The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

The Tenant of Wildfell Hal is one of few nineteenth-century novels to address alcoholism, psychological abuse, violence and the inequality of women's property rights. In a powerful psychological narrative, Anne Brontë tells the strange tale of the disintegration of the marriage of Helen Graham, the mysterious tenant of Wildfell Hall.

When it was first published in 1848, Anne Brontë's second novel was attacked by the spectator for its 'morbid love of the coarse, if not the brutal'. In her defence, Anne stated that she 'wished tot ell the truth, for truth always conveys its own moral to those who are able to receive it'.

Anne Brontë challenges the reader, proving that she is a novelist in her own right and not just of interest as the youngest sister of the better known authors Charlotte and Emily.

This is my second favourite Bronte novel.



Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I'll never forget the first time I read Jane Eyre, I was 11 years old and I think it was in Autumn 2000. We were going away and I got very bored in the car, (still do!) without a book so my mum gave me the paperback copy of Jane Eyre she owned at the time and placed it on my lap. From the first page I loved it! I remember not being keen on Rochester because of the way he deceives Jane but as I got older I understood Rochester more and more and fell head over heels in love with him. In September 2000 I started high school and I was bullied which made me very unhappy so Jane became my best friend and as I thought myself plain I could easily understand what Jane meant when she wishes she was pretty.

Jane Eyre has also distracted me from my disability and has made me believe that a man will love me for who I am, despite my disability like Jane loves Rochester even though he is blind. It also taught me to resist temptation and I was amazed at how strong Jane was in leaving Rochester even though she loved him so much, I remember thinking how hard that must have been.

One of the reasons I love Jane Eyre so much is because Jane stands up for herself and overcomes ever obstacle that people put in her path; I also love her morals too and I also like the fact that she is plain but is such a strong heroine. I love the language in this novel and think it is beautifully written.

Another reason why I love it is because there is a brooding, dark, blunt, rude but a very passionate and gorgeous hero in the novel (what woman doesn't like one of those?!) which is Mr. Rochester who loves Jane for who she is, is very kind to her and treats her like an equal, I know that he has his faults but I can't help but fall for him! I also find him a very sympathetic character because he has a lot of very unfair things to deal with in his life.


My favourite parts of the novel are:

When Jane and Edward first meet
The first conversation they have sat by the fire
After Jane saves Edward from the fire
The conversation they have when Jane leaves the drawing-room
When Jane finds out Edward is the gypsy
When Jane asks Edward's permission to leave Thornfield Hall
When Jane returns to Thornfield Hall
The proposal! (This part is so passionate and romantic!)
When Edward is explaining everything to Jane after their interrupted marriage and is trying to convince her to stay with him (I nearly cry when I read that part!)
The reunion of Jane and Edward

Every time I read Jane Eyre nowadays I still feel like Jane is my friend telling me everything about herself, I love to read it in bed where I can get cosy and fall in love with the novel and Mr. Rochester all over again! I also have Jane Eyre on audio disc as well it's lovely to listen to when I am unwell or the weather is bad. My mum often passes me one of my copies when I'm upset or ill. I often forget my worries when I read it. When I can't sleep I read it, I once read parts of it at 5:00am! I read it many times a year. Edward Fairfax Rochester is my favourite hero in English Literature.

Jane Eyre is my favourite novel. I will love it forever and it will always be a very special novel to me. I recommend everyone read Jane Eyre with a cup of tea, a slice of cake or a bar of chocolate. 

My cosy reading for Autumn (2012)

 

 

 

I love reading.   I think there is nothing better than sitting by a coal fire or lying in bed with a favourite comfort read when the leaves are falling from the trees and it is cold outside.

 

 

Here are the books I am going to reading this Autumn snuggled up in bed all warm and cosy:

 

I am currertly reading this and will review it soon.
 

 

I read this a few years ago but I can't remember the story so I am looking forward to reading it again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I have only read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe so I'll jumping into the complete magical world of Narina for the very first time ever!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I love this story! It's my second favourite Bronte book.












My favourite book! I always love to revisit Thornfield and fall in love with Edward and Jane. A great romance!

















Have a lovely Autumn with your favourite book! :) xx
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Eyre is 165 years old this week!

 



On October 16, 1847 Charlotte Bronte, the oldest surviving daughter of the Reverend Patrick Bronte, published “Jane Eyre.” She was 31-years-old. The novel received many reviews, most praising, some scolding, and the first printing sold out within three months. It has remained in print for the last 165 years and if you haven't read Jane Eyre yet, go and buy a copy now!

Let's all celebrate by rereading this brilliant novel or watching JE06!

Here are some my favourite Jane Eyre quotes:
“Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal — as we are!”

“I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.”

"Jane, my little darling (so I will call you, for so you are), you don't know what you are talking about; you misjudge me again: it is not because she is mad I hate her. If you were mad, do you think I should hate you?"

"I do indeed, sir."

"Then you are mistaken, and you know nothing about me, and nothing about the sort of love of which I am capable. Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still: if you raved, my arms should confine you, and not a strait waistcoat--your grasp, even in fury, would have a charm for me: if you flew at me as wildly as that woman did this morning, I should receive you in an embrace, at least as fond as it would be restrictive. I should not shrink from you with disgust as I did from her: in your quiet moments you should have no watcher and no nurse but me; and I could hang over you with untiring tenderness, though you gave me no smile in return; and never weary of gazing into your eyes, though they had no longer a ray of recognition for me.”   

“Reader, I married him.".

 

 

 

 



 

165 years of "Jane Eyre" -- amazing and wonderful! Here's to Charlotte, Jane and EFR!

Haddon Hall Bakewell, Derbyshire (2010)

Haddon Hall is an English country house on the River Wye at Bakewell, Derbyshire, one of the seats of the Duke of Rutland, occupied by Lord Edward Manners and his family. In form a medieval manor house, it has been described as "the most complete and most interesting house of its period."

Franco Zeffirelli chose Haddon Hall as the location for his 1996 film of Jane Eyre. Since then, it has appeared on television in 2006 as Thornfield Hall in Diederick Santer's 2006 BBC version of Jane Eyre and in Cary Fukunaga's 2011 film of Jane Eyre.

On Friday 27th August 2010, my parents took me to Haddon Hall which is a beautiful place! As I am disabled and in a wheelchair I thought I would not get to see very much of the inside of the Hall but Liz, one of the women who works there asked me which Jane Eyre version was my favourite and I told her it was the 2006 one and that I was a massive fan of Jane Eyre.  She said 'The 2006 version is my favourite too.' She then introduced me to her boss who was there when the 2006 Jane Eyre was being filmed so she told me some wonderful Jane Eyre facts! They also showed me the kitchens, Rochester's study, where Jane plays the piano, the staircase where Jane walks down in her wedding dress, the doorway where Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester kiss in the rain, the chapel and Bertha's tower. Polly, the lady who was Liz's boss told me all about how the fire was filmed and how it took the crew two hours to get the owl to fly past the hall! She showed us a big picture of the fire scene.  I saw Jane's bedroom window too and Polly told me that I had entered the way where Edward Rochester rides off followed by Pilot, his dog.  I loved every minute of it, my Mum did too and my Dad took lots of photos.  Mum and I got very excited!

I had a lovely day and got to see more than I thought I would thanks to the kindness and generosity of the staff at Haddon Hall.  My Mum walked through the Long Gallery (which unfortunately I was unable to see) and took a photo of it for me, she saw the stairs where Edward Rochester walks down after Jane after the money scene. I also went outside and saw the path where Jane Eyre looks around Thornfield and walks down the steps opposite Bertha's Tower. I asked Polly where the library was and she told me it was upstairs.

The only thing that was missing was Toby Stephens striding out of the Hall towards me to hug and kiss me! Oh well... I can dream can't I?!   Whenever I watch Jane Eyre 2006 in the future I will remember this wonderful day which has added to the magic of Jane Eyre 2006 and I love Jane Eyre even more!  I highly recommend everyone visiting this wonderful place!
:) xx

Bronte In Love (2010)

When Charlotte Brontë died at the age of 38 in the Haworth parsonage where she had spent most of her life, her reputation as one of English literature's great novelists was already assured. In "Jane Eyre" she had allowed passion and romance to triumph over staid Victorian convention. She had written of fiery emotion, of heartbreak and of madness, but the greatest and at times the most tragic love story she never told was her own. It is this story that is now related in this compelling read. Here is the saga of a hopeless romantic, who naively believed true love could always conquer all. As a teenager she penned endless torrid romances and her hero was not a gentlemanly pillar of the community, but the Duke of Zamorna who had two wives, numerous mistresses and an illegitimate child. Brought vividly to life in these pages are the parallels with Charlotte's own life. By the time she was twenty-three she had rejected two proposals of marriage, one from a man she had known for only a couple of hours. Not for another fifteen turbulent years - marked by another proposal and two passionate affairs - were her childhood dreams finally extinguished. One June morning she walked into her father's church in Haworth and married a man she didn't love. It seemed she had at last found the one thing she wanted most of all, but within nine months both she and her unborn child were dead.


Sarah Freeman wrote this book with so much insight on Charlotte Brontes life that I don't think she could not have written it any better. She wrote it well, and I read with a lot of pleasure too. I read this book in two days and I couldn't put it down. So sad how Charlotte Bronte had unrequited love, suffered from a broken heart and much more. She also suffered so much loss with her mother passing away at such a young age and then her siblings one after the other. I highly recommend this book to Bronte fans. :) xx 

Jane Eyre vs Twilight book comparsion

 Twilight is not on par with Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte writes with better grammar, a better plot and more believable characters than Stephanie Meyers does.

Jane Eyre is an intelligent- albeit poor and plain (actually plain, not “Poor me, I’m so plain and refuse to believe I might be pretty even though everyone is in love with me.”) -young governess who gradually falls in love with her employer Rochester for his passionate nature despite his appearance, still loving him even when he is blind and has lost one of his hands. The control in the relationship is shared rather than showing dependency on each other, with Jane able to cope quite well when she leaves Thornfield. Jane has integrity and refuses to become Rochester’s mistress when she discovers that he is married.

Bella Swan, on the other hand, has men falling at her feet (despite being described as “plain” repeatedly) and doesn’t really seem to have a life outside of Edward. She is a perfect character, which Meyers hides by saying that she is “clumsy”, a trait designed to make her more appealing to an audience. They fall in love pretty much immediately on the basis that’s he’s attractive and she smells nice. Furthermore, their relationship shows classic signs of emotional abuse; during the course of the books, Edward influences Bella against her human friends on the grounds that they are “shallow” when in fact they share many traits with Alice and Rosalie, watches Bella sleep(which would set alarm bells off in any sensible girl’s head), attempts to make major decisions for her(such as the marriage despite her reservations) and repeatedly say that he would die without her or will kill himself when she dies. Bella repeatedly gives in to Edward, and when she doesn't she either ends up badly harmed or makes a stupid decision. I can sum up their relationship in a few words; shallow, unrealistic and manipulative.

Don’t compare this to Charlotte Bronte’s masterpiece because I have read both books and while I could read Jane Eyre a million times and never get bored, Twilight is boring, predictable,one-dimensional and generally irritating. I am sure if Charlotte Bronte knew that her most famous novel was being compared to chick lit about vampires, she would be turning in her grave! Edward Fairfax Rochester is the perfect romantic hero! 



The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1996)

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is an 1848 novel by Anne Brontë (the third and obscurest Brontë sister) under the pseudonym Acton Bell. It was her second and final novel, after Agnes Grey. It is generally considered the most shocking of the Brontë's novels, it deals with immoral themes of adultery and vice, as well as domestic abuse. The book outsold that of Wuthering Heights, penned by her sister Emily. The book, set in rural Yorkshire, is narrated by Gilbert Markham, neighbour to the mysterious young widow, Helen Graham, who moves into a nearby mansion, Wildfell Hall.

 

 

 

 

The scope of 1996 adaption is grandiose, sweeping across the foggy moors to inhabiting the darker and moody corners of Helen Graham's home. Rather than being dull the greyness of the composition is crisp and refreshing. We see the characters in sharp contrast and can read their characters well. The setting veers between the crooks and corners of Wildfell and its surroundings to the gaily lit ballrooms described by Helen in correspondence with Gilbert. Most of Gilbert and Helen's encounters happen outdoors, alluding to the freedom Helen craves as opposed to the violence, entrapment and uncomfortable secrecy imposed by the domestic sphere. However Helen can not be wholly free and soon her past catches up with her necessitating her to leave Wildfell, not before communicating the truth of her situation to Gilbert with whom she has formed a romantic attachment.

 

Young and new to society in London, Helen, (Tara Fitzgerald) meets the handsome Arthur Huntington (Rupert Graves)  He charms her off her feet and proposes marriage. At first, the young Mrs. Huntington is happy, but it's not long before her husband's true colours start showing through. He abandons his pregnant wife in order to enjoy himself in London ... and eventually, he comes back - his bad points have deteriorated and he's now a full-blown alcoholic and womaniser with a foul temper and a tendency to violence, and eventually, Helen has enough and decides to leave.


This story is dark but I really like it!  The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a magnificent piece of storytelling. Enjoy! :) xx