The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
By: Anne Bronte
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall when published in 1848, “was an instant, phenomenal success; within six weeks it was sold out,” according to Wikipedia. Anne’s depiction of alcoholism and debauchery was profoundly disturbing to nineteenth-century sensibilities. Helen Graham, the tenant of the title, intrigues Gilbert Markham and gradually she reveals her past as an artist and wife of the dissipated Arthur Huntingdon. The book’s brilliance lies in its revelation of the position of women at the time, and its multi-layered plot. Most critics now consider The Tenant of Wildfell Hall to be one of the first feminist novels.
Title information
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall when published in 1848, “was an instant, phenomenal success; within six weeks it was sold out,” according to Wikipedia. Anne’s depiction of alcoholism and debauchery was profoundly disturbing to nineteenth-century sensibilities. Helen Graham, the tenant of the title, intrigues Gilbert Markham and gradually she reveals her past as an artist and wife of the dissipated Arthur Huntingdon. The book’s brilliance lies in its revelation of the position of women at the time, and its multi-layered plot. Most critics now consider The Tenant of Wildfell Hall to be one of the first feminist novels.