vivian_munich's review against another edition
5.0
I must say that this book far exceeded my expectation with its wildly daring and realistic style, and feminism undertone - Helen Graham is without a doubt the most outspoken and defiant feminist character in Brontë novels, and it’s a pity that Anne Brontë isn’t as well known as her sisters (she was the most racial Brontë of all). I prefer The Tenant of Wildfell Hall over Jane Eyre and certainly over Wuthering Heights.
rachelmac476's review against another edition
5.0
It took me too long to finish this novel - but finish it, I have at last, and what an absolute gem of a novel this is.
This novel is not feminist in the way we think of feminism today - a feminism that values the experiences of individuals across gender, race, ethnic, and class lines as well as the experiences of those with disabilities - not to mention the experiences of non-cis, non-heterosexual people. This novel will not give you a taste of a myriad of different lives, experiences, bodies, etc. I would think of it more as a part of the foundation to modern day feminism - a book that helped get us to where we are now and to what we value now; a book that formed the beginnings of our path towards equality, which we all know we are still walking along.
I do not believe there is anything about this novel that would be offensive to the modern day reader (or at least the modern day reader residing in the western world). It is a sad story of a woman who loves and chooses to marry the wrong man; it casts a spotlight on destructive vices (specifically alcoholism) and the ways in which those vices corrupt those who partake in them and the pain and suffering that is inflicted by the participant on their family and friends.
The feminism, for me, is that Anne Brontë dared to write about these issues - cast a light where many would prefer shadows. She was criticized thoroughly for this novel - criticism her own sister bowed to after Anne’s death, when Charlotte prevented the novel’s republication. It is such a shame that she did so - this work does not have anywhere near the popularity of Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, though it is such a work of art. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is an emotional novel, written by an author who understood all too well the dangers of alcohol abuse, starring complex and interesting characters. The protagonist, Helen, is such a wonderfully likable, sympathetic character.
I was surprised, though, that there was a happy ending to this story. I was expecting it to end in gloom and misery - and I think Anne had intended that I think that - when it took a turn for the better in the last 30 pages or so. I was happy and relieved to see Helen - who had endured so much heart ache and suffering - able to live the rest of her life in happiness, at last. A wonderful reward for a character who had such strong, unshakable faith and was good to her core - willing to sacrifice herself - her happiness, health, life - for others, out of love and/ or duty.
Everyone should read this novel. It is incredibly readable and the language did not confuse me like other novels written in the 1800s do, at least at times. I did not struggle through it as I have struggled through Jane Austen’s language, for instance - not always understanding what was being said. It deserves a place in history next to Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, undoubtedly.
This novel is not feminist in the way we think of feminism today - a feminism that values the experiences of individuals across gender, race, ethnic, and class lines as well as the experiences of those with disabilities - not to mention the experiences of non-cis, non-heterosexual people. This novel will not give you a taste of a myriad of different lives, experiences, bodies, etc. I would think of it more as a part of the foundation to modern day feminism - a book that helped get us to where we are now and to what we value now; a book that formed the beginnings of our path towards equality, which we all know we are still walking along.
I do not believe there is anything about this novel that would be offensive to the modern day reader (or at least the modern day reader residing in the western world). It is a sad story of a woman who loves and chooses to marry the wrong man; it casts a spotlight on destructive vices (specifically alcoholism) and the ways in which those vices corrupt those who partake in them and the pain and suffering that is inflicted by the participant on their family and friends.
The feminism, for me, is that Anne Brontë dared to write about these issues - cast a light where many would prefer shadows. She was criticized thoroughly for this novel - criticism her own sister bowed to after Anne’s death, when Charlotte prevented the novel’s republication. It is such a shame that she did so - this work does not have anywhere near the popularity of Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, though it is such a work of art. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is an emotional novel, written by an author who understood all too well the dangers of alcohol abuse, starring complex and interesting characters. The protagonist, Helen, is such a wonderfully likable, sympathetic character.
I was surprised, though, that there was a happy ending to this story. I was expecting it to end in gloom and misery - and I think Anne had intended that I think that - when it took a turn for the better in the last 30 pages or so. I was happy and relieved to see Helen - who had endured so much heart ache and suffering - able to live the rest of her life in happiness, at last. A wonderful reward for a character who had such strong, unshakable faith and was good to her core - willing to sacrifice herself - her happiness, health, life - for others, out of love and/ or duty.
Everyone should read this novel. It is incredibly readable and the language did not confuse me like other novels written in the 1800s do, at least at times. I did not struggle through it as I have struggled through Jane Austen’s language, for instance - not always understanding what was being said. It deserves a place in history next to Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, undoubtedly.
sysevich's review
4.0
fico muito tentada - mesmo - de dar 5 estrelas, MAS preciso fazer ressalvas
primeiramente: a Anne conseguiu escrever personagens tão louváveis como suas irmãs. absolutamente todos os personagens são incrivelmente bem escritos e todos são de uma realidade absurda.
no entanto, meu problema é com a estrutura. apesar de eu ter amado saber da história da helen, eu sinto que a Anne começou o flashback dela justamente no meio do clímax. e eu fiwuei mto
primeiramente: a Anne conseguiu escrever personagens tão louváveis como suas irmãs. absolutamente todos os personagens são incrivelmente bem escritos e todos são de uma realidade absurda.
no entanto, meu problema é com a estrutura. apesar de eu ter amado saber da história da helen, eu sinto que a Anne começou o flashback dela justamente no meio do clímax. e eu fiwuei mto
miamickut's review
5.0
4.5 stars. I can’t event begin to explain how much I loved this book. Captures an abusive marriage in complex and sympathetic way, empowering one of the main character, Helen Huntington and providing her with her own voice in the novel. (Gilbert, while a main character, arguably is just a device to explain the society and community around her.)
It just is so transcendent and modern for a novel written in the 1840s. On the nose social commentary. And just so poignant, yet logical. I can’t. This review doesn’t make sense and I need to go back and edit it.
It just is so transcendent and modern for a novel written in the 1840s. On the nose social commentary. And just so poignant, yet logical. I can’t. This review doesn’t make sense and I need to go back and edit it.
catmorg128's review
4.0
The social commentary side of this book is incredible, especially when viewed in its time. So many of the points made were extremely true then, and even some are still true today in our society. The beginning and end here are Phenomenal. I loved it so much. The middle is a bit plodding and dull—mostly due to the narrative style of it being a series of diary entries. The conversation within a conversation within a conversation was dizzying at times, and it rather took away from the story rather than sucking you in. But, like I said, I forgive it (haha) because the beginning and end were written so well.
velveteen_reads's review
5.0
I have tried and failed to read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights so often that I figured I would struggle with this as well. In fact, I only picked it up because someone had done a silly comparison and mentioned that this was a "softer" romance (by which I mean in it's genteelness rather than being lesser).
I adored this book. I loved and was horrified by how modern it was. Especially the moment in the library with Mr Hargrave and she has to grab a pallette knife because he won't take no for an answer.
If I were to teach any sort of women's literature or feminist literature, this would be on there. 100%
I adored this book. I loved and was horrified by how modern it was. Especially the moment in the library with Mr Hargrave and she has to grab a pallette knife because he won't take no for an answer.
If I were to teach any sort of women's literature or feminist literature, this would be on there. 100%
manilea's review against another edition
5.0
I love how I can now read 'classic' books like they're thrillers. I still expect them to be difficult to get through and boring sometimes, but that was definitely not the case with this book.
Despite my long emotional attachment to Charlotte Bronte, I really appreciate the realism with which Anne Bronte writes. The importance of feminism is portrayed so clearly and strongly in this book - she's no less of a genius than her sisters.
Despite my long emotional attachment to Charlotte Bronte, I really appreciate the realism with which Anne Bronte writes. The importance of feminism is portrayed so clearly and strongly in this book - she's no less of a genius than her sisters.
juliadejong's review against another edition
5.0
Big shout out to my girl, Anne, who managed to write about some absolute f*ckheads (literally every adult male in this book is an absolute twat), and then added one badass queen protagonist who told them all off for their toxic behaviour. Winner of the women's prize for fiction 1848. New favourite classic.
papercrowns's review against another edition
5.0
I properly LOVED Wildfell Hall. It took me a while to get through it; it's not that thick, but it's somewhat dense. I've read Charlotte and Emily, but I'd never read Anne, and it's a shame that Anne doesn't seem to get as much of the spotlight, because I think in many ways, Wildfell is a far more impressive accomplishment for the times (don't get me wrong, I'm an equal Brontë Sisters stan; I adore them!).
Unlike her sisters, Anne's writing is much more firmly footed in realism, without the sweeping gothic romanticism or heightened melodrama and her stark portrayals of emotional abuse, alcoholism, and the restricted agency of Victorian women were all the more impactful for it.
At the core of Wildfell is Helen Graham, and I was immediately taken with her. She shares a similar resolve and internal strength to that of Jane Eyre, however where Jane has a quieter approach to her determination, Helen is much bolder and outwardly willful, which causes some of the initial conflicts at the beginning of the novel, and nicely prepares the reader for discovering Helen's journey.
I've read in other reviews that some people found Helen to be a little unlikeable, and a bit frosty, but I didn't find that to be the case at all (or perhaps ice queens are just my jam lol). As soon as the story switched to Helen's perspective, I immediately fell in love with her. She came across to me as very no-nonsense, shrewd, and honest, which I can see perhaps being interpreted as being a bit cold, but she was also incredibly generous, tolerant, forgiving, and compassionate. I felt she was a beautifully realized character; complex and flawed, but ultimately, relatable and easy to cheer for.
Has it knocked Jane Eyre out of my top spot for fave novel of all time? Mmm not yet, I'm still processing... But it's a possibility
Unlike her sisters, Anne's writing is much more firmly footed in realism, without the sweeping gothic romanticism or heightened melodrama and her stark portrayals of emotional abuse, alcoholism, and the restricted agency of Victorian women were all the more impactful for it.
At the core of Wildfell is Helen Graham, and I was immediately taken with her. She shares a similar resolve and internal strength to that of Jane Eyre, however where Jane has a quieter approach to her determination, Helen is much bolder and outwardly willful, which causes some of the initial conflicts at the beginning of the novel, and nicely prepares the reader for discovering Helen's journey.
I've read in other reviews that some people found Helen to be a little unlikeable, and a bit frosty, but I didn't find that to be the case at all (or perhaps ice queens are just my jam lol). As soon as the story switched to Helen's perspective, I immediately fell in love with her. She came across to me as very no-nonsense, shrewd, and honest, which I can see perhaps being interpreted as being a bit cold, but she was also incredibly generous, tolerant, forgiving, and compassionate. I felt she was a beautifully realized character; complex and flawed, but ultimately, relatable and easy to cheer for.
Has it knocked Jane Eyre out of my top spot for fave novel of all time? Mmm not yet, I'm still processing... But it's a possibility
novel_nomad's review against another edition
5.0
I utterly adored this novel and the central character, Helen, was strong, independent and incredibly modern. Anne Bronte managed to highlight the inequality and injustice for women after marriage, whilst celebrating a union based on honesty and equal devotion.