The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

A few months ago, I had a 40% off coupon for Borders. I asked around for people's opinions of favorite books and looked up a few "top ten" best sellers. All of the suggestions I got looked interesting, but could be found at the library. So I opted for a couple "oldies," one of which I finished reading this afternoon: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. This was a REALLY good story, but a little difficult to get through because of the writing style (which was good, but very detailed and definitely 19-th century-ish). I'm glad I read the book -- it was a nice contrast to those "disturbing" movies I watch last week!

The main character is a woman named Helen who is married to an A#1 JERK! He is completely self-centered and self-absorbed, and she ends up almost hating him because he drinks too much, because he blatantly flirts (and more) with other women, because he neglects her, because he leaves home to "party" for months, and most of all because he is a VERY bad influence on their son. She finally decides to leave him. She sneaks away before dawn with her son and personal maid (who is really a friend because Helen explains to her that there's no way she'll be able to pay her any wages except food and shelter).

In the town she moves to, people believe that she's a widow and a very reclusive woman. She doesn't want to make friends, but people keep visiting her. One man in particular, Gilbert, becomes a very close friend; actually, they love each other. These feelings make her leave this town so that she doesn't do anything wrong; but before she leaves, she gives Gilbert her journal that explains to him all about her past and her reason for having to leave.

It seems like the story isn't going to have a happy ending at all for these two, but then Helen's husband dies. That seems like a pretty sick way to make a happy ending, but the author makes it quite clear that her husband's death is his own fault because of his wild living. Also, Helen goes back to him and tries her very best to nurse him back to health and to get him to repent and believe in God. She fails at both attempts. His death, however, leaves her free to love whomever she chooses; and she and Gilbert marry a couple years later.

I wish this book could be made into a movie -- IF the screenwriters could keep the story and moral exactly the same as the book.