The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte and narrated by Mary Sarah Agliotta.

Listening time for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte is 13 hours, 33 minutes.

This is my first experience reading a novel by Anne Bronte. I selected The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte based on the fact that it was an instant success upon publication and is considered to be one of the first feminist novels. Additionally, I was in the mood for listening to a classic novel. I didn't readily pick up on the fact that this novel was a feminist read right away, but see how it is considered a feminist novel.

I liked The Tenant of Wildfell Hall overall and thought it was well narrated by Mary Sarah Agliotta. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte is framed as a series of letters written by one of the main characters, Gilbert Markham. Gilbert Markham writes about a mysterious widow named, Mrs. Helen Graham, who has newly arrived into the area and moves into Wildfell Hall (an old mansion) with her son and single servant. Mrs. Graham becomes a source of gossip and speculation with the other residents in the local area... Additionally, Gilbert Markham and Mrs. Graham become friends during the course of the novel and Gilbert refuses to believe the wild accusations made about Mrs. Graham by the other locals.

I felt like The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte was divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the mysterious Mrs. Graham as the new tenant of Wildfell Hall. The second part of the novel is where we read Mrs. Graham's diary and learn about her past and who she really is. And the third part of the novel focuses on what becomes of Mrs. Graham after she leaves Wildfell Hall and resumes her former life.

I thought that The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte was a bit slow in parts. But nevertheless, it made for an interesting case study for what life must be like for a woman/wife/mother during the 1800s in England. Life sounds very restrictive for women back then and I am grateful that women have so many freedoms today.

Below is the plot summary for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte from Amazon:

Probably the most shocking of the Brontës' novels, this novel had an instant and phenomenal success and is widely considered to be one of the first sustained feminist novels. A mysterious widow, Mrs. Helen Graham, arrives at Wildfell Hall, a nearby old mansion. A source of curiosity for the small community, the reticent Helen and her young son Arthur are slowly drawn into the social circles of the village.

I am giving The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!