The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, the second and final novel by English author Anne Brontë, was first published in 1848 under the pseudonym Acton Bell. Considered the most shocking of the Brontë sisters’ novels, the book achieved phenomenal success upon its release. However, after Anne’s death, her sister Charlotte Brontë prevented its re-publication.

The novel is framed as a letter from Gilbert Markham to his friend and brother-in-law, detailing the events that led to his meeting with his future wife. The story begins when a mysterious young widow, Helen Graham, moves into Wildfell Hall, an Elizabethan mansion that had been empty for many years. Living in strict seclusion with her son and servant, Helen quickly becomes the subject of local gossip. Refusing to believe the slander, Gilbert gradually uncovers her dark secrets.

Through her diary, Helen reveals the physical and moral decline of her husband due to alcohol and the world of debauchery and cruelty from which she fled. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a tale of marital betrayal, set within a moral framework shaped by Anne’s optimistic belief in universal salvation. It is widely regarded as one of the earliest feminist novels in English literature.

In 1913, writer May Sinclair famously stated that the slamming of Helen’s bedroom door against her husband echoed throughout Victorian England. By leaving her husband, Helen not only defied societal norms but also broke English law.

Complete with 14 illustrations and organized chapters for Kindle reading, this edition provides a seamless and engaging reading experience.