Anne Brontë

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.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

The tenant of Wildfell Hall

ayoni

And if you think you have wronged me by giving me your friendship, and occasionally admitting me to the enjoyment of your company and conversation, when all hopes of closer intimacy were vain - as indeed you always gave me to understand - if you think you have wronged me by this, you are mistaken; for such favours, in themselves alone, you are not only delightful to my heart, but purifying, exalting, ennobling to my soul; and I would rather have your friendship than the love of any other woman in the world!

Part of the Vintage Classics Bronte Series: three sisters, three major novels, beautifully designed. When the mysterious and beautiful young widow Helen Graham becomes the new tenant at Wildfell Hall rumours immediately begin to swirl around her. As her neighbour Gilbert Markham comes to discover, Helen has painful secrets buried in her past that even his love for her cannot easily overcome.

ella

It was a splendid morning; and I went out to enjoy it, in a quiet ramble in company with my own blissful thoughts. The dew was on the grass, and ten thousand gossamers were waving in the breeze; the happy redbreast was pouring out its little soul in song, and my heart overflowed with silent hymns of gratitude and praise to Heaven.

I have retired to the library, for I am very unhappy, and I want to be alone. Books cannot divert me; so, having opened my desk, I will try what may be done by detailing the cause of my uneasiness. This paper will serve instead of a confidential friend into whose ear I might pour forth the overflowings of my heart. It will not sympathize with my distresses, but then, it will not laugh at them, and, if I keep it close, it cannot tell again; so it is, perhaps, the best friend I could have for the purpose.

Anne Bronte

With an Introd. by Phyllis Bentley

Helen 

how is this criminally underrated... it's so good it automatically became one of my most cherished classics books wow. i love how unapologetically feminist this story is, very outstanding considering the era that this book was published! 

i also didn't expect this to have some funny moments which made it more enjoyable for me. helen is such a strong, well-written character for sure.

how is this criminally underrated... it's so good it automatically became one of my most cherished classics books wow. i love how unapologetically feminist this story is, very outstanding considering the era that this book was published! 

i also didn't expect this to have some funny moments which made it more enjoyable for me. helen is such a strong, well-written character for sure.

Sanika Palande

4 stars. most underrated classic ever - anne brontë is must read author. Loved Helen’s character inside out, such an inspiring heroine. A little slow moving but never not interesting so would def recommend it.

A beautiful edition of Anne Brontë's most enduring novel, to accompany her sisters' greatest books in Penguin Clothbound Classics. 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. The Penguin Classics edition of Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall has been designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith and is edited with an introduction and notes by the novelist Stevie Davies.

Vivian

I must say that this book far exceeded my expectation with its wildly daring and realistic style, and feminism undertone - Helen Graham is without a doubt the most outspoken and defiant feminist character in Brontë novels, and it’s a pity that Anne Brontë isn’t as well known as her sisters (she was the most racial Brontë of all). I prefer The Tenant of Wildfell Hall over Jane Eyre and certainly over Wuthering Heights.

Arianna M

I’m exhausted, but very happy to have read this.

Charlotte Silber

I have a new comfort book lol. Enjoyed it more and more as it went on!

Max & Luna

This book struck a cord very close to home for me. Having to deal with alcoholism within my own family and being a Psychology Major, I feel I can better relate to the struggles and emotions in the story. The overwhelming theme in the book is a woman’s fight to keep her child safe while still struggling to come to terms with her relationship and responsibilities to her abusive husband. I saw this very struggle as a child growing up, so i’m very familiar with how damaging it can be and all of the ways it can play out.

One thing I’ve been seeing in other reviews is how a lot of people think that Graham is self-righteous in her feelings overall and for disliking and even demonizing Alcohol. I have to say I agree with her, on the alcohol part at least. Alcohol has it’s dangers and their isn’t any real or specific purpose for it. I guess it can help with anxiety (or other emotional problems)…but why not learn to deal with those than have to be dependent on a substance?

When considering the husband though, i’d be totally fine with her divorcing him and moving on. The thing with alcoholism is that it gets worse overtime. The first few times they drink, they feel ok but they start feeling guilty for whatever reason. Afterwards, each time they drink all the guilt and bad choices come back to them and they start to get angry. Soon, they feel so much guilt about all the drinking and all the anger, that drinking more is the only thing that can help them forget about it. That is until a trigger comes along and they remember. Unfortunately for Graham, she was the trigger. All of her husband’s friends and girlfriends were getting the best side of him, simply because they didn’t remind him of his bad choices or his responsibility. But as soon as he saw Graham, all of those thoughts can back. You can see some moments in their relationship where things are better or where it looks like it may be manageable, but without a drastic switch of mindset, there is no escaping alcoholism.

Graham was a very strong character. I liked how she stood up for herself (most of the time) and tried to protect her child. The times in this book was pretty oppressive towards women and all though I feel pretty independent and wouldn’t have a problem tossing him to the curb, i can appreciate Graham’s sense of duty. Alcoholic or not, she did love him, atleast in the beginning, and anytime you love someone, you want to help them…but sometimes, unfortunately, in the end, there just isn’t any help. I was happy to see that Graham was able to move on and atleast attempt a new life.

This was a great book overall and i’d recommend it to older YA readers and Adults. Be warned though that it can be triggering for substance, verbal and emotional abuse.

finn

3 stars mainly due to my own personal opinions on some plot choices, but i think this novel very obviously shows what an intelligent writer Anne Brontë is, which still makes The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a very impressive read.

lauren carla

2nd read - mar 2022. I think I enjoyed this re-read more than the first time I read it; both times have been for a class i’m taking. I’m not giving it a full rating because there were parts of the novel where my mind would wander and I would loose interest. the plot overall was really interesting to read about. also anne worked a lot of social commentary into the novel, which I thought was cool to pick apart in current times as opposed to how the issues may have been viewed in the 19th century. personally, I still like what i’ve read from emily & charlotte more, but anne is underhyped & deserves more recognition 

1st read - feb 2020

Elise Eanes

Kate

The ultimate salvation stuff was not great for my existential anxiety and the "when will she leave him?!" was not great for my regular anxiety. Other than that this was super well-crafted and -structured, with two wonderful first-person points of view and a very complex and modern portrayal of emotional abuse. Also, "marble heart" is an insult that I want to reclaim, because it is amazing. Helen "marble heart" Graham 4ever.

tenant of Wildfell Hall

God, I haven’t read a novel that was this pointlessly depressing since- ever, maybe. The main character’s husband is so awful i felt very literally physically sick at times, i would caution a tw if you’ve seen alcohol / substance abuse or abusive relationships. there’s absolutely nothing in this book that shows any consequences for abuse, and the main character’s display of constantly taking the “moral” high road is not admirable of her character, as it’s meant to be- it’s just enabling her abuser. It’s nothing but misery. Yet I was strangely very hooked- unfortunately, not in an enjoyable way. It’s like a morbid ride you can’t get off of, and feel left like an empty shell afterwards. 

The ending feels like a slapstick attempt at some sort of compromised happiness to make up for the life the protagonist has senselessly endured.

God, I haven’t read a novel that was this pointlessly depressing since- ever, maybe. The main character’s husband is so awful i felt very literally physically sick at times, i would caution a tw if you’ve seen alcohol / substance abuse or abusive relationships. there’s absolutely nothing in this book that shows any consequences for abuse, and the main character’s display of constantly taking the “moral” high road is not admirable of her character, as it’s meant to be- it’s just enabling her abuser. It’s nothing but misery. Yet I was strangely very hooked- unfortunately, not in an enjoyable way. It’s like a morbid ride you can’t get off of, and feel left like an empty shell afterwards. 

The ending feels like a slapstick attempt at some sort of compromised happiness to make up for the life the protagonist has senselessly endured.

A mysterious tenant, Helen Graham, unmasked not as a 'wicked woman' as the local gossips would have it, but as the estranged wife of a brutal alcoholic bully, desperate to protect her son.

Jade Flynn

Read for my History of Magic O.W.L 2019 (published at least ten years ago)  - Dear Ann, you have always been in the shadows of your elder sisters. I'm sorry I didn't read you sooner. From, all classic lovers throughout time.

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

Amber Laha

Don't know how we are suppose to like such a petulant, childish, spoiled, jerk and a cold woman(although in her case I understood it). Although Bronte takes on a controversial subject at that time that brings her into a more modern story line, I just wasn't patient enough to deal with these kind of characters. Maybe at one point i'll come back to this, but for now it only gets 2 stars. I had rather high hopes...

abby donaldson

speechless, a beautifully story with many ups and downs — definitely toyed with my emotions in the best way possible.

Josephine McDonagh

Julie Nicole Waldvogel

In the middle of the book it was slow going, but ah!-what a wonderful ending it was! It made my heart sing! Absolutely loved this book.

Jana Pashovska

This book was my first acquaintance with Anne Brontë, and I dare say it won't be my last. I was pleasantly surprised by her style of writing, which was as beautiful and eloquent as that of her sisters, but not as dense, and in turn, far more easily readable. The story centres around a plot not that unusual for 19th century literature—romance, misfortunes, scandals and some more romance, embellished with a strong moral philosophy—but it was nevertheless quite unpredictable and rather interesting at points. The only thing I could do without was the overtly present religious zeal and the too many preachings about the damnation of the soul, but nonetheless, it was a highly enjoyable classic and a fine introduction to yet another Brontë sister.

Raya 

JUST. READ IT !!😭🧡

"Am young in years I'm old in sorrow" - 

This book is a revolutionary depiction of the powerlessness of a woman in an abusive marriage. It portrays the 'mysterious' tenant of the title and her oppressive past. Circumstances soon lead to the discovery of her true identity when she hands Mr. Markham, one of the central characters of the book, several important pages from her diary. With this follows a trail of events which terminates to a lovely end. 👀
A graphic account of drunkenness and debauchery, this book explores the way we raise children, the way we raise boys different from girls and the idea of universal salvation. There are some really interesting conversations going on in between the characters through which the reader gets familiar with the  demeanor of each. This epistolary novel is more eventful than Agnes Grey and deserves to receive all the attention and love.

Monica

I have to say that I find this novel very good. I loved Jane Eyre and Wuthering Hights, but I didn't like Agnes Grey when I read it, so I had a predisposition against this book. I loved to see three very different styles and topics dealt with in these novels by the three Brontë sisters.

But let's talk about the present novel. There are a couple of things that I didn't like. First of all, I think that writing an extremely long letter to a friend telling him all the deepest secrets of your wife, your own, and both your feelings is a bit stiff. I liked Helen's diary, but the letter was just not fitting. Also, because it deals with topics such as marriage, alcoholism, infidelity... it is certainly sad. Helen suffered a lot. But Anne Brontë puts a lot of importance on marriage vows and the ultimate reward of Heaven as a motif for Helen's struggle in this life, as well as the effort she puts into saving her husband's soul. Also, although it is sad, it is not dark: there is light, there is joy, there are good people.

For anyone interested in reading this novel, bear in mind that it is a Victorian novel, so expect many (maybe more than usual) references to the Bible, as well as other religious aspects. Also, it was revolutionary and very severely criticized by a society in which the woman, her possessions and the kids were the husband's property, something which is unthinkable in the present time.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848) by Anne Bronte (1820-1849) is a romance classic novel based on the mysterious widow Mrs Helen Graham who arrives at Wildfell Hall and takes up residence in the mansion with her young son. She endures local gossip within the community which was initiated by the jealous Eliza who had briefly courted the local farmer Gilbert Markham until he developed an interest for the Helen. Gilbert finds the local gossip quite disturbing until he discovers through Helens diary of her mysterious past and how she lived in an unhappy marriage. Mermaids Classics, an imprint of Mermaids Publishing brings the very best of old classic literature to a modern era of digital reading by producing high quality books in ebook format. All of the Mermaids Classics epublications are reproductions of classic antique books that were originally published in print format, mostly over a century ago and are now republished in digital format as ebooks. Begin to build your collection of digital books by looking for more literary gems from Mermaids Classics.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Reviews

Highlights