Wuthering Heights by Emile Bronte, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte are two of my favorite classic books. My current read is The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. This is the first I've read of her novels, and as I normally find with books from this time period, it starts out pretty slow. It's always a bit jarring to get into the rhythm of a classic after reading so many contemporary novels. Sometimes I want to scream "Get to the point already!"
For example:
"If you think you have wronged me by giving me your friendship, and occasionally admitting me to the enjoyment of your company and conversation, when all hopes of closer intimacy were vain - as indeed you always gave me to understand - if you think you have wronged me by this, you are mistaken; for such favours, in themselves alone, are not only delightful to my heart, but purifying, exalting, ennobling to my soul; and I would rather have your friendship than the love of any other woman in the world!"
Romantic? Yes. Swoon-worthy? Maybe. Long-winded? Definitely.
We all know literature reflects the time in which it's written. If a time traveler on a maiden voyage to our planet compared a novel published in the 19th century to a novel on the shelves today would she think we've all dumbed down, or at the very least become lazy? Or would the literature of her time be so different that both would be unrecognizable?
Perhaps, like my clothes from the 80s, the language of literature will come full circle and all books will again be written like the above tidbit. What do you think? Inquiring minds want to know.
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