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Published in 1848, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is the least well-known of

the Bront novels, but it is a very great account of a woman trapped in a

marriage she would not leave save for her fear of the moral influence of

her drunkard husband on their son. Even within the marriage she feels

like a single parent, while the father spoils their child, even offering him

sips of alcohol. It is hard that my little darling child should love him

more than me. Here is an example of her lonely confession to herself in

her diary, the long almost unshaped sentences reflecting her mess:

I am too grave to minister to his amuse-

ments and enter into his infantile sports asa nurse or a mother ought to do, and often

his bursts of gleeful merriment trouble and

alarm me; I see in them his fathers spirit

and temperament, and I tremble for the

consequences; and, too often, damp the in-

nocent mirth I ought to share. That father

on the contrary has no weight of sadness

in his mind is troubled with no fears, no

scruples concerning his sons future welfare

therefore, of course, the child dotes upon

his seemingly joyous, amusing, ever in-

dulgent papa, and will at any time gladly

exchange my company for his. This disturbs

me greatly; not so much for the sake of my sons affection

(though I do prize that highly, and though I feel it is my right,

and know I have done much to earn it), as for that influence

over him which, for his own advantage, I would strive to pur-

chase and retain, and which for very spite his father delights

to rob me of, and, from motives of mere idle egotism, is pleasedto win to himself, making no use of it but to torment me, and

ruin the child. (Chapter 37)

READERS CONNECT

ANNE BRONT,

THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL

WITH

OXFORD WORLDS CLASSICS

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READERS CONNECT

THE JURY

STAR RATINGS***** one of best books Ive ever read

**** one of the best Ive read this year*** highly recommended** worth reading* not for me but worth trying0 - dont bother

Jo Cannon is a Sheff ield GP and short story writer.

Toxic love. Valiant self-control. A marriage, then aman, disintegrates. I was gripped by the intricate,timeless emotions. Helens precision of speech wasenviable. Suspense and a feel-good ending makeTenant a great read.* * * *

Lynne Hatwell (dovegreyreader) is a Devon-basedcommunity nurse

This book places Anne Bront deservedly centre-

stage: alcoholism, gambling and drugs and theresulting emotional and physical abuse will keepyou turning the pages and reflecting on its uncannyparallels to life for many even today.* * *

Drummond Moir, once of Edinburgh, works for aLondon-based publisher

I wasnt sure about this the plots quite slow. If youalready love Victorian fiction and want somethingoff the beaten track, this is definitely worth a try.*

Tom Sperlinger directs English courses for LifelongLearning at Bristol University

Tenant gives a compelling account of living withsomeone in the grip of an addiction. Helen ischarmed by her husband before marriage, but thenfeels shame, fear, guilt, and resignation at his behav-iour. A richly imagined, grimly moving book.* * *

Sarah Turvey runs reading groups in London prisons

Marital breakdown, alcohol addiction, and theologi-cal questions of salvation and damnation are daringthemes for a nineteenth-century woman novelist. Butoverall the novel is awkwardly structured, and thecharacters never quite come alive.* *