Agnes Grey

I have read all the novels written by Emily and Charlotte Brontë, and enjoyed them very much. But I wasn't sure what to expect with Agnes Grey, as Anne Brontë is the sister that you never seem to hear about. I assumed that perhaps her writing didn't match the quality of her sisters' writing. Well, I was wrong on that assumption. As a novel, Agnes Grey is wholly delightful. It follows the story of Agnes, a young lady who decides to work as a governess to help her impoverished family. She soon finds that the life of a governess isn't quite as satisfying as she had imagined! The first children she has to teach are absolute hellions, and after that she moves on to teach a group of teenage snobs who treat her like she is a lesser form of life--as many servants were treated in those times. I will reveal that Agnes does find happiness in the end of the novel, but not before she endures several years of loneliness and misery. I was often very surprised at the realism in this book. Apparently critics at the time it was written were quite shocked by it. Anne Brontë does not shy away from descriptions that many of her contemporary novelists would avoid. For example, the descriptions of the beastly behaviours of the Bloomfield children, or the complaints of Lady Ashby of her husband's gambling and "opera women" do not seem tame enough to be found in an early Victorian novel. Of course to a modern reader these elements make the book all the more interesting, for they provide a clear picture of what life was like for women in the mid 1800s. It IS different than the novels of Emily and Charlotte--namely, it is shorter, and simpler, and easier to read. But this would be a plus for many readers. I read it over several days, but a quick reader with time to spare could easily read it in one day. I would highly recommend Agnes Grey to readers who have loved the novels of the elder Brontës. And for readers who have never read a novel by a member of this celebrated family, I would recommend this one first as it is undoubtedly the easiest. If you like Agnes Grey, then I would recommend moving onto the more challenging Jane Eyre (by Charlotte) or Wuthering Heights (by Emily). I would only recommend Shirley and Villette (by Charlotte) to more serious readers, as they are the more challenging and complex novels of the group.

“Reading is my favourite occupation, when I have leisure for it and books to read.” I say “Reading is my favourite occupation.” No further discussion. Don’t we love books with our main protagonists as avid readers? I find this young woman quite strong willed and providing as is her nature that can be felt or seen throughout the book. When I talk about the classic short book Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë, I want to talk about how liberating it is to read about a coming of age story that is quite different from all the other similar modern stories. Agnes becomes a governess for well to do families when her family goes into heavy debts after convincing her parents and siblings. It is the story of her struggles looking after spoilt, cruel kids and families with obnoxious family members. The most outstanding moments would be the times Agnes speaks her mind quite frankly despite the misogynistic environment she was working in. There are so many quotable lines that would be enough for me to go for years and years to come that would motivate me to be who I am. Thank you, Agnes. The writing has a strong voice. It deals with various societal issues on what is acceptable and what is looked down upon for no valid reasons till today. This short book is a breath of fresh air for me. Definitely worth it.

Note that this book is literally tiny and the font is pretty small. It is pretty though. If you're a fan of the Brontës the story itself is charming and engaging -- an indictment of the so-called superior class from the eyes of Anne/Agnes, a governess in limbo between her employers and their servants.

Para el precio que tiene, está bien, es tapa dura pero al ser pequeño hay veces que cuesta abrirlo para leerlo. Además, he encontrado bastantes faltas de ortografía. En cuanto a la historia de Agnes Grey, me ha parecido una historia muy bonita, de superación que enseña muchos valores.

C'est le premier roman de Anne Bronte que je souhaitais lire depuis longtemps et que j'avais découvert en audio. Je voulais un livre papier pour pouvoir le relire. C'est l'histoire d'une jeune fille contrainte de travailler pour aider sa famille. Nous vivons les évènements avec elle et découvrons ses exploits ou échecs d'une gouvernante qui n'a pas une vie facile. Très bien écrite pour un premier roman qui est court et se lis facilement. Je recommande à ceux qui aiment les classiques.