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athenia 's review for:
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
by Anne Brontë
I actually enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. I usually avoid Bronte/Austen books because the type of writing doesn't really appeal to me. However, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall presented a far more likable story than I expected. I managed to read the majority of it in 2 days, and it's rare I get through such an old book so fast!
I think what really stood out was the voice of Helen Huntingdon. She provide direction and interest to the story, mainly in her narrative in the middle of the book, cataloguing her marriage and time before arriving at Wildfell Hall. She is frequently blunt and coarse about the social expectations and views on women & men of the period, criticising society's establishment of matrimony and love. Frequently guiding other female characters, her wisdom, although caused by heartbreak and hardship, really shines through in the narrative. I doubt the novel would have been so readable if it wasn't for her opinions.
I did find the parts with Gilbert rather lackluster compared to Helen's accounts, but it does provide a nice framing for the story. The epistolary style combines story and judgement, better forming both Helen and Gilbert Markham than if it was written in a simple third person narrative.
Nevertheless, this book definitely surprised me. I believe I am due to read Mansfield Park later in the semester, and I look forward to hopefully comparing it to this!
Note: I may update this review after my lecture/seminar on Monday. Next up in my Victorian Lit module is The Mill on the Floss!
I think what really stood out was the voice of Helen Huntingdon. She provide direction and interest to the story, mainly in her narrative in the middle of the book, cataloguing her marriage and time before arriving at Wildfell Hall. She is frequently blunt and coarse about the social expectations and views on women & men of the period, criticising society's establishment of matrimony and love. Frequently guiding other female characters, her wisdom, although caused by heartbreak and hardship, really shines through in the narrative. I doubt the novel would have been so readable if it wasn't for her opinions.
I did find the parts with Gilbert rather lackluster compared to Helen's accounts, but it does provide a nice framing for the story. The epistolary style combines story and judgement, better forming both Helen and Gilbert Markham than if it was written in a simple third person narrative.
Nevertheless, this book definitely surprised me. I believe I am due to read Mansfield Park later in the semester, and I look forward to hopefully comparing it to this!
Note: I may update this review after my lecture/seminar on Monday. Next up in my Victorian Lit module is The Mill on the Floss!