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A review by aspiringliterati
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
4.0
It's been many years since I discovered in myself a certain pull towards British classics and even though my phases of preference of particular genres come and go, this one is a stable constant, a recurrent occurence, so to speak. What makes them so pleasurable to read? It's a variety of factors. I've always been an avid appreciator of books that are well written and whatever the story is about, you can always rely on its elaborate vocabulary and well expressed thoughts of its characters; that is: if we're considering British classics (or any classic for that matter for it didn't use to be so easy to publish a book then). That certainly wins me over as regardless of what the story is about (however they often display a more or less similar game of courtship troubled by a number of different obstacles), you can always rely on it being well written.
I think of the classics as an artistic escape, there's always a considerable amount of pure artistry involved. It's practically impossible to stumble upon a classic that is not a good book. If you like them or not, that is an entirely different question and to answer it you need to ask yourself whether - when you were reading Lord of the Rings - you skipped or reveled in its descriptions of nature, of the events, rathen than look forward to the dialogues? I did the latter.
"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is not a brilliant book but it has all the features of being almost that. I reveled in its language for it is written with true artistry. As it comes to the characters, modern readers may find their reluctance and somewhat accidental martyrdom (especially Helen Graham's) infuriating but if you do, press the rewind button and try to put yourself in their shoes, in their exact time under the circustamces they had encountered. Then you should find yourseld overwhelmed by a sensation of understanding.
As for other characters of the book, one would call them antagonistic, I have to admit I watched their rather abrupt decline with a mixture of pity and contempt (much like Helen herself) but also a bit of amusement (contrary to Helen's thoughts on the subject). Also, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that Anne Brontë's own contempt by far exceeded that of her characters and she had absolutely no respect for debauchery of any kind. Not that one should respect extravagant indulgence in stimulants but the author's contempt is absolutely blatant so there comes the moral that life of abstemiousness and sense is what is preferred. Yet again - not that it surprises me. All classic authors seem to prefer their characters strong, a bit withdrawn and with a full plate of common sense rather than any mixture of giggles, blatant youth and debauchery. Does anyone hold that against them? I don't think so and if they do, the rewind button is itching to be pressed. After all, the ladies who gave birth to so many novels, all lived by certain inviolable standards and to write their protagonists any different, would be hypocrisy.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend this read but not everyone will find it pleasurable. Some of you might find themselves bored to tears and even though I shouldn't judge, I might, just a little. ;) Those of you who revel in Victorian literature and/or read British classics of 19th century greedily and lovingly won't be disappointed. It is a book that establishes a certain pattern of what should stand and what shouldn't. The former is triumphant and those rules in life you should abide... or so the author wanted. But not only that. I suppose it also teaches a lesson or two in inner strength of a woman ensnared and unhappy, that through her strength and not tricks, she will be victiorious in the end.
By all means, read away!
I think of the classics as an artistic escape, there's always a considerable amount of pure artistry involved. It's practically impossible to stumble upon a classic that is not a good book. If you like them or not, that is an entirely different question and to answer it you need to ask yourself whether - when you were reading Lord of the Rings - you skipped or reveled in its descriptions of nature, of the events, rathen than look forward to the dialogues? I did the latter.
"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is not a brilliant book but it has all the features of being almost that. I reveled in its language for it is written with true artistry. As it comes to the characters, modern readers may find their reluctance and somewhat accidental martyrdom (especially Helen Graham's) infuriating but if you do, press the rewind button and try to put yourself in their shoes, in their exact time under the circustamces they had encountered. Then you should find yourseld overwhelmed by a sensation of understanding.
As for other characters of the book, one would call them antagonistic, I have to admit I watched their rather abrupt decline with a mixture of pity and contempt (much like Helen herself) but also a bit of amusement (contrary to Helen's thoughts on the subject). Also, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that Anne Brontë's own contempt by far exceeded that of her characters and she had absolutely no respect for debauchery of any kind. Not that one should respect extravagant indulgence in stimulants but the author's contempt is absolutely blatant so there comes the moral that life of abstemiousness and sense is what is preferred. Yet again - not that it surprises me. All classic authors seem to prefer their characters strong, a bit withdrawn and with a full plate of common sense rather than any mixture of giggles, blatant youth and debauchery. Does anyone hold that against them? I don't think so and if they do, the rewind button is itching to be pressed. After all, the ladies who gave birth to so many novels, all lived by certain inviolable standards and to write their protagonists any different, would be hypocrisy.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend this read but not everyone will find it pleasurable. Some of you might find themselves bored to tears and even though I shouldn't judge, I might, just a little. ;) Those of you who revel in Victorian literature and/or read British classics of 19th century greedily and lovingly won't be disappointed. It is a book that establishes a certain pattern of what should stand and what shouldn't. The former is triumphant and those rules in life you should abide... or so the author wanted. But not only that. I suppose it also teaches a lesson or two in inner strength of a woman ensnared and unhappy, that through her strength and not tricks, she will be victiorious in the end.
By all means, read away!