The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and its power of pleasing must be regarded, as well as its mere capabilities of force or effect. It is not only the subject of this novel, however, that is objectionable, but the manner of treating it. There is a coarseness of tone throughout the writing of all these Bells [Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë], that puts an offensive subject in its worst point of view, and which generally contrives to dash indifferent things". A critic in "Athenaeum", probably H. F. Chorley, cited "The Tenant" as "the most entertaining novel we have read in a month past". However, he warned
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall the book title acted out by Lady Mary Crawley in the Christmas charade. The story of Helen Graham is mentioned in Elizabeth George's 1988 novel "A Great Deliverance". Her name is also used as a secret code. Tina Connolly's 2013 novel "Copperhead" was inspired by "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall". The name of the heroine is Helen Huntingdon and she also has a disastrous marriage. Sam Baker's 2016 novel "The Woman Who Ran" takes inspiration from radical themes of Anne's novel. The heroine is a woman also called Helen, who she hides from her past (in an abusive marriage) in