NELLY DEAN.

NELLY DEAN by ALISON CASE.

INNER FRONT COVER BLURB: A young woman fated to bear the pain of a family she is unable to leave, and unable to save.

Nelly Dean has been young Hindley Earnshaw's closest companion for as long as she can remember, living at the great house, Wuthering Heights. But when the benevolence of Hindley's father brings an untameable orphan boy into the house, Nelly must follow in her mother's footsteps, and give up her freedom to serve the family.

Then a new heir is born and a reign of violence begins that will test Nelly's spirit, and show her what it is to know true sacrifice ...

FIRST SENTENCE {One}: Dear Mr Lockwood,

I don't suppose you'll be expecting to hear from me, not since I sent you the few bits of things you left behind on your last visit - you'll remember, the handkerchiefs, and your carved walking stick that turned up after you left.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 179}: 'What did you say?' the master roared, surging out of his chair. He did not wait for an answer, but hauled them both to their feet and boxed their ears soundly.

SOURCE: A GoodReads win.


MY THOUGHTS: Let me begin by stating that whilst I am of course familiar with the story I have never actually read the book, Wuthering Heights, of which this is an re-imagining, an 'off-spring' or a companion read if you will, in which the author tells the story from the point of view of the maid, Nelly Dean.

So, can it be appreciated by someone who has never read Wuthering Heights?

Well, whilst I certainly didn't feel like my understanding or enjoyment of the story was in any way impaired by my not having read the original several of my friends (who have read and love Wuthering Heights) assure me that I would have got more out of Nelly Dean if I had in fact read Emily Bronte's take on events. But then again ...

Never having read the original it could be argued that I came to this novel with no preconceived ideas though I'm beginning to doubt this as expecting something more Gothic, more broody and atmospheric I was left rather disappointed.

But I digress. 

Written as what is best explained as a letter (never a favourite format of mine) to Mr Lockwood which she knows she will never send, the Nelly Dean of the title relives her story. And at 471 pages what a 'letter' it is.

Over long, plodding, at times overly descriptive and that's without all the breastfeeding which the author writes about with such, well, gusto despite the fact that I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have featured much (if at all) in actual Victorian writing.

Then there were the characters. Perhaps a novel deliberately meandering the better to get to know them. For myself try as I might I simply couldn't connect with any of them though I did come close with a few of the secondary ones.

As for the big question .... having read this would I want to read Wuthering Heights as my friends assured me I would? In short, no.