The Best Brontë You Haven't Read

Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was one of the biggest surprises on my British reading list. Set on the Yorkshire moors, this 1848 novel begins as a mystery about a woman with an unknown past, but quickly becomes a remarkably honest examination of alcoholism, domestic violence, social expectations, and the limited choices available to women. I explore why Anne’s unflinching realism put her at odds with her sister Charlotte, how their own family experiences shaped the novel, and why its themes still feel strikingly modern. I also discuss the book’s unusual dual first-person narrative, why I think it deserves far more attention than it receives, and why it makes an excellent next step for readers who love Jane Austen but are ready for something darker and more challenging.We also discuss audiobooks. Is it "really" reading, or is a kind of cheat? I share what the research says--and what it doesn't--and share a little of my own experience, too.BOOKS IN THIS EPISODEThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne BrontëA History of Tom Jones, A Foundling by Henry FieldingWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëEverything Sad is Untrue by Daniel NayeriAs You Wish by Carey ElwesA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesCONNECTThe complete list of Crack the Book Episodes (Amazon affiliate links): https://cheryldrury.substack.com/p/crack-the-book-start-here?r=u3t2rTo read more of my writing, visit my Substack - https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ Like what you heard? Buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/crackthebookLISTENSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bdApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm