The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

De: Anne Brontë

Narrado por: Alex Jennings, Jenny Agutter

Exclusively from Audible

The story of a woman's struggle for independence from an abusive husband. Helen 'Graham' has returned to Wildfell Hall in flight from a disastrous marriage and to protect her young son from the influence of his father.

Exiled to the desolate moorland mansion, she adopts an assumed name and earns her living as a painter. Gilbert Markham, a local man intrigued by the beautiful young 'widow' offers his friendship but becomes distrustful when her reclusive behaviour sparks rumours and speculation. When she offers her diary for him to read only then does he discover the dark truth of her shocking past.

The second and last novel written by Anne Brontë, the youngest of the six Brontë children, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall deals with alcoholism, physical and emotional abuse, unhappy marriages and adultery. Anne's novels are distinctly different from that of her sisters, filled with gritty realism. After her death, Anne's sister, Charlotte, prevented its republication perhaps due to her belief that it was overly graphic and an 'entire mistake'.

Despite first being published in 1848, The Independent described it as a 'frighteningly up-to-date tale of single motherhood and wife-battering.' It is considered one of the more shocking of the Brontë stories and due to Helen's breaking of social convention and law holds firm as one of the first feminist novels.

Narrator Biography

Three-time Olivier Award winner actor Alex Jennings is known for portraying Prince Charles in The Queen (2006) as well as appearing in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Babel (2006) and The Lady in the Van (2015). His television work has included Cranford (2007), Silk (2011-2014), and Victoria (2016). He has narrated many audiobooks including Charlie Connelly's Attention All Shipping, which in 2008 was chosen as one of the top 40 audiobooks of all time.

Jenny Agutter began her acting career as a child in 1964's East of Sudan and is well known for appearing in three adaptations of The Railway Children. She starred in the critically acclaimed 1971 film Walkabout as well as receiving a string of Hollywood roles. She won an Emmy for her role in The Snow Goose (1971), as well as a BAFTA for her role in Equus (1997). More recently she has appeared in several television dramas, including Spooks (2002-2003), and Call the Midwife since 2012. She has performed in numerous theatre productions, including roles with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She has also narrated audiobooks Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle and Jane Austen's Emma and featured in the Doctor Who audio dramas The Bride of Peladon and The Minister of Chance. In 2012 she was appointed OBE for her charity work.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc

highly recommended

This is an inspiring and beautifully written book and one I will probably re-read, as fresh today as when it was written over 150 years ago; English prose at it's height. The narration is as well superb. This ranks with Jane Eyre as one of my all-time favourites.

My Favorite Bronte Story

I love this book. It’s my favorite Bronte book and possibly my favorite book overall. I thoroughly enjoyed this performance of it!

Well done

I enjoyed this recitation of Anne Bronte’s classic. I was a rapt listener and wholly relished the narrative.

one of my top 10 classics

I love the Brontë Sisters! Charlotte's 'Jane Eyre' is my # 1, but this I think is tied for 2nd with Anne's 'Agnes Grey

Per your usual classic novels of the Era it was long winded in some parts but otherwise so good. Helen Huntingdon (aka Ms. Grayham) is the fmc (female main character) and Gilbert Markham is the mmc (male main character). Why do we not hear more about them? I think they as a couple have just as much to give as Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy or Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferrars you know the more famous Jane Austin couples....🙄 I'm not an Austin hater, I just like the drama and darkness of the Brontë Sisters more. Anyway, this one was good and in true Gothic fashion the two protagonists dont get together for their happy ending until like the last 2 chapters. That's not a spoiler, all romances have Happily Ever afters. Another classic lit notch in my belt!

One of my favorite classics!

The pure goodness of Helen reminds me of Dorothea from Middlemarch. Her character is truly admirable. With a beautifully written storyline full of ups and downs, I found myself more engaged than with most classics. The ending almost annoyed me at times, with how drawn out and indirect some aspects felt. However, I ultimately loved it and came to appreciate even more the slower, artfully written nature of the piece. The narration was absolutely fantastic!