The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Oxford World's Classics)

Although Anne Bronte seems to be the least-known of the Bronte trio and only published two novels, this book has a more fascinating history to me than its more famous 'cousins', Wuthering Heights (Emily) and Jane Eyre (Charlotte). Not only was Wildfell the one to blow the lid on the male "Bell" pseudonyms the sisters had been writing under, but it's considered to be one of the world's first feminist novels, before that term existed. It was so controversial at the time of publication it was banned in many areas of Europe.

Written as one long letter - and a diary within a letter, like Kostova's The Historian - from protagonist Gilbert Markham to his brother-in-law on how he met his wife, Helen, most of the actual story is presented in diary form by Helen herself. Initially presented to the reader as a mysterious widow who arrives in a small English village (where she first meets Gilbert), she becomes, very much against her will, a source first of endless curiosity, and then a target of malicious gossip.

It then lays bare all of the shameful undercurrents of marriage in the Victorian age, particularly for a woman who was unwise or just unlucky enough to seriously misjudge the man she married. If you think it's a tough mistake to make now, only imagine its consequences in an age where divorce was rarely an option and you were almost always stuck with what you got, no matter how repugnant, immoral or tyrannical. Everything is here: adultery, alcoholism, abuse, alienation and humiliation.

At the time, Bronte was apparently skewered by hypocritical moralistic critics who felt she shouldn't have exposed this underbelly of Victorian society's mores - or more precisely, its lack of compassion or even recognition of what women were expected to endure. Helen's character, a religiously devout woman but also a fighter who refused to accept the worst of the abuses or allow her son to be corrupted, was lambasted as an evil influence on women and girls. It's gratifying to know that as history's hindsight and passage tells us now, this novel ended up going a long way towards shaking up 19th century morals and and bringing about the first stirrings of women's rights.

Like most Victorian novels it runs long and the modern reader might feel that it drags when compared to the quicker pacing of contemporary fiction, but I really enjoyed it and felt transported to another time.

**** slight spoilers. nothing drastic *******
This story is about a young lady of a good family in England 1827. Her name is Helen and her buyer's remorse after marrying for love. She ends up marrying a swine in Arthur Huntington. You can see Arthur H's in any bar or pub. The scenes of his abuse are well done. There are times when his wife, the main protagonist, is being abused by one of his friends and he sits back in drunken reverie, laughing foolishly.

The novel itself is told in the epistolatory style, meaning it is told in a series of letters. The effect comes off well and it comes off as if you're reading the private lives of someone, getting their most intimate thoughts. If you like that style, I recommend the very different but very well done dangerous liasons.

In the story, Helen's suffering is well portrayed. The reader gets a good sense of how and why she does what she does. Time and time again, I'm amazed at how resourceful and knowing she is for a woman of her age (early 20's I believe). But as she said to her illicit would be lover later on, young in years but old in tears. I can feel the cruelty of the world around her. It is as if everyone is perfectly conscious of her sufferings but no one dare acts (although this changes later, as you'll find out).

The other protagonist, Gilbert Markham, is sort of a pompous fool. At one point he nearly kills Helen's brother. He's spellbound by love, yes, but I got the feeling that he just wasn't the kind and gentle type that you want Helen to end up marrying. Luckily most of the book revolves around Helen who is far more interesting because of how she handles her problems and her sheer resourcefulness.

The reason why I closed the book and felt that I profited from it is because the imagery of the scenery and Helen's steadfastness in the face of such hardship impressed me. There's a point in the book where her hopes are literally shattered and burned up and yet she still carries on. An ordinary woman, with few friends and little to look forward to carrying on with life despite such serious setbacks. Now that to me is heroism. I'll take that over Batman or any other comic book hero any day.

Anne Bronte is often the forgotten sister among the Brontes. But she may be the most courageous in her writing. She weaves a tale of a woman who leaves her abusive husband, taking her child, and traveling to an unknown location to make her living by painting. This is unheard of in 19th century England. The wife, her children, and all her material goods belong to the husband who can do with them as he wishes. Anne Bronte is ahead of her time in saying that this is wrong and makes her heroine both courageous and compassionate. It is my favorite of the Bronte sisters' stories. If you haven't read it, I recommend it highly.

Anne Bronte wrote a book, the main purpose was to instruct. Firstly, she wanted to warn young women AGAINST attempting to "change" a dissolute, charming rogue (read: A real-life Heathcliff or Rochester) through their love and moral example. Secondly, she wanted to present an alternative to the different and not equal education for girls and boys. The toughest, and most needed, change in the late Regency - to - early Victorian England was the raising of the legal and financial status of women. Through it all, Anne's hope of a better, brighter future for men and women shines.

That said, this was the book which "tipped the hand" of the sisters' asexual psuedonyms. The women jump out of the pages in many dimensions; the men are largely two-dimensional foils (the exception being the wicked antihero, Arthur Huntingdon, Sr.). The author had to be a woman! Tsk, tsk tsk, the conventionally-moral reviewers said. Anne would be happy that many women who married a wastrel like Huntingdon found solace and understanding in her book.

This was despite that fact that Charlotte killed an authentic second edition from *her* larger, more influential publisher. Instead, an American edition, cut and rearranged to fit in a pocket size book, was the standard edition. TToWH suffered from the fact that there was no international copyright law in effect until the 1890s.

And then, in 1994 or -5, a hand-corrected "galley proof" (printer's rough draft) was located and authenticated. Finally, a version of the book very similar to what Anne intended, was printed -- and, in turn, birthed a good TV adaptation. Anne's book had sweet vindication.

In some ways, it's surprising that both this Bronte novel and sister are not as well known as the Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Charlote and Emily Bronte respectively. Social issues, including martial breakdown, alcoholism, adultery, divorce, women's rights, child custody,and comparison of Protestant sects such as Calvinism versus Universalism, are boldly confronted. Excellent character and setting development throughout the story provide another strong part to the story. This Oxford edition's note section also enhances understanding of the 1820-1840 era, with fascinating tidbits such as the new German dance, the waltz, was then viewed as amoral, while homemade ale was considered virtuous. One wonders how much is based on various actions of several Bronte family members. These components make The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a very worthwhile read. The only shortcoming is the long drawn portion near the end--very repetitous and tedious for about a 100 pages; otherwise this would be a 5 star novel.

I had already read Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Shirley, and Emily's Wuthering Heights many years ago, but I had never read anything by Anne Bronte until recently.

I enjoyed The Tenant immensely and found it most absorbing. Of course, I am a sitting duck for this kind of thing. I agree with the tradition that Shakespeare is #1 and Jane Austen #2, and most modern novels don't even rate (except perhaps Lord of the Rings and The Brothers Karamazov). So, you see, my recommendation should probably not be taken seriously by most readers. Many of the books I have read recently are out of print. Really an old fogie.

Of all classic novels, this one is an all time favorite. Anne Bronte was a visionary of her time. This book was not originally published under Anne's name. Actually, readers did not know if the author was male or female. This is a book that can be read over and over again and different passages will connect with you. Highly recommend!

While not my favorite of all the Bronte works, I was glad I read it. The language is beautiful and the story compelling. This is a story of learning from life's mistakes. Ultimately Anne Bronte champions a woman who sticks to her convictions about her faith as she tries to rescue her son and herself.

Good looking book and great delivery!

Very interesting "righteously" judgmental novel on being rich and alcoholic and proud of it vs. "it is well for me that I am doing my duty," said I, with a bitterness I could not repress, "for it is the only comfort I have; and the satisfaction of my own conscience, it seems, is the only reward I need look for!". Page 428. Actually, I agreed with the book on all counts. Alcoholism, money, patriarchal powered legal system, powerless women and children, and false morality can lead to officially sanctioned slavery and depravity and suffering under the name of Family Privacy and Christian Values. The problem with the book was every character and situation for 500 pages follow similar victims and victimizers. The outrage is legitimate, however the single note scream of agony is wearing on the nerves. I was happy to see there were nice guys and guys who became reformed, as well as depraved rich women among the depraved men. While Dickens provided some psychological pinnings for his characters, there was little background provided here other than that of Free Will or Choice once grown, though a strong case was made through little Arthur that teaching a child of three to swear, drink alcohol and partake of sexual games was the main reason for wild mean young men. Still, an interesting novel.