On Sunday afternoon, just hours before the Super Bowl, members of the Vogue Book Club met at the SVA Theatre in Chelsea for a special preview screening of “Wuthering Heights.” This was followed by a conversation between director Emerald Fennell and Chloe for The Run-Through podcast.
Drawing on literary scholarship and her own teenage memories of the book, Fennell chose to emphasize its sadomasochistic undercurrents. As she explained, “There’s a quote from Daphne du Maurier in which she describes Wuthering Heights as a kind of sexless book. But I’ve never experienced it that way. That’s part of the novel’s magic—everyone who reads it takes away something slightly different. For me, the sexual power dynamics are extremely explicit.”
Fennell’s adaptation makes several notable changes to the classic story. Isabella Linton (played by Alison Oliver) becomes a more dynamic character—Fennell joked that she herself is “more of an Isabella than a Cathy.” The film also leaves out both Nelly’s first-person narration and the novel’s entire second half (a choice William Wyler made first in his 1939 version). One of the most memorable additions is the recurring image of crushed eggs beneath bed sheets, an intimate joke between Heathcliff and Cathy. Fennell even revealed that she volunteered to sit on the eggs herself during filming.
Earlier in the episode, Chloe and her co-host Chioma discussed two iconic covers released this week: powerhouse pop star Rosalía (marking Chloe’s first print issue for Vogue) and Bhavitha Mandava, the latest model making waves in the fashion industry. Chloe also previewed the New York Fashion Week schedule, singling out Rachel Scott’s Proenza Schouler show as one to watch, while Chioma shared about her morning, which included having breakfast with Jill Biden.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs On the Podcast How Emerald Fennell Captured the Rebellious Spirit of Wuthering Heights
Beginner General Questions
Q Who is Emerald Fennell and what does she have to do with Wuthering Heights
A Emerald Fennell is an Oscarwinning filmmaker and actor She created a modern short film adaptation for the fashion brand Miu Miu that reimagines the core story and themes of Emily Bronts classic novel
Q What is this podcast episode about
A The episode explores how Fennell interpreted the novel for her film It discusses her creative choices how she translated the books raw rebellious energy into a contemporary setting and what aspects of the original story she chose to focus on or change
Q Do I need to have read Wuthering Heights or seen her film to understand the podcast
A Not at all The podcast explains the key themes of the novel and describes Fennells adaptation making it accessible for newcomers while offering deeper insights for fans of either
Q Where can I watch Emerald Fennells Wuthering Heights film
A The short film titled Part One was created for Miu Mius Womens Tales series and is available to watch for free on the Miu Miu website and YouTube channel
Themes Interpretation Questions
Q What does the rebellious spirit of Wuthering Heights mean
A It refers to the novels defiance of 19thcentury social normsits intense focus on wild passion moral ambiguity class conflict destructive love and complex often unlikeable characters especially Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff
Q How did Fennell capture that spirit in a modern setting
A She focused on the core emotions rather than a literal period translation Her film uses visceral imagery a powerful musical score and a focus on female desire and rage to channel the novels untamed gothic heart into a story about a young woman at a party
Q Whats the main difference between the book and Fennells adaptation
A The book is a sprawling multigenerational gothic romance set on the Yorkshire moors Fennell