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Claire O’Callaghan’s Emily Brontë Reappraised – the only new biography of Emily to be published during the last twenty years – returns in this expanded edition, bringing new insight into how we read and remember one of literature’s most enigmatic writers. Blending biography, feminist criticism, and cultural history, O’Callaghan dismantles the myths that have long obscured Brontë’s life and art, revealing a bold, passionate, and politically attuned writer whose work still resonates today.
This updated edition includes fresh analysis covering new scholarship and popular depictions and adaptations, including the 2026 film “Wuthering Heights”, tracing how modern interpretations continue to reinvent Brontë’s vision of love, freedom, and the wild northern landscape that shaped her imagination. Both accessible and deeply researched, this edition invites readers—new and returning alike— to rediscover Emily Brontë for our times.
Praise for earlier editions and Claire O’Callaghan’s previous books:
“Thoughtful...an informally written, no-nonsense reappraisal...much more readable than most jargon-ridden academic articles.” Times Literary Supplement
“Intriguing...O’Callaghan writes feelingly.” Samantha Ellis, The Telegraph
“Fascinating.” Hephzibah Anderson, Mail on Sunday
“O’Callaghan clearly knows her stuff... An original, valuable contribution that goes a long way to rehabilitating the image of one of the most influential female figures in English literature.” Northern Soul
“Unpicks the nuances ... with sensitive political and literary insight.” Times Literary Supplement
“Important... original ... a highly readable and valuable collection.” Mary Evans, London School of Economics
Dr Claire O’Callaghan is a literary scholar and cultural historian, specialising in Victorian literature and culture, with a particular focus on the Brontës. Her research explores themes of gender, sexuality, and violence, health and the body. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of Brontë Studies, the official journal of the Brontë Society, and works closely with the Brontë Parsonage Museum. She is a Senior Lecturer in English at Loughborough University and a regular contributor to television and radio. Her work has featured in The Guardian, History Today, and BBC History online.
Preface: Emily At 207
Introduction
One: The Life And Works Of Emily
Two: Emily – The Biographers’ Tales
Three: Ellis Bell
Four: Wuthering Heights
Five: Emily In Nature
Six: Emily, Gender And Feminism
Seven: Afterlives
Eight: Emily – The Woman And The Myths
Closing
Notes & References
Selected Bibliography
Index