The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

I properly LOVED Wildfell Hall. It took me a while to get through it; it's not that thick, but it's somewhat dense. I've read Charlotte and Emily, but I'd never read Anne, and it's a shame that Anne doesn't seem to get as much of the spotlight, because I think in many ways, Wildfell is a far more impressive accomplishment for the times (don't get me wrong, I'm an equal Brontë Sisters stan; I adore them!).

Unlike her sisters, Anne's writing is much more firmly footed in realism, without the sweeping gothic romanticism or heightened melodrama and her stark portrayals of emotional abuse, alcoholism, and the restricted agency of Victorian women were all the more impactful for it.

At the core of Wildfell is Helen Graham, and I was immediately taken with her. She shares a similar resolve and internal strength to that of Jane Eyre, however where Jane has a quieter approach to her determination, Helen is much bolder and outwardly willful, which causes some of the initial conflicts at the beginning of the novel, and nicely prepares the reader for discovering Helen's journey.

I've read in other reviews that some people found Helen to be a little unlikeable, and a bit frosty, but I didn't find that to be the case at all (or perhaps ice queens are just my jam lol). As soon as the story switched to Helen's perspective, I immediately fell in love with her. She came across to me as very no-nonsense, shrewd, and honest, which I can see perhaps being interpreted as being a bit cold, but she was also incredibly generous, tolerant, forgiving, and compassionate. I felt she was a beautifully realized character; complex and flawed, but ultimately, relatable and easy to cheer for.

Has it knocked Jane Eyre out of my top spot for fave novel of all time? Mmm not yet, I'm still processing... But it's a possibility