Originally published in 1848, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” is the second and final novel written by Anne Bronte. Considered one of the first feminist novels, it was both instantly successful and highly controversial. The story follows the relationship between Gilbert Markham, a prosperous farmer, and the mysterious widow Mrs. Helen Graham, who takes up residence with only her son and a servant in the nearby tumbledown mansion of Wildfell Hall. Told in a series of letters, Gilbert describes how he falls in love with the elusive Helen and learns of her tragic past. The victim of small town gossip, Helen finally tells Gilbert how she has left her aristocratic and alcoholic husband in order to save her young son from his influence. The novel was far more realistic in both tone and subject matter than other popular novels of its time and boldly challenged the accepted treatment of women in Victorian England. While Bronte rejected the romantic style popular at that time and frankly addressed the obstacles and prejudices faced by women, Helen and Gilbert’s story is essentially one of love and hope. A classic of the Victorian era as well as a feminist tale far ahead of its time, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” is a must read for fans of the Bronte sisters. This edition includes an introduction by Mary Augusta Ward.
