An older and wiser Heathcliff

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-11  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

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IF the sight of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown provokes thoughts of "Wuthering Heights," he doesn't mind.

Not that Brown, who has a reputation as a brooding figure, styles himself after Heathcliff, the surly hero of Emily Bronte's novel. But he readily accepted the suggestion when it was put to him by a New Statesman magazine journalist.

"Absolutely correct," Brown replied, jokingly. "Well, maybe an older Heathcliff, a wiser Heathcliff."

In the book, Heathcliff is consumed with resentment at those who prevented him from marrying his great love, Catherine.

Brown is widely thought to have spent a decade as Treasury chief brooding about when he would succeed Tony Blair in British politics' top job.

Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats said: "Heathcliff ended his life a broken and tormented man haunted by a ghost. Tony Blair, perhaps?"



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