West Yorkshire’s literary presence is world renowned and our bustling streets and scenic moors are the perfect setting for any book or novel.
You might have heard of some of these books and authors and maybe even studied some of them at school- but others might be completely new to you.
So, if you fancy starting a new book (or if you’re just curious about which books have featured the county), here are six modern and historic books that are wholly or partly set in West Yorkshire.
1. Wuthering Heights
Literary buff and locals will be all too familiar with Wuthering Heights and know all about its Yorkshire links.
Most of the action is centered around two neighbouring houses- Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.
While the majority of the book is setin the Yorkshire Moors and, much of Emily Brontë’s novel was written and inspired by in the isolated West Yorkshire village of Haworth.
Plenty of locations across West Yorkshire are said to be the inspiration behind some of the key places in the book.
Top Withens is a ruined farmhouse near Haworth, said to be the inspiration for the Earnshaw house.
Ponden Hall in Keighley is also thought to be the inspiration for the Linton House, Thrushcross Grange.
Book synopsis: Heathcliff, an orphan, is raised by Mr Earnshaw as one of his own children. Hindley despises him but wild Cathy becomes his constant companion, and he falls deeply in love with her. But when she will not marry him, Heathcliff's terrible vengeance ruins them all. Yet still his and Cathy's love will not die.
2. Bright Day, J.B Priestley
The National media Museum and a statue of J.B. Priestley
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © habiloid - geograph.org.uk/p/6509697
This was Priestley’s last novels and like many of his novels it is set in his home town of Bradford, or Bruddersford as the novel calls it.
It’s a reflection of Bradford in his youth and the golden age of the city before the First World War.
It was first written in 1946 and is thought to be one of his most accomplished and most successful novels.
Synopsis: A chance encounter in a Cornish hotel sends him back to the Bruddersford (Bradford) of his youth before the First World War. Caught in the past, Dawson relives his time within the magic circle of the Alington family, days on the moors, his work in a wool office and his first tentative steps towards becoming an author.
3. Snares of guilt, Lesley Horton
This crime novel is the first in the DI Handoforth series.
It follows the story of Detective Inspector John Handford as he tries to uncover the mystery surround the murder of Rukhsana Mahmood.
Horton was a teacher in Bradford before writing her first novel and publishing it in 2002.
The story is set in the Bradford district and the protagonist detective is from the city.
Some reviewers say the novel reflects the racial tensions in Bradford- something she may be well familiar with during her time working in the city.
Synopsis: Rukhsana Mahmood is dead, found horribly battered. But who would want to kill a kindly young woman whose job as a visiting care worker made her loved and respected? Detective Inspector John Handford is assigned to the case. Along with Detective Sergeant Khalid Ali, who faces hostility and jibes of tokenism, DI Handford begins to probe possible motives for wanting Rukhsana dead. Hers was a mixed marriage, and her husband Amajit’s family make no secret of their pleasure at her death. But is this a punishment killing? Or was pleasant, quiet Rukhsana Mahmood betraying more than one person?
4. A Woman of Substance, Barbara Taylor Bradford
This novel was written by Yorkshire-born Barbara Taylor Bradford, is partly set in the city of Leeds and the surrounding rural area.
The bestseller is said to be a book filled with plenty of drama, betrayal and revenge.
It has received over 37,000 ratings on Good Reads and millions of copies have been sold across the globe.
Synopsis: In the brooding moors above a humble Yorkshire village stood Fairley Hall. There, Emma Harte, its oppressed but resourceful servant girl, acquired a shrewd determination. There, she honed her skills, discovered the meaning of treachery, learned to survive, to become a woman, and vowed to make her mark on the world.
5. My Best Friend’s Girl, Dorothy Koomson
If you are looking for a slight more light-hearted read, then My Best Friend’s Girl could be ideal.
The international best seller follows the story of the bond between a single woman and an “extraordinary” five year old.
Books sales for this book were boosted when it was chosen for Richard and Judy’s Summer reads shortlist back in 2007.
Some of the book’s scenes take place in Leeds and the protagonist lives and works in the West Yorkshire city.
Synopsis: Best friends Kamryn Matika and Adele Brannon thought nothing could come between them – until Adele did the unthinkable and slept with Kamryn’s fiance, Nate. Worse still, she got pregnant and had his child. When Kamryn discovered the truth about their betrayal she vowed never to see any of them again.
Two years later, Kamryn receives a letter from Adele asking her to visit her in hospital. Adele is dying and begs Kamryn to adopt her daughter, Tegan. With a great job and a hectic social life, the last thing Kamryn needs is a five-year-old to disrupt things. Especially not one who reminds her of Nate. But with no one else to take care of Tegan and Adele fading fast, does she have any other choice?
So begins a difficult journey that leads Kamryn towards forgiveness, love, responsibility and, ultimately, a better understanding of herself.
6. 1954-A Crime Novel, Nick Grarnett
Ilkley Moor above Ilkley
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Christine Johnstone - geograph.org.uk/p/3436217
A grizzly murder on Ilkley Moor inspired Nick to write this book.
The plot follows the investigations of Detective Inspector Ray Stafford after the gruesome discovery of Moira Nelson’s body on Ilkley Moor.
The main protagonists are the Shaws, a powerful industrial family who are seeking fortune and status in the post-war period.
The crime novel is set against the backdrop of the world of textiles in Ilkley and Bradford.
While primarily set in Bradford, the novel makes references to places across Yorkshire such as Otley Chevin and Harrogate, and characters travel as far as Karachi.
Synopsis: “It's 1954 and the body of a young woman is found on a bleak and desolate Ilkley Moor. Below, local communities go about their regular business - Stephen Shaw tries to protect his textile empire, his fashion-conscious wife, Jennifer, worries about the renovation of her kitchen and the constabulary busy themselves solving crime.”
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