The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - The Mutilated Texts of The Tenant

The Mutilated Texts of The Tenant

Although the publishers respected Charlotte's wishes, shortly before her death, in 1854, the London firm of Thomas Hodgson issued a one-volume edition of The Tenant. Hodgson performed extensive editing of the novel, removing many sections of it including the opening letter to Jack Halford and the chapter headings. Other omissions ranged from single words to almost complete chapters (such as 28th): some sections were completely re-arranged in an attempt to compensate for the omissions. The editing was most probably performed in the interest of economy.

It damages the whole structure of the novel; and, unfortunately, most subsequent English editions, including those eventually produced by Charlotte's publisher, Smith, Elder & Co., followed this text. These copies are still prevalent today, despite notes on their covers claiming them to be 'complete and unabridged'.

In 1992, The Oxford University Press published 'The Clarendon Edition', which is based on the first edition of the novel, but incorporates the author's 'Preface' and the corrections presented in the second edition.