The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a classic historical fiction novel that was written by the English author Anne Brontë and published, under the penn name Acton Bell, in 1848. It was her second and last novel. The novel was an instant and extraordinary success, but after Anne's death at the age of 29 her sister Charlotte prevented its republication in England until 1854. It's resounding impact has been felt for more than 170 years!
Probably the most shocking of the Brontës' novels, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is now considered to be one of the first novels to include an underlying theme of feminism. The story is written about a mysterious young widow named Helen Graham, who arrives at Wildfell Hall - an Elizabethan mansion - which has been empty for many years. Diverging from early 19th century societal norms, she lives a reclusive life with her son and pursues a career as an artist which gives rise to speculation and she becomes a social outcast. Refusing to believe the scandalous gossip about her, a man named Gilbert Markham befriends Helen and discovers her past. He learns that Helen has fled an unhappy marriage from an alcoholic and unfaithful husband, desperately seeking to shield her son from his father's destructive influence. Many critics, including Anne's sister Charlotte, considered her depiction of alcoholism and adultery overly graphic and disturbing. Her approach in addressing such matters was unusually blunt for that era. Also, the portrayal of a broken marriage and an independent woman initially shocked conventional readers. In 1913, critic May Sinclair, said that "the slamming of [Helen's] bedroom door against her husband reverberated throughout Victorian England." Also, by leaving her husband and taking away their child, Helen violated not only social customs of the times, but also the early 19th century English law. It could very well influenced the beginnings of the modern feminist movement.
This beautiful reprint of the original story is unabridged and unedited, preserving The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for your reading pleasure. It is one of the best and first feminist fiction books ever written. It makes a wonderful gift for the 19th century romance, romantic fiction, gothic fiction, gothic romance, or feminist fiction fan in your life. Or it will make a wonderful addition to your library of classic literature. Enjoy!
Excerpt:
'I cannot say that I like her much. She is handsome-or rather I should say distinguished and interesting-in her appearance, but by no means amiable-a woman liable to take strong prejudices, I should fancy, and stick to them through thick and thin, twisting everything into conformity with her own preconceived opinions-too hard, too sharp, too bitter for my taste.'
Features:
- Original 1848 Text
- One of the first novels to support independent women and feminism, quite scandalous in it's time!
- Dimensions: 8x10 inches
