Nelly Dean

As she recasts her story, Nelly fills gaps in the original and draws a portrait of her own life of caretaking and sacrifice. This engrossing story of loyalty, love and sacrifice is so good it deserves to be a classic in its own right Both an interesting critique ofHeight The inhabitants of Wuthering Heights are reborn in this new view of the Bronte classic. Instead of the gothic drama and passion of Bronte, Case's first novel provides an emotionally balanced account, filling in some gaps and featuring strong, smart Nelly, who is her own woman despite living by the mores of her time. A fast-moving pleasure, this novel is a likely draw for book clubs and a must for Bronte fans. Case knows her Brontes. This audacious novel talks to all three sisters' books. But there's nothing mustily lit-critical about it. It's a page-turner, about the things we do to people we love and the secrets and lies that corrode us, told in sinewy, visceral prose. It also has the makings of a feminist classic. Leisurely paced. Highly ambitious. Passionate fans of Bronte's masterpiece will find much to admire in Case's richly textured novel. This novel rips the original novel open to fill in all the gaps. Case burrows into the character's psyches to reveal a further layer of family secrets. Case's talents and imagination are well on display in her homage to the gothic classic. Compelling, exciting, and satisfying. [An] enthralling first novel. Reading Nelly Dean is like having a long, romantic, tempestuous and thrilling dream. I did not want this dream to end. A gripping piece of literature that tells the story of Wuthering Heights through the eyes of the Earnshaw family's youngest servant.