It shouldn't be controversial to say that Wuthering Heights is not that hard a book to get through. But, this is a hill (or, perhaps, a moor) I am willing to die on — because the number of people openly struggling to get through it is… concerning to say the least.
Recently, my FYP has filled to the brim with a similar brand of video – videos of grown women who, after seeing Emerald Fennel's sexed-up film version after the release on Friday, 13th February, 2026, have dashed to Waterstones to pick up their copies (Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi smouldering on the cover, naturally), perhaps expecting a BookTok-worthy rom-com, only to find that it is, in fact, a novel about class, inequality, racism, abuse and generational trauma.
There is also another genre of videos that sees people sharing guides to reading the book. Tips like highlight it within an inch of its life or, even worse, go to Sparknotes after each chapter for a summary.
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I will say it: I am concerned. And I'm not the only one:
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Let's be real. Wuthering Heights is, compared to many classic novels, not all that difficult. Sure, a few characters have the same first names, but keeping track of the various Earnshaws and Lintons is a walk in the park compared to some of the Russian classics.
It is also a relatively simple narrative. It is largely plot-driven and mostly linear, once you get to grips with the rather simple story-within-a-story format. This is not a novel that experiments much with form. It is not, for instance, a work of poetic stream of consciousness. Try reading The Waves and get back to me.
We're feeling horny in our petticoats.
In fact, Wuthering Heights is considered to be one of the easiest classics to read, so much so that it is (or was) often assigned to 16-year-old school kids.
Now, before I am accused of sounding snobbish, elitist, or privileged, I would like to clarify: this isn't about being university educated, or being brought up in a house filled with books, or being encouraged to read as a child. I really think this is more about our education system and the general downward spiral into a largely anti-intellectual society.
Ours is, increasingly, a society that simply does not prize skills like critical thinking or long-form reading. I don't blame any of the individuals posting about not being able to read Wuthering Heights; I mainly blame the world we are living in. A world that, over the course of the last decade or so, has slowly but surely been teaching us that intelligence, thinking and reading don't really matter anymore.
In 2024, The Atlantic explored a growing trend of English students at top universities who arrived at their programs having never read a full novel. Why? Because apparently, their schools had stopped requiring it. Last year, The New York Times looked into the trend and found that, yes, teens are often now given only excerpts of books that they read on their laptops.
It's hardly surprising that we are also seeing a rise of AI bots designed to turn works of literature into bite-sized, digestible summaries. “Reading an entire book takes time, but understanding its core message doesn’t have to,” one book summariser proudly claims. All of this considered, should we be surprised that countless young people are tossing aside their copies of Wuthering Heights in frustration after 10 pages?
In her gothic romance era.
As someone who loves novels — not just for their plots, but, you know, for the actual experience of reading them cover-to-cover, I am disturbed by all of this. But even more so, I am concerned by the impulse to share it. I am reminded of my friend (who shall remain nameless) who, of late, has made her catch phrase “bring back shame.” Because honestly: WHY AREN'T WE ALL ASHAMED TO BE ADMITTING WE'VE ALL FORGOTTEN HOW TO READ NOVELS? Not only are people apparently unable to read books, but they also seem to be almost proud of it. Or at least proud enough to film themselves furrowing their brows as they gaze absently at the pages of their crisp new film edition of Wuthering Heights.
Okay. Rant over.
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