Mona Awad, where this song is mentioned by name in one of the scenes, and I’ve been on a Kate Bush kick ever since. (Miriam Slessor)
