“Twilight” mania has had one unexpected benefit to the literary community: a boost in sales for Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights.” Brontë’s novel about obsessive love is read by Bella in “Eclipse,” and young readers in France are eagerly picking up the translated copy of “Wuthering Heights” to draw their own comparisons between the two lovestruck couples.
It seems that “Twilight” has a Midas touch when it comes to the tricky young adult market, at least in France. Do you think sales of “Wuthering Heights” will similarly rise in the U.S.?
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Classic Novel Reboots
- The popularity of modern adaptations of classic novels creates opportunities for innovative approaches to story retellings.
- Cross-cultural Literary Comparisons
- Fan interest in comparing and contrasting similarities and differences between classic novels across cultures creates opportunities for cross-cultural literary events and discussions.
- Novel-based Tourism
- The renewed interest in classic novels due to modern adaptations presents the opportunity to create literary tours and experiences in locations where the stories are set.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Publishing
- Publishing companies can explore new opportunities for re-releasing and marketing classic novels with a modern twist for the young adult market.
- Film and Television
- Film and television productions can capitalize on the trend of modern adaptations of classic novels to create new adaptations that infuse a contemporary spin to the stories.
- Tourism and Hospitality
- The tourism and hospitality industries can leverage novel-based tourism opportunities to create unique travel packages and create meaningful experiences for literary enthusiasts.
