The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

By: Anne Brontë

Narrated by: Piers Wehner, Katy Carmichael

Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Bronte created a strong, modern heroine who challenged the prevailing morals and politics of the Victorian era.

When Helen Graham shut her bedroom door on her abusive, drunken husband, it was a door-slam heard around the world. Escaping to Wildfell Hall after a loveless marriage, Helen, our mysterious tenant, lives in quiet seclusion, while her reclusive nature quickly becomes the subject of local gossip.

Gilbert Markham, a young farmer, becomes intrigued with Ms. Graham and soon discovers the shocking secrets of her dark past.

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Public Domain (P)2015 Naxos AudioBooks

Long, But Not Disappointing

Having read some very disappointingly-ended stories by the Brontes, I was a bit leery of this long tome. I can see this as a drawn-out set of serially stories full enough of angst for any lonely soul. For myself, the narrator was better to listen to at 1.15 speed rather than the slower original. He has a good voice, but seemed a bit effete in the emphases he used in each sentence. Bronte is attempting to write from a male point of view but tends to give her protagonist a clearly female set of reactions. It is still entertaining if you can wade through all this.

Good, in a Victorian way

Happy to have another Brontë book to listen to, though I must say it gets a bit tedious for our modern pacing. Could be cut by about 1/2. All the same, I enjoyed it. The writing itself is wonderful.

Well Done

Very well done. Nice reading of this story. And for the story, I love all of the Bronte’s writing.

Beautiful

What a treat! The narrators are perfectly matched to the material, and the material itself is shot through with love and sunlight. Not to say there's no suffering: the novel contains a gripping account of a relationship gone horribly wrong, and of the ravages of alcohol and adultery. But for all that, it doesn't have the tinge of gothic horror that marks other works by members of the Brontë family. If there's a flaw, it's that the male narrator, Gilbert Markham, isn't half as mature as he seems to think he is. He's right when he says he doesn't deserve to be happy. But Helen Huntingdon DOES deserve it. She is a strong, determined woman, an utter contrast to the stereotypical Victorian heroine, and her story is a delight to hear.

Best version available on audible

This is arguably the best version of Anne Bronte’s classic tale available in audiobook format. Most other versions feature narrators that are either too old to be convincing in voicing the narrators or who can’t get to grips with the various regional accents... Piers Wehner & Katy Carmichael bring a youthful passion and vigour to their delivery which serves to enliven the very formal 19th century prose, and in giving each character a distinctive voice, are meticulously correct in their depiction of the correct accents.

The story itself has survived down the centuries for a reason - Anne Brontë builds suspense well, her characters are psychologically complex, the dialogue contains many quotable gems and her descriptions of both the natural environment and man-made edifices are vividly evocative.

Brilliant novel

Even though I was aware that the Bronte sisters were all writers, I had only ever read Charlotte. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, although at times it was a bit religious in tone. The story is written as a letter or journal in first person of both of the main characters. I definitely would recommend this if you are a fan of any of the Brontes or Jane Austen.

A Beautiful Story of Humanity

Slow burn story that makes you fall in love with the main charcters. Truly lovely.

BEAUTIFULLY narrated!

I was skeptical about dual narrators. Wow! I was engrossed from start to finish. Beautiful narration of a great piece of literature.

My favorite Brontë book so far

This story about a very strong, somewhat self-righteous woman is a sparkling gem. Interesting characters.

Wonderful

This is a beautifully executed performance, true to the coveted Oxford Clarendon edition of Anne Brontë’s unforgettable novel.