Tenant of Wildfell Hall

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• Publisher: Alma Books
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781847497277
• eBook ISBN: 9780714549040
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

Part of Alma Evergreen series, this edition contains a wealth of material, ideal for students. An instant success, the first edition of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall sold out in weeks, yet was mired in controversy for what many contemporary critics viewed as its shocking subject matter and fierce defence of women's rights.

Preface to the Second Edition

While I acknowledge the success of the present work to have been greater than I anticipated, and the praises it has elicited from a few kind critics to have been greater than it deserved, I must also admit that from some other quarters it has been censured with an asperity which I was as little prepared to expect, and which my judgement as well as my feelings assures me is more bitter than just. It is scarcely the province of an author to refute the arguments of his censors and vindicate his own productions, but I may be allowed to make here a few observations with which I would have prefaced the first edition had I foreseen the necessity of such precautions against the misapprehensions of those who would read it with a prejudiced mind or be content to judge it by a hasty glance.

My object in writing the following pages was not simply to amuse the reader, neither was it to gratify my own taste, nor yet to ingratiate myself with the press and the public: I wished to tell the truth, for truth always conveys its own moral to those who are able to receive it. But as the priceless treasure too frequently hides at the bottom of a well,* it needs some courage to dive for it, especially as he that does so will be likely to incur more scorn and obloquy for the mud and water into which he has ventured to plunge than thanks for the jewel he procures – as, in like manner, she who undertakes the cleansing of a careless bachelor’s apartment will be liable to more abuse for the dust she raises than commendation for the clearance she effects. Let it not be imagined, however, that I consider myself competent to reform the errors and abuses of society, but only that I would fain contribute my humble quota towards so good an aim, and if I can gain the public ear at all, I would rather whisper a few wholesome truths therein than much soft nonsense.

As the story of Agnes Grey was accused of extravagant over-colouring in those very parts that were carefully copied from the life – with a most scrupulous avoidance of all exaggeration – so, in the present work, I find myself censured for depicting con amore,* with “a morbid love of the coarse, if not of the brutal”,* those scenes which, I will venture to say, have not been more painful for the most fastidious of my critics to read than they were for me to describe. I may have gone too far, in which case I shall be careful not to trouble myself or my readers in the same way again, but when we have to do with vice and vicious characters, I maintain it is better to depict them as they really are than as they would wish to appear. To represent a bad thing in its least offensive light is doubtless the most agreeable course for a writer of fiction to pursue, but is it the most honest, or the safest? Is it better to reveal the snares and pitfalls of life to the young and thoughtless traveller, or to cover them with branches and flowers? O Reader! If there were less of this delicate concealment of facts – this whispering “Peace, peace” when there is no peace* – there would be less of sin and misery to the young of both sexes who are left to wring their bitter knowledge from experience.

I would not be understood to suppose that the proceedings of the unhappy scapegrace with his few profligate companions I have here introduced are a specimen of the common practices of society: the case is an extreme one, as I trusted none would fail to perceive, but I know that such characters do exist, and if I have warned one rash youth from following in their steps, or prevented one thoughtless girl from falling into the very natural error of my heroine, the book has not been written in vain. But, at the same time, if any honest reader shall have derived more pain than pleasure from its perusal – and have closed the last volume with a disagreeable impression on his mind – I humbly crave his pardon, for such was far from my intention, and I will endeavour to do better another time, for I love to give innocent pleasure. Yet, be it understood, I shall not limit my ambition to this, or even to producing “a perfect work of art” – time and talents so spent I should consider wasted and misapplied. Such humble talents as God has given me I will endeavour to put to their greatest use – if I am able to amuse I will try to benefit too – and when I feel it my duty to speak an unpalatable truth, with the help of God, I will speak it, though it be to the prejudice of my name and to the detriment of my reader’s immediate pleasure as well as my own.

One word more and I have done. Respecting the author’s identity, I would have it to be distinctly understood that Acton Bell is neither Currer nor Ellis Bell, and therefore let not his faults be attributed to them. As to whether the name be real or fictitious, it cannot greatly signify to those who know him only by his works. As little, I should think, can it matter whether the writer so designated is a man or a woman, as one or two of my critics profess to have discovered. I take the imputation in good part, as a compliment to the just delineation of my female characters. And though I am bound to attribute much of the severity of my censors to this suspicion, I make no effort to refute it, because, in my own mind, I am satisfied that if a book is a good one, it is so whatever the sex of the author may be. All novels are or should be written for both men and women to read, and I am at a loss to conceive how a man should permit himself to write anything that would be really disgraceful to a woman, or why a woman should be censured for writing anything that would be proper and becoming for a man.

July 22nd, 1848

To J. Halford, Esq.

Dear Halford,

When we were together last, you gave me a very particular and interesting account of the most remarkable occurrences of your early life, previous to our acquaintance, and then you requested a return of confidence from me. Not being in a storytelling humour at the time, I declined, under the plea of having nothing to tell, and the like shuffling excuses, which were regarded as wholly inadmissible by you, for though you instantly turned the conversation it was with the air of an uncomplaining but deeply injured man, and your face was overshadowed with a cloud which darkened it to the end of our interview, and – for what I know – darkens it still, for your letters have, ever since, been distinguished by a certain dignified, semi-melancholy stiffness and reserve that would have been very affecting if my conscience had accused me of deserving it.

Are you not ashamed, old boy – at your age, and when we have known each other so intimately and so long, and when I have already given you so many proofs of frankness and confidence and never resented your comparative closeness and taciturnity? But there it is, I suppose: you are not naturally communicative, and you thought you had done great things and given an unparalleled proof of friendly confidence on that memorable occasion – which, doubtless, you have sworn shall be the last of the kind – and you deemed that the smallest return I could make for so mighty a favour would be to follow your example without a moment’s hesitation.

Well! I did not take up my pen to reproach you, nor to defend myself, nor to apologize for past offences, but – if possible – to atone for them.

It is a soaking, rainy day, the family are absent on a visit, I am alone in my library and have been looking over certain musty old letters and papers and musing on past times, so that I am now in a very proper frame of mind for amusing you with an old-world story. And having withdrawn my well-roasted feet from the hobs, wheeled round to the table and indited the above lines to my crusty old friend, I am about to give him a sketch – no, not a sketch – a full and faithful account of certain circumstances connected with the most important event of my life – previous to my acquaintance with Jack Halford, at least – and when you have read it, charge me with ingratitude and unfriendly reserve if you can.

I know you like a long story, and are as great a stickler for particularities and circumstantial details as my grandmother, so I will not spare you: m...

Table of contents

• Preface to the Second Edition