Agnes Grey

By Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë's debut novel tells the realistic and moving story of a young governess

For well-educated women of lesser means in the mid-nineteenth century, there was only one option for employment that paid decently and provided a sense of dignity: becoming a governess. These young women were tasked with educating the children of the rich in the ways of the world.


When the Grey family falls into debt, Agnes is forced to find work as a governess and learns of the misery and cruelty that exist in the landed classes. In her first home, she sees a family with spoiled, abusive children; and in the second, she discovers the misery of the elite, who seem from afar to have everything. Drawing from her own experiences as a governess, Brontë has crafted with warmth and realism the story of a young woman named Agnes Grey.


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• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Dec 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781504001632

Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë (1820 –1849) was an English novelist and poet and the youngest member of the Brontë literary family. Anne wrote a poetry and two novels, Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which is considered one of the first feminist novels. Her works have become classics of English literature.

Book preview

CHAPTER I—THE PARSONAGE

All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity, that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut. Whether this be the case with my history or not, I am hardly competent to judge. I sometimes think it might prove useful to some, and entertaining to others; but the world may judge for itself. Shielded by my own obscurity, and by the lapse of years, and a few fictitious names, I do not fear to venture; and will candidly lay before the public what I would not disclose to the most intimate friend.

My father was a clergyman of the north of England, who was deservedly respected by all who knew him; and, in his younger days, lived pretty comfortably on the joint income of a small incumbency and a snug little property of his own. My mother, who married him against the wishes of her friends, was a squire’s daughter, and a woman of spirit. In vain it was represented to her, that if she became the poor parson’s wife, she must relinquish her carriage and her lady’s-maid, and all the luxuries and elegancies of affluence; which to her were little less than the necessaries of life. A carriage and a lady’s-maid were great conveniences; but, thank heaven, she had feet to carry her, and hands to minister to her own necessities. An elegant house and spacious grounds were not to be despised; but she would rather live in a cottage with Richard Grey than in a palace with any other man in the world.

Finding arguments of no avail, her father, at length, told the lovers they might marry if they pleased; but, in so doing, his daughter would forfeit every fraction of her fortune. He expected this would cool the ardour of both; but he was mistaken. My father knew too well my mother’s superior worth not to be sensible that she was a valuable fortune in herself: and if she would but consent to embellish his humble hearth he should be happy to take her on any terms; while she, on her part, would rather labour with her own hands than be divided from the man she loved, whose happiness it would be her joy to make, and who was already one with her in heart and soul. So her fortune went to swell the purse of a wiser sister, who had married a rich nabob; and she, to the wonder and compassionate regret of all who knew her, went to bury herself in the homely village parsonage among the hills of ---. And yet, in spite of all this, and in spite of my mother’s high spirit and my father’s whims, I believe you might search all England through, and fail to find a happier couple.

Of six children, my sister Mary and myself were the only two that survived the perils of infancy and early childhood. I, being the younger by five or six years, was always regarded as the child, and the pet of the family: father, mother, and sister, all combined to spoil me—not by foolish indulgence, to render me fractious and ungovernable, but by ceaseless kindness, to make me too helpless and dependent—too unfit for buffeting with the cares and turmoils of life.

Mary and I were brought up in the strictest seclusion. My mother, being at once highly accomplished, well informed, and fond of employment, took the whole charge of our education on herself, with the exception of Latin—which my father undertook to teach us—so that we never even went to school; and, as there was no society in the neighbourhood, our only intercourse with the world consisted in a stately tea-party, now and then, with the principal farmers and tradespeople of the vicinity (just to avoid being stigmatized as too proud to consort with our neighbours), and an annual visit to our paternal grandfather’s; where himself, our kind grandmamma, a maiden aunt, and two or three elderly ladies and gentlemen, were the only persons we ever saw. Sometimes our mother would amuse us with stories and anecdotes of her younger days, which, while they entertained us amazingly, frequently awoke—in me, at least—a secret wish to see a little more of the world.

I thought she must have been very happy: but she never seemed to regret past times. My father, however, whose temper was neither tranquil nor cheerful by nature, often unduly vexed himself with thinking of the sacrifices his dear wife had made for him; and troubled his head with revolving endless schemes for the augmentation of his little fortune, for her sake and ours. In vain my mother assured him she was quite satisfied; and if he would but lay by a little for the children, we should all have plenty, both for time present and to come: but saving was not my father’s forte. He would not run in debt (at least, my mother took good care he should not), but while he had money he must spend it: he liked to see his house comfortable, and his wife and daughters well clothed, and well attended; and besides, he was charitably disposed, and liked to give to the poor, according to his means: or, as some might think, beyond them.

At length, however, a kind friend suggested to him a means of doubling his private property at one stroke; and further increasing it, hereafter, to an untold amount. This friend was a merchant, a man of enterprising spirit and undoubted talent, who was somewhat straitened in his mercantile pursuits for want of capital; but generously proposed to give my father a fair share of his profits, if he would only entrust him with what he could spare; and he thought he might safely promise that whatever sum the latter chose to put into his hands, it should bring him in cent. per cent. The small patrimony was speedily sold, and the whole of its price was deposited in the hands of the friendly merchant; who as promptly proceeded to ship his cargo, and prepare for his voyage.

My father was delighted, so were we all, with our brightening prospects. For the present, it is true, we were reduced to the narrow income of the curacy; but my father seemed to think there was no necessity for scrupulously restricting our expenditure to that; so, with a standing bill at Mr. Jackson’s, another at Smith’s, and a third at Hobson’s, we got along even more comfortably than before: though my mother affirmed we had better keep within bounds, for our prospects of wealth were but precarious, after all; and if my father would only trust everything to her management, he should never feel himself stinted: but he, for once, was incorrigible.

What happy hours Mary and I have passed while sitting at our work by the fire, or wandering on the heath-clad hills, or idling under the weeping birch (the only considerable tree in the garden), talking of future happiness to ourselves and our parents, of what we would do, and see, and possess; with no firmer foundation for our goodly superstructure than the riches that were expected to flow in upon us from the success of the worthy merchant’s speculations. Our father was nearly as bad as ourselves; only that he affected not to be so much in earnest: expressing his bright hopes and sanguine expectations in jests and playful sallies, that always struck me as being exceedingly witty and pleasant. Our mother laughed with delight to see him so hopeful and happy: but still she feared he was setting his heart too much upon the matter; and once I heard her whisper as she left the room, ‘God grant he be not disappointed! I know not how he would bear it.’

Disappointed he was; and bitterly, too. It came like a thunder-clap on us all, that the vessel which contained our fortune had been wrecked, and gone to the bottom with all its stores, together with several of the crew, and the unfortunate merchant himself. I was grieved for him; I was grieved for the overthrow of all our air-built castles: but, with the elasticity of youth, I soon recovered the shook.

Though riches had charms, poverty had no terrors for an inexperienced girl like me. Indeed, to say the truth, there was something exhilarating in the idea of being driven to straits, and thrown upon our own resources. I only wished papa, mamma, and Mary were all of the same mind as myself; and then, instead of lamenting past calamities we might all cheerfully set to work to remedy them; and the greater the difficulties, the harder our present privations, the greater should be our cheerfulness to endure the latter, and our vigour to contend against the former.

Mary did not lament, but she brooded continually over the misfortune, and sank into a state of dejection from which no effort of mine could rouse her. I could not possibly bring her to regard the matter on its bright side as I did: and indeed I was so fearful of being charged with childish frivolity, or stupid insensibility, that I carefully kept most of my bright ideas and cheering notions to myself; well knowing they could not be appreciated.

My mother thought only of consoling my father, and paying our debts and retrenching our expenditure by every available means; but my father was completely overwhelmed by the calamity: health, strength, and spirits sank beneath the blow, and he never wholly recovered them. In vain my mother strove to cheer him, by appealing to his piety, to his courage, to his affection for herself and us. That very affection was his greatest torment: it was for our sakes he had so ardently longed to increase his fortune—it was our interest that had lent such brightness to his hopes, and that imparted such bitterness to his present distress. He now tormented himself with remorse at having neglected my mother’s advice; which would at least have saved him from the additional burden of debt—he vainly reproached himself for having brought her from the dignity, the ease, the luxury of her former station to toil with him through the cares and toils of poverty. It was gall and wormwood to his soul to see that splendid, highly-accomplished woman, once so courted and admired, transformed into an active managing housewife, with hands and head continually occupied with household labours and household economy. The very willingness with which she performed these duties, the cheerfulness with which she bore her reverses, and the kindness which withheld her from imputing the smallest blame to him, were all perverted by this ingenious self-tormentor into further aggravations of his sufferings. And thus the mind preyed upon the body, and disordered the system of the nerves, and they in turn increased the troubles of the mind, till by action and reaction his health was seriously impaired; and not one of us could convince him that the aspect of our affairs was not half so gloomy, so utterly hopeless, as his morbid imagination represented it to be.

The useful pony phaeton was sold, together with the stout, well-fed pony—the old favourite that we had fully determined should end its days in peace, and never pass from our hands; the little coach-house and stable were let; the servant boy, and the more efficient (being the more expensive) of the two maid-servants, were dismissed. Our clothes were mended, turned, and darned to the utmost verge of decency; our food, always plain, was now simplified to an unprecedented degree—except my father’s favourite dishes; our coals and candles were painfully economized—the pair of candles reduced to one, and that most sparingly used; the coals carefully husbanded in the half-empty grate: especially when my father was out on his parish duties, or confined to bed through illness—then we sat with our feet on the fender, scraping the perishing embers together from time to time, and occasionally adding a slight scattering of the dust and fragments of coal, just to keep them alive. As for our carpets, they in time were worn threadbare, and patched and darned even to a greater extent than our garments. To save the expense of a gardener, Mary and I undertook to keep the garden in order; and all the cooking and household work that could not easily be managed by one servant-girl, was done by my mother and sister, with a little occasional help from me: only a little, because, though a woman in my own estimation, I was still a child in theirs; and my mother, like most active, managing women, was not gifted with very active daughters: for this reason—that being so clever and diligent herself, she was never tempted to trust her affairs to a deputy, but, on the contrary, was willing to act and think for others as well as for number one; and whatever was the business in hand, she was apt to think that no one could do it so well as herself: so that whenever I offered to assist her, I received such an answer as—‘No, love, you cannot indeed—there’s nothing here you can do. Go and help your sister, or get her to take a walk with you—tell her she must not sit so much, and stay so constantly in the house as she does—she may well look thin and dejected.’

‘Mary, mamma says I’m to help you; or get you to take a walk with me; she says you may well look thin and dejected, if you sit so constantly in the house.’

‘Help me you cannot, Agnes; and I cannot go out with you—I have far too much to do.’

‘Then let me help you.’

‘You cannot, indeed, dear child. Go and practise your music, or play with the kitten.’

There was always plenty of sewing on hand; but I had not been taught to cut out a single garment, and except plain hemming and seaming, there was little I could do, even in that line; for they both asserted that it was far easier to do the work themselves than to prepare it for me: and besides, they liked better to see me prosecuting my studies, or amusing myself—it was time enough for me to sit bending over my work, like a grave matron, when my favourite little pussy was become a steady old cat. Under such circumstances, although I was not many degrees more useful than the kitten, my idleness was not entirely without excuse.

Through all our troubles, I never but once heard my mother complain of our want of money. As summer was coming on she observed to Mary and me, ‘What a desirable thing it would be for your papa to spend a few weeks at a watering-place. I am convinced the sea-air and the change of scene would be of incalculable service to him. But then, you see, there’s no money,’ she added, with a sigh. We both wished exceedingly that the thing might be done, and lamented greatly that it could not. ‘Well, well!’ said she, ‘it’s no use complaining. Possibly something might be done to further the project after all. Mary, you are a beautiful drawer. What do you say to doing a few more pictures in your best style, and getting them framed, with the water-coloured drawings you have already done, and trying to dispose of them to some liberal picture-dealer, who has the sense to discern their merits?’

‘Mamma, I should be delighted if you think they could be sold; and for anything worth while.’

‘It’s worth while trying, however, my dear: do you procure the drawings, and I’ll endeavour to find a purchaser.’

‘I wish I could do something,’ said I.

‘You, Agnes! well, who knows? You draw pretty well, too: if you choose some simple piece for your subject, I daresay you will be able to produce something we shall all be proud to exhibit.’

‘But I have another scheme in my head, mamma, and have had long, only I did not like to mention it.’

‘Indeed! pray tell us what it is.’

‘I should like to be a governess.’

My mother uttered an exclamation of surprise, and laughed. My sister dropped her work in astonishment, exclaiming, ‘You a governess, Agnes! What can you be dreaming of?’

‘Well! I don’t see anything so very extraordinary in it. I do not pretend to be able to instruct great girls; but surely I could teach little ones: and I should like it so much: I am so fond of children. Do let me, mamma!’

‘But, my love, you have not learned to take care of yourself yet: and young children require more judgment and experience to manage than elder ones.’

‘But, mamma, I am above eighteen, and quite able to take care of myself, and others too. You do not know half the wisdom and prudence I possess, because I have never been tried.’

‘Only think,’ said Mary, ‘what would you do in a house full of strangers, without me or mamma to speak and act for you—with a parcel of children, besides yourself, to attend to; and no one to look to for advice? You would not even know what clothes to put on.’

‘You think, because I always do as you bid me, I have no judgment of my own: but only try me—that is all I ask—and you shall see what I can do.’

At that moment my father entered and the subject of our discussion was explained to him.

‘What, my little Agnes a governess!’ cried he, and, in spite of his dejection, he laughed at the idea.

‘Yes, papa, don’t you say anything against it: I should like it so much; and I am sure I could manage delightfully.’

‘But, my darling, we could not spare you.’ And a tear glistened in his eye as he added—‘No, no! afflicted as we are, surely we are not brought to that pass yet.’

‘Oh, no!’ said my mother. ‘There is no necessity whatever for such a step; it is merely a whim of her own. So you must hold your tongue, you naughty girl; for, though you are so ready to leave us, you know very well we cannot part with you.’

I was silenced for that day, and for many succeeding ones; but still I did not wholly relinquish my darling scheme. Mary got her drawing materials, and steadily set to work. I got mine too; but while I drew, I thought of other things. How delightful it would be to be a governess! To go out into the world; to enter upon a new life; to act for myself; to exercise my unused faculties; to try my unknown powers; to earn my own maintenance, and something to comfort and help my father, mother, and sister, besides exonerating them from the provision of my food and clothing; to show papa what his little Agnes could do; to convince mamma and Mary that I was not quite the helpless, thoughtless being they supposed. And then, how charming to be entrusted with the care and education of children! Whatever others said, I felt I was fully competent to the task: the clear remembrance of my own thoughts in early childhood would be a surer guide than the instructions of the most mature adviser. I had but to turn from my little pupils to myself at their age, and I should know, at once, how to win their confidence and affections: how to waken the contrition of the erring; how to embolden the timid and console the afflicted; how to make Virtue practicable, Instruction desirable, and Religion lovely and comprehensible.

—Delightful task!

To teach the young idea how to shoot!

To train the tender plants, and watch their buds unfolding day by day!

Influenced by so many inducements, I determined still to persevere; though the fear of displeasing my mother, or distressing my father’s feelings, prevented me from resuming the subject for several days. At length, again, I mentioned it to my mother in private; and, with some difficulty, got her to promise to assist me with her endeavours. My father’s reluctant consent was next obtained, and

Reviews for Agnes Grey

[peterbrown-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There are half a dozen recordings of 'Agnes Grey' and I sampled all prior to purchase; the American reader just wasn't going to sound right - but neither did any of others particularly, ranging from old maid, albeit Agnes does come across as such, to just too conventionally middle class, even though she is. So I plumbed for the most popular. A reading is necessarily a performance and thoroughly inhibits, I suspect, any possible further reading of the text, if like me you've not read the book initially. Thus inevitably Agnes comes across in this performance as priggish and judgmental, the younger daughter of a clergyman, who becomes a governesses as she feels that this would enhance her experience of life and that she'd greatly enjoy putting her skills to a practical end. Alas the world that she enters - the gentry, are dissolute, often idle, rude and snobbish and treat Agnes little better than a servant - which is what she is.She holds to her principles largely based on Christian values and her own class prejudices and ultimately her virtue and long suffering is rewarded. 'Tis but a short tale of love and toil and illness, unhappiness and great meanness of spirit, though I did enjoy some of the arch sentence construction, and a genuinely informative novel of country life in mid 19th Century England. By the end of the book I'd accommodated to Virginia Leishman's reading style, but wondered how a younger less knowing narrator might have tipped the story at different and more sympathetic angle.

[sheriawilkinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

Agnes Grey, a novelist in 1847 recounts her experiences as a governess before she became an Author. Agnes was the daughter of a minister whose family was in financial difficulty. She has only a few choices for employment. Agnes experiences the difficulty of caring for spoiled children, and delves into how she feels wealth can corrupt morals. Based on the true life story Anne Brontë when she left home at age of 19. A fantastic read

[getrus · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Agnes is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grey, a pastor and his wife, who begins a career as a governess in order to supplement the family's income. She goes through many trials with first a family of young children and then with a family of two older girls, who while she is there, one has her coming out and is eventually married.Agnes then helps her mother open a small school after the death of her father. It is here where she is reacquainted with Mr. Weston who she, of course, marries after a while. (She met Mr. Weston at her second position.)This book was a good portrayal of the conditions of the working governess and the folly of mothers and daughters looking for a good match . It was a bit slow in places, but overall really good.

[over.the.edge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

# 13 of 100 Classics Challenge

Agnes Grey🍒🍒🍒🍒
By Anne Bronte
1847

Partially influenced by her personal experience as a governess, Anne Bronte takes us into her world of the humble, mistreated and overworked governesses, with horribly undisciplined mean children of the rich.She falls for an impossible man, but eventually finds true love. And happiness.A great classic. My first Anne Bronte and not my last.

[dste_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, which can be really nice.The first part of the book read like a babysitter's worst nightmare; I could hardly believe that the kids could be that consistently stubborn. If I hadn't known that the book was based on Anne Bronte's own experiences, I would have said that part of the book was unrealistic.I enjoyed reading about Agnes' next job as a governess more. Although Rosalie was vain and conniving, I didn't mind her as much. I really liked the character of Mr. Weston, and as soon as he was introduced, I hoped that Agnes would fall for him.I liked Agnes as a character as well. It was very easy to imagine myself in her situation making a lot of the same choices, and that always adds an extra bit of interest for me.

[quaintlittlehead · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Agnes Grey" is a book I could have written and ought to like: the story of a deeply religious woman who finds her first teaching position intolerable and her second improved but disheartening because of her pupils' lack of moral sentiment. But it bores me. I try to do Anne Brontë the credit of interpreting her apart from her sisters' legacies (to my mind, she bears far more resemblance to Jane Austen, anyway), but it is not just the lack of sensationalistic romantic fervour that leaves me wanting after reading this book. The plot is sparse and devotes more time to character sketches than to events, and the moralising is overt, repeating strings of Bible verses rather than expressing religious convictions through learned experience. This book is largely purported to be semi-autobiographical, and lauded for its endeavour to present the daily experiences of a governess in a realistic light. They may appeal to some readers for that very reason, but if I'm going to pick up an autobiography, I want to pick up a true autobiography, and if I'm going to pick up a novel, I want it to spend more time exploring symbolism and developing characters through their experiences. I'm sorry, Agnes. I just can't love you, but I hope someone else can.The Barnes and Noble edition of this book contains a list of significant quotations from the book, an introduction and notes by Fred Schwarzbach, a preface and timeline outlining the life of the Brontë family, the "Biographical Notice of Ellis and Acton Bell" written by Charlotte Brontë in 1850, an "Inspired by Agnes Grey" section, critical comments and questions on the novel, and a bibliography of further biographical and critical readings on Anne. The notes to this book are disappointing, often spelling out things that a learned reader could figure out on his or her own, and occasionally offering spoilers about the rest of the plot. The "Inspired by Agnes Grey" chapter features nothing actually inspired by "Agnes Grey," but instead further describes the mixed reception of Anne's work and offers up one of her poems. The critical comments, however, are relatively interesting.

[melopher_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed Agnes Grey, although I found it to be more similar to Jane Eyre than to anything by Jane Austen. Agnes Grey was a simple tale of a girl who decides to be a governess. Despite being simple, it held my interest and was quite enjoyable. I found the character development and setting to be done very well. In fact, the characters were so realistic that I found myself thinking of it quite autobiographically...that in itself must speak some to the talent of the author. All in all, it was a pleasant foray into some lesser known 19th cent. British Literature.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A slow to boil and very engaging semi-autobiographical novel of working as a governess.

[Val · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book.
The main focus is not the love story, which undoubtedly adds a beautiful touch to the narrative.

Agnes is a shy woman but determined to achieve her goals and give her best.

I loved it! (Translated from Spanish)

[Laslecturasdelala · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Agnes Grey is a classic, published in 1847 by the English writer Anne Brontë, set in the United Kingdom during the Victorian era.

Told in the first person, we will get to know Agnes, a governess who recounts a part of her life, including family, work, friendships, and of course, love. We will encounter themes such as education, religion, and social classes, thus presenting a strong social and feminist critique.

I didn't think I would like the story, but I enjoyed the way Anne Brontë wrote, which scored some points for me. (Translated from Spanish)

[LilyRG · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Aside from the extraordinary critical description of high society of the time, the story is sad. Perhaps all the parts where it says "I spare the reader the description of..." would have captivated me more than those long descriptions of the miserable treatment that the protagonist suffered. (Translated from Spanish)

[NaviruShorno · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Agnes Grey is a novel published in 1847 by English author Anne Brontë. The book has 194 pages and was the first work of this writer based on her own experiences.

The novel is about the hard work of a very young governess who has to make her way in the labor market coming from a family with economic scarcity.

Although the beginning of the novel is slow and regular, the author's writing is simple and agile, without the flourishes of the time, and it progresses at a very good pace. The profiles of the characters do not have much depth, but it is easy to give them a voice as the story unfolds and we see who they are.

The strengths of the novel are the critique of the classism of the time (which gives rise to very surreal and funny moments) and the love story that emerges from nowhere and has captivated me as if I were a teenager. How beautiful! In contrast, as I mentioned earlier, the beginning was a bit difficult for me to get through.

I recommend this novel to lovers of the Victorian era and romance. A very good book, it ends with a smile on your face. (Translated from Spanish)

[Nenylecturama · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't read anything by Anne Brontë, and I have to say that I really liked her writing style; I must admit that I fell in love with Anne's style, and I already have her other book pending.

Agnes Grey is a dramatic and romantic novel about a lower-class girl in 19th century England who, due to her family's financial difficulties, decides to start working as a governess.

She is the youngest daughter of the Grey marriage and, along with her sister Mary, was raised in a loving and happy home. In fact, it is thanks to this upbringing that we understand Agnes's intense desire to go out into the world and help her family, as well as to prove to herself that she can be useful and self-sufficient.

We accompany her on a journey of much learning, as well as in the decline of the families where she goes to work, showcasing the difficulties faced by governesses.

But not everything is bad; we also witness the nature and tender love between Agnes and Weston and how it overcomes all the challenges that arise.

I don’t have the words to describe the feelings I had with this book, but one thing is clear to me: I think it is underrated, at least that is my opinion. (Translated from Spanish)

[GustavoIGG · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's inevitable to compare the Brontë sisters, and it's difficult to read this novel and place it on the same level as Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. This was practically my first reading of sister Anne, and while it didn’t disappoint, it didn't evoke the same feelings as the aforementioned novels.

The premise is good, a novel with autobiographical overtones in which Agnes desires to be a governess, and she encounters the typical problems of the era; the difficulty for women to have an opinion, sharply defined social classes, where money and appearance mean everything. And if you give me that theme, it’s a surefire hit with me because one of my favorite topics is Victorian novels. However, something was missing: a more developed plot, character evolution among the secondary characters (or the protagonist herself), and a more detailed ending.

I still have a high desire to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. (Translated from Spanish)

[TrinityMarie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review of Agnes Grey

Title: Agnes Grey
Author: Anne Bronte
Year of publication: December 1847
Read in: 2022 (February)

The story tells us about Agnes Grey, a young girl of modest means who finds herself facing financial problems in her family. Due to mounting debts, she feels compelled to find a job that will help support her family during this difficult crisis. This is when Agnes comes up with the idea of working as a governess in wealthy families, as these are the people who are always looking for such positions to educate their children to be respectable in high society.
This idea seems wonderful to her, as Agnes has extensive knowledge and extreme patience, and although she doesn’t expect everything to be perfect, she does think that it will be quite easy. Thus, after sending applications to several families, she is finally accepted by one and quickly embarks on her journey.
It is here that this turns out to be a harsh blow for her, as it is certainly not what she expected to find. She encounters spoiled, insufferable children who are supported by their parents, and although she tries to make progress, it becomes difficult when these children set out to make her life miserable.
From here onward, we delve into Agnes's experiences as she shows us through short pages all the hardships, humiliations, difficult moments, and countless other things she has to endure.

A story that flows effortlessly and shows us how difficult it can be to have self-control sometimes for the sake of making a sacrifice. This novel, despite being quite simple, has a much deeper background, as, according to those who have analyzed the work thoroughly, it is a portrait of the author herself, as she also had to go through similar experiences. In my personal opinion, I would even consider it a diary of hers, just with pseudonyms.

As many know, Anne is the youngest of the Bronte sisters, but she undoubtedly had a way of writing that is simple yet profound. I loved many of the thoughts reflected by the author in the book; I particularly enjoyed the setting, as I truly managed to transport myself to the time of the story. In this narrative, one laughs, learns, cries, but also finds joy. Short but perfect for a leisurely enjoyment.

I gave it 4.5 ⭐ (Translated from Spanish)

[LdeLectora · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If I had to summarize the book in one word, it would be sensible. It has that air of a moralist novel, with some religious touches, but there were many things about Agnes that I could empathize with, such as her consideration for animals and her disdain for superficiality, among others. And regarding the touch of romance it has, it is the best of the three novels by the Brontë sisters. (Translated from Spanish)

[Tania B · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I really feel like reading and don't know what to choose, classic literature usually helps me overcome that dreaded reading slump. The classic novel in question was the first written by the younger of the Brontë sisters, Anne Brontë. I think this book reveals itself to be semi-autobiographical, as there are very vivid moments within the narrative that send chills down my spine ?

The Greys were a poor family but lived with enough; the couple and their two daughters were extremely happy. As both girls grew up, they wanted to contribute their money and effort to the family. For this reason, Agnes decides to look for work as a governess, but upon arriving at her new job, she realizes that nothing was as she believed, since she had neither the tools nor the authority to educate her young and spoiled pupils. She does not last long in this job, and upon returning home, she resolves not to give up, as it can't all be bad luck. Her next job might be a bit more comforting, as the students in her charge were a bit older, but still spoiled and lazy. Agnes grows in these pages, discovers what love and jealousy are, and learns not to let herself be carried away by them.

I discover in this book, much more than in others I have read by the Brontë sisters, a moral lesson, and almost religious, which is understandable considering they were the daughters of a vicar. The moral is that if you are a good daughter, quiet and selfless, in the end, they will realize your worth and you will obtain the position you deserve. Honestly, this morality reminds me of classic Disney princesses ?

Are you reading any classics at the moment? What is your favorite classic? (Translated from Spanish)

[Armando1985 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think it's interesting to read it mainly out of historical curiosity rather than anything else. (Translated from Spanish)

[Maitane · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Published in 1847, it tells the story of a young governess's life, highlighting the difficulties they faced in households.

This novel reflects the arrogance of certain social classes that feel superior to the people they themselves entrust with the education of their children; moreover, it does not overlook the need for these classes to show off, prioritizing appearances over their own happiness.

At first, I really liked the protagonist, portraying a strong and independent young woman capable of taking control of her life. It's a pity she didn't maintain this persona throughout the rest of the plot, becoming rather passive, lacking dignity, and suffering in silence.

The writing is simple and direct, with not too many descriptions. It's an ideal read if you enjoy romantic novels but are intimidated by the classics. (Translated from Spanish)

[Abbrilromero · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It still has the Brontë stamp and I recommend reading it, but it's true that we find a very different writing style compared to what her sisters aimed for. I believe it has a lot of Anne's diary in it, to the point that sometimes it seems to stray from telling a story and would be better off venturing more into the characters, since even the male protagonist has little more than a couple of scenes.
I do think that Anne, Charlotte, and Emily had an intense inner world that they expressed through their characters, which is why I say it has the stamp of the surname they share, but here it seems that at times there is more internal reflection (and intensely religious) than actual contact between characters.
Advice: Read it without having the expectations of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre; it's a big mistake to pigeonhole it like that. I think we end up demanding a book to meet a certain level instead of enjoying it. (Translated from Spanish)

[Laurisima · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Every true story contains a lesson, although sometimes the treasure is difficult to find..." This is how the author begins to tell us a little about her experience...

The protagonist of the story, Agnes Grey, is a young woman from a lower-class family who find themselves even poorer due to a poor decision made by her father. After which, at the age of 18, Agnes decides to become a governess to help her family improve their financial situation. As she embarks on her journey, she is filled with excitement and hope that her first experience will be pleasant and fruitful, and that she will be able to perform excellently as a governess. Only to face the reality, understanding that doing her job would not be as easy as she imagined, being hindered by the demands and limitations imposed by the parents of her students and her own pupils.

I must say that the first half of the novel felt a bit frustrating to me because I think it describes the character of her students so well that they become really annoying.

I really like the poetic way often used for descriptions in this kind of novels, and this one was no exception.

I ended up in love with Mr. Weston and would have loved for the author to focus a little more of her story around this character.

In conclusion, I think it is a short and light novel that highlights the autonomy of women and critiques the role they were expected to fulfill in society. For me, it was a very enjoyable read. (Translated from Spanish)

[Margo Gr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What can I say... it's classic Victorian literature, that's all, I loved it!! (Translated from Spanish)

[Marey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It seems to me a very well-written but very dull diary.
I have started with the Brontë sisters with this book; I am currently reading Jane Eyre, which does not do Agnes any favors...
In my opinion, the characters lack life and the story contributes little; however, the writing style is delightful. If it had been a more original story with more "sugar," it could have been a great book.
The edition I have was a gift from someone very special, with beautiful illustrations, so at least I have that to hold on to. (Translated from Spanish)

[MonteAquino · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Agnes Grey is one of the two novels written by the youngest of the Bronte sisters, Anne. It tells the life and experiences of the daughter of a clergyman who dies, leaving his family destitute. Despite her timid nature, Agnes offers to work as a governess to help her family.
Luck does not accompany her in her early steps as the children of the Bloomsfield family are spoiled and obnoxious, especially the boy who is cruel and tyrannical and ignores and despises the advice and teachings of his governess. This is not helped by the fact that the parents forbid Agnes from reprimanding their children. Despite her suffering, Agnes endures for a year since she needs the money.
After being dismissed, she takes care of the Murray's teenage daughters. The elder is a vain flirt whose main interest is to accumulate suitors before catching a big fish to marry. The younger one operates in male-dominated environments, among horses and hunters, so Agnes's teachings are again disregarded. Nevertheless, she will become the best friend of the eldest of her pupils.
It is with the Murrays that she will meet the vicar Weston, with whom Agnes will feel a special connection.
The author used her life experience to write this novel. I think it served as a critique of the way heirs of the era were raised, spoiled and capricious, which turned them into tyrants with no respect for anyone, least of all for those who served them.
The bright ending of the novel contrasts with Anne's life. I believe that in Agnes Grey, Anne expressed not only her experiences but also her desires, the life she would have liked to have if she had had time, her future plans with her family, and the longing for a long life in company. Unfortunately, she died at just twenty-nine, leaving much unwritten and unlived. (Translated from Spanish)

[EstellaBelleBuil · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Agnes Grey" is the first novel of the youngest Brontë sister. It is a short and simple work, but not devoid of beauty, directly inspired by the profession of governess, which she practiced. It tells the story of a girl who, although she comes from a humble home, has received a good education thanks to her mother (a former lady who lost her privileges by marrying her father). At a time when the family is going through financial troubles, Agnes decides to seek a position as a governess. Despite an initial refusal from her family, she manages to gain their acceptance. Her first work experience in the home of the nouveau riche Bloomsfield family will not be pleasant, as they lack morals and manners and do not allow her to exert authority over her students. They will eventually dismiss her, and she will find employment with a more genteel family where she will have more time for herself, but serving as a governess to the Misses Murray will not be a bed of roses. Agnes perseveres in an environment (in which having money does not mean having education) very different from the one she comes from, and where she struggles to connect. Of solid values, she frequently highlights the differences between social classes, emphasizing the divide between the gentry and their servants. I believe it was important for the author to make this contrast to convey these differences to the reader; suffering from a certain "victimhood" on Agnes's part, which at times can become somewhat tedious. Not everything will be discontent, and she will find like-minded people, such as Mrs. Nancy Brown or the Vicar Weston. Her destiny will be shaped by the decision to embark on her own project, achieving personal and professional fulfillment. (Translated from Spanish)

[marenpergamino · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Thank God I’m a measured woman ? who restrained herself from throwing the book while shouting, "I'M SICK OF YOU, AGNES DAMN GREY!!!", since I read it digitally and was going to destroy the e-reader.
Yes, I’m bad, bad, bad, and I will burn in hell, but it’s not my fault that this Brontë happened to be more boring than sucking on a nail.
This book tells us about the hardships of a girl who goes out to earn her bread as a governess. And indeed, those hardships were many!! More than half the book!! Without respite! And here’s the first mistake, dear Anne: YOU EXAGGERATE. They’re ALL bad, they ALL mistreat her, the children are ALL a disaster.
Now, the second problem, and this is more serious: the protagonist. Agnes is bland, tedious, dull, and lacking character. She spends the whole book keeping quiet and bowing her head, continually torturing the reader with her mental diatribes in a Cinderella style "everyone hates me". On the other hand, if this woman is a good governess, then I am Madonna. She never really tries to progress her students, never gets involved, never shows interest or affection for them; rather, she hates them all. In the end, the author ends up portraying the stereotype of the governess with a face like she’s smelling something bad on one side and desperately needing some joy on the other.
More than social criticism, this seems like the almost childish revenge of a woman who had a bad personal experience.
That said, read it ☺. It’s a Brontë, and if there’s anyone who deserves to be read, it’s them. Even this one…(and it’s short). (Translated from Spanish)

[Diny10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A simple story that reflects the life of the time and critiques it. I think the characters are believable, but they lack some nuances. The story, while very beautiful, doesn't have a twist that makes you remember it forever; it's simple and straightforward, but I loved it because there are many experiences I lived, when I was a teacher, very similar to the story, completely identified. (Translated from Spanish)

[Miscelanea.lectora · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As in the name of its title, this book tells us the life of Agnes Grey, the second daughter of a humble couple who decides to start working as a governess for wealthy families to help her family. Anne Bronte makes a brilliant portrayal in this novel of the classism that was generated at the time, how people with great fortunes treated those who worked for them with clear inferiority, and how governesses (or teachers) were often blamed for their children's shortcomings. The book is short, and that's why the story seemed more superficial to me than her sister Charlotte Bronte's book (Jane Eyre), which I just read before this one, but the talent of this family is evident in the critique that is implicit in the story; these writers do not disappoint. (Translated from Spanish)

[kymabookloverIG · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Summary:
Agnes Grey is a young girl who decides to work as a governess to help the family finances. She starts working with a family called Bloomfield, which gives her her first opportunity. We will follow Agnes throughout her working days and see the conditions and what many governesses of the time had to endure.

Opinion:
Anne Brontë was the only Brontë sister I had not read yet. I decided to start with Agnes Grey because it was shorter and I was joining many group readings. I loved it. I think it has a very fluid narrative style and manages to hook you almost from the beginning.

I felt throughout everything that was happening to her. I became angry at how some of her students treated her and the passivity of their families; to be honest, it was enough to make you send them packing. I think it is a book that clearly shows how governesses lived and what they had to endure.

The character of Agnes is that of a very strong woman for the time in which she lives. She decides to work without hesitation to help her family financially while also saving a little for herself. I think it is very brave of her to leave her parents' house to embark on this adventure. And whatever happens, she pursues her goals. On another note, I would like to highlight the character of Nancy Brown, a lovely elderly lady whom Agnes Grey visits. I found her to be a very endearing character.

It is definitely a read that will make you enjoy your time, and I don’t think it will be long before I read the author's second novel. (Translated from Spanish)

[ye gomez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved how the story is narrated. The Brontë sister that I was missing. I read it in one go. The plot is quite simple but I found it very interesting. (Translated from Spanish)