A huge thank you to Anne from Random Things Tours and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of Catherine in return for an honest review.
Catherine by Essie Fox
Synopsis:
With a nature as wild as the moors she loves to roam, Catherine Earnshaw grows up alongside Heathcliff, a foundling her father rescued from the streets of Liverpool. Their fierce, untamed bond deepens as they grow – until Mr Earnshaw’s death leaves Hindley, Catherine’s brutal brother, in control and Heathcliff reduced to servitude.
Desperate to protect him, Catherine turns to Edgar Linton, the handsome heir to Thrushcross Grange. She believes his wealth might free Heathcliff from cruelty – but her choice is fatally misunderstood, and their lives spiral into a storm of passion, jealousy and revenge.
Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and to seek redemption.
My review:
Published two days before Valentine’s Day and the new Wuthering Heights film, Essie Fox's Catherine reimagines Emily Brontë’s novel from Cathy Earnshaw's point of view. A haunting, atmospheric retelling that brings new life to a timeless classic.
It's no secret that I am a huge Brontë fan, and Wuthering
Heights is one of my favourite classics, so I was both excited and apprehensive
going into this retelling. I needn't have worried…
The story begins with a dead Cathy being woken from her
eternal slumber by the opening of her coffin, with a heartbroken Heathcliff
standing over her. I was delighted by this very gothic, atmospheric beginning
and adored the novel from the very start. We relive the story of Wuthering
Heights from Catherine's perspective. In the original, the story is told from
Nelly Dean’s point of view (the Earnshaw family's servant, and a narrator
generally considered unreliable).
I absolutely LOVED this book and had to keep reminding
myself that this was a modern reimagining — Essie's evocative writing retains
the same feel as the original. Catherine subtly suggests scenarios that fill in
so many of the unanswered questions Brontë left us with, giving the reader a
deeper understanding and a more sympathetic view of the characters, without
glossing over or excusing their later behaviours. Essie has perfectly captured the
gothic atmosphere, characters, and the windy, bleak moors, remaining faithful
to the source material beloved by so many.
If you struggle with reading classics, or simply don’t enjoy
them, this would be an ideal way to experience Wuthering Heights in a more
approachable form. I would suggest reading this retelling first and then
pick up Brontë's Wuthering Heights. Already knowing the plot and what to
expect might remove some of the intimidation that reading a classic can bring.
As opposed to what I have seen (so far) of the new Wuthering
Heights film, Catherine truly captures the soul of Emily Brontë's only novel. This is
a respectful celebration that honours the original and feels like the perfect
tribute to Brontë. It is clear that Essie knows the novel and its characters
inside out. Hopefully, Catherine will inspire many to read — or re-read —
Wuthering Heights.
It may only be February, but I have a feeling this will be
one of my favourite books of 2026.
Catherine is out now!! You can buy your own copy here
Meet the author:
Essie Fox is the Sunday Times bestselling author of seven historical novels, including The Somnambulist, shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and The Fascination, an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Her work has twice been selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month, most recently for her gothic mystery Dangerous. She appears regularly at literary festivals and cultural institutions and is the host of the podcast Talking the Gothic. She lives in Windsor.
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