The Mulgraves

The Mulgraves is another idea that I've had for a few years now, first coming from my study of Wuthering Heights at college in 2021. 

The story follows Edward Talbert who, after being kicked out of his family home in London, is sent to visit his aunt in the north. It is whilst Edward is with his aunt that he first hears about the mysterious Mulgrave family, a rich but reclusive family who lived on the outskirts of their town. Their house is now a ruin, the family are presumed dead, and the towns people are left wondering, 'what happened to the Mulgraves?'

It is Edward who takes it upon himself to find out the answer, and find out he does, getting caught in the middle of a horrid storm and nearly drowning, but waking up he finds himself within the walls of the mysterious Rivermoor Hall and under the care of Clara Mulgrave. Through her stories, and some diary entries, Edward finds out everything about the family, and slowly finds himself changing, becoming more and more like the Mulgraves, a darkness getting under his skin...

The novel was originally called Rivermoor Hall, and focused more on the happier aspects of the families life, but when has anything I've ever written been happy?! This novel is heavily inspired by the Bronte sisters, and also somewhat by Jane Austen, with each character being related somewhat to one of their novels. Edward and Brandon are inspired by Gilbert and Lord Huntingdon from Anne Bronte's 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.' Kitty is inspired by Lydia Bennet from Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice,' but also a little by the elder Catherine in Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights.' Clara is a bit of a mystery to me at the moment. She's a little bit 'Elizabeth Bennet,' a little bit 'Nelly,' a little bit 'Helen Huntingdon.' She's my favourite character though, very interesting...