It's not so much romantic as deeply passionate in a very Gothic way. You can't write a Gothic novel about sane people. I found it highly enjoyable when I was a profoundly screwed up 10 year old; we have a hardback copy from the 1920s or so with beautiful paper and gorgeous print, and I read it in an attic at a sitting. Fell desperately in lust with Heathcliff, felt madly sorry for Cathy, didn't actually like either of them.

The main problem I had with Jane Eyre is that she was a total doormat. At least Cathy wasn't.

I really like Lynn Reid Banks' Dark Quartet.

A.