WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Carolyn Seymour conducts a graceful dance over the stormy moors in her performance of this dark, complex novel. Readers who kept a safe distance from the gruff Heathcliff in other versions of the book may fall for his tormented soul in this production. Seymour’s rendition of this iconic character makes Heathcliff a simultaneously loathsome and lovable figure. From Mr. Lockwood, who frets his way into Heathcliff’s life when he moves to nearby Thrushcross Grange, to Mrs. Dean’s gossipy twitters, to “vinegar-faced” Joseph’s derisive mutterings, Seymour’s narration shines when she takes on the less-than-warm cast who populate Wuthering Heights and its surrounding environs. Her snappy dialogue and blend of sharp humor and compassion for the characters make this audiobook a fine view of a classic. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2011]