For February the hosts of The Classics Club have asked What Classic has most surprised you so far and why?
And I’m not sure if it’s just the books I’ve read or the questions themselves, but I constantly seem to be going back to the same book to answer these questions. I’m glad I checked to see what the next few questions were or I would probably have given up on the monthly memes after this month.
The most surprising book I’ve read is, of course, Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I mean how can you not be surprised?!? I’ve just looked back at my response and it starts with
How scandalously shocking! From divorce and debauchery to alcoholism and adultery, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was not only startling, but it was well ahead of its times in terms of Brontë’s revelations of the mistreatment of women, education of children and the inability to women to fend for themselves and their children regardless of position or circumstance.
How could you not be surprised? This was a young woman writing about things which she shouldn’t know anything about during the early-to-mid 19th century. And add to the fact that I didn’t realize it was one of the earliest feminist novels, of course I’m in love with it. May Sinclair, another female novelist of the late 19th, early 20th century) said “the slamming of Helen’s bedroom door against her husband reverberated throughout Victorian England.” Talk about powerful.
I’m really looking forward to reading this one.
I’m seriously considering a re-read already! Hopefully I can put it off for a bit as there are so many others I want to read, but I really enjoyed it.
Oh wow! I had no clue!….I have this one lined up to be read sometime this year (I hope!). Who would have thought it? I’m all agog with curiosity now!
It’s definitely the best Classic I’ve read for the club so far.
Well you just bumped this up on my TBR!
Good! It should be in everyone’s list!
I have The Tenant Wildfell Hall on my Classics Club list. I am looking forward to reading it 🙂
Whoohoo! Can’t wait to see what you have to say about it.
Ah yes, I love Sinclair’s comment on the book it’s such a great teaser as well as a perfect summary of its impact. 🙂
It really is! And it doesn’t even give away all the other drama