The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Penguin Classics)
A powerful depiction of a woman's fight for domestic independence and creative freedom, from the youngest of the Brontë sisters
Gilbert Markham is deeply intrigued by Helen Graham, a beautiful and secretive young woman who has moved into nearby Wildfell Hall with her young son. He is quick to offer Helen his friendship, but when her reclusive behaviour becomes the subject of local gossip and speculation, Gilbert begins to wonder whether his trust in her has been misplaced. It is only when she allows Gilbert to read her diary that the truth is revealed and the shocking details of the disastrous marriage she has left behind emerge. Told with great immediacy, combined with wit and irony, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a powerful depiction of a woman's fight for domestic independence and creative freedom.
This Penguin Classics edition of Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, her groundbreaking study of a woman's valiant struggle for independence from an abusive husband, is edited with an introduction and notes by Stevie Davis. In her introduction Davies discusses The Tenant of Wildfell Hall as feminist testament, inspired by Anne Brontë's experiences as a governess and by the death of her brother Branwell Brontë, and examines the novel's language, biblical references and narrative styles.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Gilbert Markham is deeply intrigued by Helen Graham, a beautiful and secretive young woman who has moved into nearby Wildfell Hall with her young son. He is quick to offer Helen his friendship, but when her reclusive behaviour becomes the subject of local gossip and speculation, Gilbert begins to wonder whether his trust in her has been misplaced. It is only when she allows Gilbert to read her diary that the truth is revealed and the shocking details of the disastrous marriage she has left behind emerge. Told with great immediacy, combined with wit and irony, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a powerful depiction of a woman's fight for domestic independence and creative freedom.
This Penguin Classics edition of Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, her groundbreaking study of a woman's valiant struggle for independence from an abusive husband, is edited with an introduction and notes by Stevie Davis. In her introduction Davies discusses The Tenant of Wildfell Hall as feminist testament, inspired by Anne Brontë's experiences as a governess and by the death of her brother Branwell Brontë, and examines the novel's language, biblical references and narrative styles.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Community Reviews
“Arthur has returned to nearly his former condition and habits, and I have found it my wisest plan to shut my eyes against the past and future, as far as he at least is concerned, and live only for the present—to love him when I can, to smile (if possible) when he smiles, be cheerful when he is cheerful and pleased when he is agreeable. And when he is not, to try to make him so—and if that won't answer, to bear with him, to excuse him and forgive him as well as I can, and restrain my own evil passions from aggravating his.”
The Brontës do it again. Mixed reviews in my book club, but I really enjoyed it. Touches on themes of marital abuse and timeless issues beyond the Victorian era. Not an “easy peasy” read, but worth the read and research if you’re interested in early literary Feminism in the English speaking world.
It's a great and pretty novel, full of mystery, moral warnings, and an awful man that makes you angry throughout all the novel. However, it's not my Brontë's favourite.
It's a great novel with lots of things to tell. In the first place, it's about how taking a bad decision (without listening to any kind of advice), can make you pay the painful consequences during the most of your life.
Unrelentingly romantic, this story within a story tells the tale of a farmer’s infatuation with a mysterious woman and her son who come to live in a nearby ramshackle manor house. And as we witness his halting courtship of her, we also learn the backstory she Carrie’s with her. A morality tale that addresses propriety, dangers of gossip, virtuosity, depravity.
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