Lin Haire-Sargeant almost created a masterpiece. If she had had a far-sighted editor, I think she would have made headlines in the world of literature. Her plot is quite daring, almost to a fault . . . but her highly excellent writing style makes every page a captivating work of art.

Imagine, Charlotte Bronte on a train reading Heathcliff's letter to Catherine 60 years later, forty years after he died . . . Heathcliff (at 18? yrs.) meeting Linton (and not killing him) at Mr. Are's estate . . . at the end of 3 years discovering he is the child of Rochester and Bertha! . . . taking and healing Catherine from her deathbed and going to live together in America for 5 (?) years . . . Linton burying a casket filled with stones instead of Catherine . . . Charlotte and Emily Bronte getting Heathcliff's manuscript from ancient Ms. Dean on her deathbed . . . and then going for a walk (while they taunt each other) past Wuthering Heights.

Again, the points of the plot mentioned above are almost too daring (other sections not mentioned are fascinating and credible: Heathcliff preventing a prize horse's destruction by taming it, etc.), but Haire-Sargeant pulled it off. What I really didn't like was the introduction. She should have offered the novel surrounded with more mystery-just let the reader become mesmerized by the writing. Then "maybe" (or maybe not) have an "postlogue."

Prior to Haire-Sargeant, I believed Bronte gives clues that it is critical Cathy & Heathcliff do not marry--because he is really her half-brother. But Haire-Sargeant has earned 1st stage, so I'll not argue.