REVIEW: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Brontë)

Book: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Author: Anne Brontë

Premise: After moving Wildfell Hall with her young son, Helen Graham's reclusive behaviour becomes the subject of local gossip and speculation. It is only when she allows Gilbert Markham to read her diary that the truth is revealed and the shocking details of the disastrous marriage she has left behind emerge.

This book essentially has 3 parts to it. First we see Helen move to the hall, her striking up a friendship with the narrator and the salicious gossip that starts to spread. The next part, which takes up the bulk of the book, is an account of her previous marriage. The final part sees us back in the present and the narrator's reaction to the story.

I really enjoyed this story. I found it really picked up once we got to the account of Helen's marriage. She was so full of hope and had romantic notions of marriage. But gradually the rose tinted glasses are removed by harsh reality. I loved her strong character and compassion for others. The last section of the story was built up from the miscommunication trope, which was frustrating at times but also helped maintain the pace until the end.

Overall, a good book.