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| I'm an older Heathcliff, says PM | I'm an older Heathcliff, says PM |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said it is "absolutely correct" to compare him to Heathcliff - the brooding, romantic anti-hero of Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights. | Gordon Brown has said it is "absolutely correct" to compare him to Heathcliff - the brooding, romantic anti-hero of Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights. |
| In a New Statesman interview the PM was told: "Some women say you remind them of Heathcliff." He replied: "Maybe an older Heathcliff, a wiser Heathcliff." | |
| He also said that - unlike Heathcliff - he did not "generally" lose his temper. | He also said that - unlike Heathcliff - he did not "generally" lose his temper. |
| But Bronte expert Ann Dinsdale said the violent character, who may have been a killer, was "not an ideal role model". | But Bronte expert Ann Dinsdale said the violent character, who may have been a killer, was "not an ideal role model". |
| Lover's remains | Lover's remains |
| In Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, Heathcliff is an embittered figure who treats most others with cruelty and contempt. | In Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, Heathcliff is an embittered figure who treats most others with cruelty and contempt. |
| Moor the merrier: Sir Cliff played Heathcliff in the 1990s | Moor the merrier: Sir Cliff played Heathcliff in the 1990s |
| Ms Dinsdale, collections manager of the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth, West Yorkshire, told the BBC: "The thing about Heathcliff is he turned to domestic abuse, possibly committed murder and certainly dug up the remains of his dead lover. | Ms Dinsdale, collections manager of the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth, West Yorkshire, told the BBC: "The thing about Heathcliff is he turned to domestic abuse, possibly committed murder and certainly dug up the remains of his dead lover. |
| "Is this the role model we want for our own prime minister? | "Is this the role model we want for our own prime minister? |
| "There's this romanticised gloss that's come from film versions of Heathcliff. When you look at the books he's not an ideal role model." | "There's this romanticised gloss that's come from film versions of Heathcliff. When you look at the books he's not an ideal role model." |
| Elsewhere in the interview Mr Brown laughed off suggestions he had a bad temper saying: "When you've got difficult decisions to make you've got to be calm and considered. I don't generally lose my temper." | Elsewhere in the interview Mr Brown laughed off suggestions he had a bad temper saying: "When you've got difficult decisions to make you've got to be calm and considered. I don't generally lose my temper." |
| Stage musical | Stage musical |
| Heathcliff is a character who has continued to fascinate in the 161 years since Wuthering Heights first hit the shelves. | Heathcliff is a character who has continued to fascinate in the 161 years since Wuthering Heights first hit the shelves. |
| Laurence Olivier and several other leading actors have played him on screen. | Laurence Olivier and several other leading actors have played him on screen. |
| And, during the 1990s, Sir Cliff Richard - a friend of Mr Brown's predecessor Tony Blair - played him in a stage musical. | And, during the 1990s, Sir Cliff Richard - a friend of Mr Brown's predecessor Tony Blair - played him in a stage musical. |
| British director John Maybury is reportedly planning to make a new film version of Wuthering Heights. | British director John Maybury is reportedly planning to make a new film version of Wuthering Heights. |