The seven novels by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte, arranged by average reader score from GoodReads.com.
1. Jane Eyre: 4.10/5
2. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: 3.92/5
3. Villette: 3.77/5
4. Wuthering Heights: 3.69/5
5. Shirley: 3.52/5
6. Agnes Grey: 3.51/5
7. The Professor: 3.31/5
The amazing thing is Wuthering Heights, often touted as the best of the lot, comes in at 4th, under both The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Villette (both of them, mind, very under-rated and under-appreciated masterpieces). I suppose it is a testament to Wuthering Height's ability to polarize --- it is an often lauded and loved book, but it is also despised.
Many who bear such animosity to Emily's sole novel may have been forced to read it in school at some point, whereas most who search out Villette or Wildfell Hall do so out of their own curiosity, and are likely 1.) readers and 2.) already interested in 19th century literature.
As a devoted champion of Anne, it did my heart good to see The Tenant of Wildfell Hall finish in a strong second place. I think the book has great power, and is perhaps the most resonant and pertinent today.
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Thursday, August 7, 2008
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1 comments:
http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=202
To be fair, I don't really agree with Kate Beaton's take on the Brontes - I like Emily & Charlotte's novels precisely *because* they're about flawed, horrible characters in unhealthy relationships, who are nonetheless human and compelling - but it's still funny.
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