Discover timeless tales with the Umatilla Literary Society's Classics Book Club, where we explore the enduring stories that have shaped literature. This term we will read a classic that sometimes gets forgotten, Ann Brontë's "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall." From August 2025 through November 2025 we will read approximately 15 chapters a month. Discover this lost treasurer of 19th Century Women's Literature. The first five to pre-register at the library may check-out a paperback copy long-term, for the duration of the book club. A digital copy is available here: https://mylakelibrary.overdrive.com/media/433295.
August Discussion: Chapters 1-17
Focus: Introduction to the characters, the mystery of Helen Graham, and the societal expectations of the era.
Discussion Points:
First Impressions: What are your initial thoughts on Helen Graham? What kind of woman do you perceive her to be based on the initial descriptions and her interactions with the villagers?
Narrative Structure: The novel begins with letters from Gilbert Markham. How does this epistolary format influence your reading experience? Does it create a sense of intrigue or distance?
Gender Roles: What glimpses do we get of the societal expectations for women in this period, particularly through the gossiping of the villagers and Gilbert's observations? How does Helen seem to defy these expectations?
Gilbert Markham: Do you find Gilbert to be a reliable narrator? What are his strengths and weaknesses as a character so far?
Setting the Scene: How does Brontë use the setting of Wildfell Hall to establish a mood or contribute to the mystery surrounding Helen?
Breakdown was suggested by AI: Gemini.
