THE TENANT OF
WILDFELL HALL
(a novel by Anne Brontë)
Anne Brontë is often seen as the less talented Brontë sister. Still, one less less talented Brontë sister equals ten contemporary greats. Anne died very young (not that special in the Brontë family - only Charlotte managed to survive long enough to celebrate her 38th birthday), so it is difficult to say how good she would have become. (And it still would be difficult to compare, with sister Emily only having written one novel.)
Anne Brontë published two novels, Agnes Grey (still the best governess novel to date) and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. In the latter Wildfell Hall gets a new tenant, apparently a widow, "a strong-minded woman who keeps her own counsel". We know her only as Helen Graham, but that appears not to be her real name. Gilbert Markham, neighbour and narrator, tries to find out more about her, but this isn’t really appreciated by the neighbourhood and certainly by Eliza Millward, the vicar’s daughter, who dislikes Mrs Graham as much as she fancies Gilbert. Helen is not a big help either, but she has her own reasons to be so cold. Only with great difficulties Gilbert can convince her to even become friends, but when she finally agrees, something happens that shocks him. It is then that Helen ‘Graham’ gives him her diary and step by step her past is revealed.
Like most Brontë novels The Tenant of Wildfell Hall tells you the story of protagonists you wouldn’t want to call your friends. Like most Brontë novels The Tenant of Wildfell Hall convinces you to read on. It is no secret that I deeply love Emily Brontë’s work, so you could claim I’m not impartial here, but I’ll give it a try anyway: this is yet another masterpiece of a Brontë. Of Anne’s two novels this is certainly the best (though Agnes Grey is also a good read) and it’s a shame that Anne Brontë doesn’t get as much fame as her other famous sisters. Though no Wuthering Heights (but I can say that of any book) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a novel you must have read. It isn’t perfect, but they don’t make ‘em like they used to anymore.