Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

Title: The Tenant of  Wildfell Hall

Author: Anne Bronte (English, 1820-1849)
Originally published: 1848
Page count: 347


Dates read: 3/2/2020-3/18/2020
2020 book goal progress: 6 out of 20
Month category: March - Women’s History Month
Back to the Classics category: 19th Century Classic


Read my other Bronte Sister book reviews.
Read my other book reviews for my 2020 goal HERE.


Description on back of book:
Considered one of the first feminist novels, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was both instantly successful and highly controversial. The story follows the relationship between Gilbert Markham, a prosperous farmer, and the mysterious widow Mrs. Helen Graham, who takes up residence with only her son and a servant in a nearby tumbledown mansion of Wildfell Hall. Told in a series of letters, Gilbert describes how he falls in love with the elusive Helen and learns of her tragic past. The novel was far more realistic in both tone and subject matter than other popular novels of its time and boldly challenged the accepted treatment of women in Victorian England. While Bronte rejected the romantic style popular at the time and frankly addressed the obstacles and prejudices faced by women, Helen and Gilbert's story is essentially one of love and hope.

From the Preface by Anne Bronte:
"I would not be understood to suppose that the proceedings I have here introduced are specimens of the common practices of society - the case is an extreme one, but I know that such characters do exist and if I have warned one rash youth from following in their steps, or prevented one thoughtless girl from falling into the very natural error of my heroine, the book has not been written in vain. But, at the same time, if any honest reader shall have derived more pain than pleasure from its perusal, I humbly crave his pardon, for such was far from my intention; and I will endeavor to do better another time, for I love to give innocent pleasure. Yet, be it understood, I shall not limit my ambition to this - or even to producing 'a perfect work of art:' time and talents so spent, I should consider wasted and misapplied. Such humble talents as God has given me I will endeavor to put to their greatest use; if I am able to amuse, I will try to benefit too; and when I feel it my duty to speak an unpalatable truth, with the help of God, I will speak it, though it be to the prejudice of my name and to the detriment of my reader's immediate pleasure as well as my own."

First sentence:
"You must go back with me to the autumn of 1827."

Favorite quotes:
"I was not sent into the world merely to exercise the good capacities and good feelings of others, but to exert my own towards them; and when I marry, I shall expect to find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable, than in being made so by her: I would rather give than receive."

"Wicked people often say bad words of others better than themselves. Those words cannot make people damned, nor show that they deserve it. God will judge us by our thoughts and deeds, not by what others say about us. When you hear such words spoken, remember never to repeat them: it is wicked to say such things of others, not to have them said against you."

"It is never too late to reform, as long as you have the sense to desire it, and the strength to execute your purpose."

(regarding marriage) "The greatest worldly distinctions and discrepancies of rank, birth, and fortune are as dust in the balance compared with the unity of accordant thoughts and feelings, and truly loving, sympathizing hearts and souls."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 9 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters      - 9
Atmosphere   - 8
Writing Style - 10
Plot                - 9
Intrigue          - 10
Logic             - 8
Enjoyment     - 9
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This was a great book! It dealt a lot more with the expectations of women in general (and specifically in marriage), as well as the dual standards for men and women - much more than I had expected. This really ended up being a good fit for March being Women's History Month! A woman runs away from an abusive husband, lives as a single mother, and, basically, proposes to her second husband. It is wonderful to see such a powerful example of goodness in Helen - even more so when contrasted with such an example of wickedness in her first husband. I really enjoyed the simple and honest belief in God represented in this novel.

Some parts were predictable and other things I would've changed slightly, but I won't say because I don't want to give anything away if you haven't read it yourself. (I've probably given too much away as it is.) Overall, I definitely suggest giving this a read. It's infinitely better than Wuthering Heights (which I despised), it's better than Agnes Grey (which just isn't memorable), and it's a little below Jane Eyre (which is one of my all-time favorite novels). I haven't read any other Bronte books, but I hope to finish them all by the end of next year.

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Anne Bronte have the last words:

(regarding dating/marriage)
"Keep a guard over your eyes and ears as the inlets of your heart, and over your lips as the outlet, lest they betray you in a moment of unwariness. Receive, coldly and dispassionately, every attention, till you have ascertained and duly considered the worth of the aspirant; and let your affections be consequent upon approbation alone. First study; then approve; then love. Let your eyes be blind to all external attractions, your ears deaf to all the fascinations of flattery and light discourse. These are snares and wiles of the tempter to lure the thoughtless to their own destruction. Principle is the first thing, after all; and next to that, good sense, respectability, and moderate wealth. If you should marry the handsomest, and most accomplished and superficially agreeable man in the world, you little know the misery that would overwhelm you if, after all, should find him to be a worthless reprobate or even an impracticable fool."