The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Bronte

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was written by Anne Bronte her books first appeared under the pseudonym of Acton Bell. This book was first published in June 1848 and was immediately successful, it is now hailed as the first feminist novel. It went against the prescribed submissive behavior expected of women in the 1840`s. The novel is set in Regency times and in this book she draws on her experience as a governess to over-privileged children, and this is clearly seen in some of the scenes depicted in the book. The character of Huntingdon is thought to be based on her unfortunate brother Branwell who drank himself to death. The story is narrated by Gilbert Markham, ...  Read the complete review

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Following on from reading Emily Bronte?s Wuthering Heights recently, and having enjoyed it, I decided to read some of the other Brontes? work and picked up a copy of Anne Bronte?s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Plot The story consists of a man called Gilbert Markham who is deeply intrigued by the past of a young woman called Helen Graham who arrives in the area a widow, with a young son in tow. He becomes infatuated with her and her mysterious past and strives to find out the details of her earlier life. Through Gilbert?s narrative and a series of diary entries written by Mrs Graham, we begin to piece together her life ...  Read the complete review

Before I plunge you into any details about "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' I must write a bit about the context, so that my claims for this book's radical nature will make some sense. The novel was written in the 1840s. At this time, a married womanw as generally considered to be the property of her husband, with her wealth belonging to the man she married. A man could not be accused of raping his wife because by marrying him, she had consented to any sexual activities he cared to undertake. Any children in a marriage legally belonged to the husband, the law would not allow women to take their children. Marriages did break up, but to be seperated was ...  Read the complete review

Anne Bronte's novels are not as renowned as her sisters Charlotte and Emily, but after reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall I realised that they should be!!! Helen Huntingdon is the mysterious Tenant of Wildfell Hall, livingwith her young son in a neighbourhood where she is a presumed widow. As the novel continues Helen falls in love with Gilbert Markham, but she has a secret which she has kept hidden from everyone. This secret is that she is still married to the violent man who as a very bad drinking habit who was destructive to the upbringing of her son, for this reason she ran away from him. Helen gives Gilbert her diary so he can see the ...  Read the complete review

A young woman and her child arrive as the new tenants of a semi-derelict hall in the Yorkshire moors and immediately become the focus of local suspicion and interest. This is exacerbated by the woman's reclusive lifestyle. It is through her growing friendship and love for a local yeoman farmer that the reader is quickly enveloped by the story of Helen Huntingdon and it is soon evident that hers is a story of domestic violence, alcoholism, adultery and escape. I found 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' to be an incredible, moving and absorbing tale. I also think it has often been - unfairly - overshadowed by the work and success of her sisters. On a ...  Read the complete review