Did Charlotte Bront� take opium? Did the Reverend Bront� carry a loaded pistol? What, precisely, does 'wuthering' mean?

Distinguished literary critic John Sutherland takes an idiosyncratic look at the world of the Bront�s, from the bumps on Charlotte's head to the nefarious origins of Mr Rochester's fortune, by way of astral telephony, letterwriting dogs, an exploding peat bog, and much, much more.

Also features 'Jane Eyre abbreviated' by John Crace, author of the Guardian's 'Digested Reads' column - read Charlotte Bront�'s masterpiece in five minutes!