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Agnes Grey (Penguin Classics)
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Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Author: Anne Brontė
Publisher: Penguin Classics
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Our Price: $8.00
You Save: $ 2.00 ( 20% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Author: Anne Brontė
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Average Customer Rating:
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Agnes Grey (Penguin Classics) Description
Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780140432107
ISBN: 0140432108
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 272
Publication Date: 1989-01-03
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
EAN: 9780140432107
ISBN: 0140432108
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 272
Publication Date: 1989-01-03
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
Editorial Review of Agnes Grey (Penguin Classics)
This definitive edition of Anne Bronte's first novel incorporates her unpublished manuscript revisions, and incudes full textual apparatus and explanatory notes.
Customer Reviews of Agnes Grey (Penguin Classics)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A great and easy read
Review: After reading this, I am now quite surprised that Anne Bronte is the least known of the three Bronte sisters. In my opinion, this short novel is as much a literary superlative as Jane Eyre and very superior to the depressing Wuthering Heights. The fact that Anne wrote this book based on her own experiences made it very believable and made the character of Agnes appear very down to earth. Overall, I would recommend this book because it is not as fluffy as the works of Jane Austen, but not as heavy as Wuthering Heights.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A sweet read
Review: Agnes Grey holds the same quality and charm of many a dusty classic. It's a pleasant read, and not too long to bog down the reader. Agnes Grey provides a window into life during Anne Bronte's time, and seems like a combination of the life Anne lived and the life she wanted to live.
Agnes Grey is, for the most part, predictable, but pleasantly so. The plot is simple, as are the characters.
Any fan of the Bronte family will find this book just what can be imagined coming from sweet Anne. It may be a fascination and love of the story of their family that makes me recommend this book. Or perhaps it's the innocent sweetness of this book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An un happy governess's diary
Review: As much as I love Tenant of Wildfell Hall I can't say that I loved this work as much. If anything it does give the reader a good insight to the miserable life governess endured. However, if the coachman was to write a book, or day labour of those times were to write a book, I can't imagine that their lot in life was much fairer. So the complaint is the same complaint that holds true today: rich people have it so easy. But of course upon closer inspection, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Rosalie learns this lesson well. Though the book picks up after Rosalie's "coming out", the story I'm most interested in, Agnes and Edward feel more like a rush job within the last seven pages of the novel. I wanted to know about them than whole chapters of a sermon from a temporarily blind person. In all, I feel this a very padded story, since Agnes doesn't really go through an metamorphis and she requires the man of her heart with no effort at all and any chancy spirited adventures. Overall: Wildfell will remain my favorite from this author.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: "My House is Desolate Yet, Miss Grey..."
Review: Poor Anne Bronte. Her legacy will forever be overshadowed by the greater success of her elder sisters; Charlotte Bronte, the author of "Jane Eyre", and Emily Bronte, who gave the world "Wuthering Heights". I would love to be able to say that Anne is the hidden gem of the Bronte family, but the fact is that her work is simply not as good as that of her sisters'. She writes vividly and sympathetically, but ultimately her stories are rather forgettable, especially when compared with the trials and tribulations of Jane Eyre and the violent and passionate love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine in "Wuthering Heights" (okay, I'll admit it - it's my favourite book. I'm hopelessly biased).
Anne Bronte's most famous book "Agnes Grey", is without the timeless appeal of her sisters' novel, since it is a novel meant for her contemporary Victorian audience, one that underlined the trials and difficulties faced by governesses of the time. At this point in British history, economical and social problems had driven many young women to seek employment as governesses, and because of the influx of potential governesses, families could naturally whittle down the price of a teacher for their children (Charlotte Bronte for example, had to accept twenty pounds a year for her services as a governess). Being one of the first novels to address the hardships and indignities faced by governesses, Anne Bronte's book provided a valuable window into this world; and it did this so well in fact that one critic said of the author: "he must have bribed some governess very largely...to reveal to him the secrets of her prison house, or, he must have devoted extraordinary powers of observation and discovery to the elucidation of the subject."
In this critic's defense, Anne (along with her sisters) published their books under masculine pen names, but it is a testimony to her skill that the conditions of the governess were captured so vividly. Being a governess herself (with many similarities to her title character, as we shall see in a moment), Anne was in the prime position to `spill the beans' on the plight of the governess. By today's standards "Agnes Grey" provides a vivid and interesting history on this aspect of life in Bronte's time period, but it is more valued for its glimpses into the Bronte sisters' lives than its compelling story.
Agnes Grey is the story of a young heroine who - because of her family's financial struggles - advertises herself out as a governess. Stepping out into the world from a life surrounded by a loving family is trial enough, but Agnes is looking forward to achieving her independence and helping her family in its time of need. She is sadly disillusioned, as her new position in the Bloomfield household is not at all what she expected. The children are unruly and spoilt, the house servants are unfriendly and the master and the mistress hold Agnes responsible for their children's wild behaviour. Her second position is only moderately better; treated as little more than a servant; she is only gradually accepted by her two new charges: the flirtatious Rosalie and the tomboyish Matilda Murray. Her only spark of light is the sensible young curate Mr Weston, a man whom Rosalie is determined to add to her list of conquests before her upcoming marriage is made public...
The similarities between Agnes and Anne's lives are numerous: both are the youngest and adored little sisters of their families (and although all but one of Agnes's siblings are dead, six were born - the same as Anne's family), both had two positions as a governess at two different households and were unfairly dismissed for incompetence from the first one, both are the daughters of North England clergymen, and both are nineteen when they take up their first post. What makes Agnes especially unique in the large canon of literary governesses (of which she was one of the first), is that she is actively enthusiastic about going out into the world and earning money - a trait that is admittedly coupled with a real need to help her family, but one which is rare (most book-governesses are forced reluctantly into their positions). Agnes's situation as the adored little sister of the Grey family is akin to Anne's own place in her family (a position that scholars now believe Anne rebelled against), perhaps accounting for the unique characteristic of Agnes's initial desire to become as a governess - that she actively goes out in search of a job, rather than being helplessly driven to it solely by poverty.
There is nothing wrong with Bronte's writing technique - her language is crisp and concise, her heroine realistic and sympathetic, and her social commentary on the plight of the young unmarried Victorian woman's chances at a career is as thought-provoking as ever (though naturally a bit dated by today's standards). The problem lies with the story itself, which is somewhat uneventful. Bronte is particularly good in capturing the frustrations of being governess to a pack of ungrateful children; their naughty behaviour, their disinterestedness and the unfair treatment accorded to her by her employees, but ultimately nothing is done with it. Because it is predominantly an exposition on the requirements and hardships of governesses, we never really get any satisfactorily comeuppance to any of Agnes's pupils, save one, whose unhappy marriage is almost *too* tragic. Anne Bronte's novel is more didactic than that of her sisters', as Agnes is a paragon of virtue and patience in the face of ongoing frustration. Yes, her temper is worn at times, but she is remarkable in her ability to withhold her emotions and keep in place her calm exterior. Just once I would have liked one of the little brats to get slapped! Also, I don't think I'm alone in thinking that Agnes's romance with Mr Weston is a little flat - we never really get to know him very well, and Agnes's falling in love with him is as much a leap of faith on his perceived goodness then any real meeting of minds and hearts.
But "Agnes Grey" is certainly worth the read, for the historical insight as well as a comparative text for Anne Bronte's second novel, the much more rich and accomplished "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall."
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Oxford World's Classics)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A charming, simple tale of Victorian England
Review: This was a simple, albeit enjoyable tale of Agnes Grey, a younger daughter who seeks her way in the world employed as a governess. I understand this tale is based upon Ms. Bronte's own experiences and brings to light the snobbery of the upper class along with the often degrading way that the servants are treated by the same.
The first family literally has the children from h***, the second family being not quite as abusive, but still treat the servants as second class people. The young Misses Murray are self centered and thoughtless, particularly the elder (who gets what she deserves in the end).
I have been reading a book called the Selected Works of the Bronte sisters, and it's been interesting to compare the sisters' writing styles. Anne's is much closer to Charlotte's, with the gorgeous flowing prose, but not quite so littered with the large words and the smattering of french.
Well worth your time checking out for a pleasant, short read.
Review Summary: A great and easy read
Review: After reading this, I am now quite surprised that Anne Bronte is the least known of the three Bronte sisters. In my opinion, this short novel is as much a literary superlative as Jane Eyre and very superior to the depressing Wuthering Heights. The fact that Anne wrote this book based on her own experiences made it very believable and made the character of Agnes appear very down to earth. Overall, I would recommend this book because it is not as fluffy as the works of Jane Austen, but not as heavy as Wuthering Heights.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A sweet read
Review: Agnes Grey holds the same quality and charm of many a dusty classic. It's a pleasant read, and not too long to bog down the reader. Agnes Grey provides a window into life during Anne Bronte's time, and seems like a combination of the life Anne lived and the life she wanted to live.
Agnes Grey is, for the most part, predictable, but pleasantly so. The plot is simple, as are the characters.
Any fan of the Bronte family will find this book just what can be imagined coming from sweet Anne. It may be a fascination and love of the story of their family that makes me recommend this book. Or perhaps it's the innocent sweetness of this book.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An un happy governess's diary
Review: As much as I love Tenant of Wildfell Hall I can't say that I loved this work as much. If anything it does give the reader a good insight to the miserable life governess endured. However, if the coachman was to write a book, or day labour of those times were to write a book, I can't imagine that their lot in life was much fairer. So the complaint is the same complaint that holds true today: rich people have it so easy. But of course upon closer inspection, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Rosalie learns this lesson well. Though the book picks up after Rosalie's "coming out", the story I'm most interested in, Agnes and Edward feel more like a rush job within the last seven pages of the novel. I wanted to know about them than whole chapters of a sermon from a temporarily blind person. In all, I feel this a very padded story, since Agnes doesn't really go through an metamorphis and she requires the man of her heart with no effort at all and any chancy spirited adventures. Overall: Wildfell will remain my favorite from this author.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: "My House is Desolate Yet, Miss Grey..."
Review: Poor Anne Bronte. Her legacy will forever be overshadowed by the greater success of her elder sisters; Charlotte Bronte, the author of "Jane Eyre", and Emily Bronte, who gave the world "Wuthering Heights". I would love to be able to say that Anne is the hidden gem of the Bronte family, but the fact is that her work is simply not as good as that of her sisters'. She writes vividly and sympathetically, but ultimately her stories are rather forgettable, especially when compared with the trials and tribulations of Jane Eyre and the violent and passionate love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine in "Wuthering Heights" (okay, I'll admit it - it's my favourite book. I'm hopelessly biased).
Anne Bronte's most famous book "Agnes Grey", is without the timeless appeal of her sisters' novel, since it is a novel meant for her contemporary Victorian audience, one that underlined the trials and difficulties faced by governesses of the time. At this point in British history, economical and social problems had driven many young women to seek employment as governesses, and because of the influx of potential governesses, families could naturally whittle down the price of a teacher for their children (Charlotte Bronte for example, had to accept twenty pounds a year for her services as a governess). Being one of the first novels to address the hardships and indignities faced by governesses, Anne Bronte's book provided a valuable window into this world; and it did this so well in fact that one critic said of the author: "he must have bribed some governess very largely...to reveal to him the secrets of her prison house, or, he must have devoted extraordinary powers of observation and discovery to the elucidation of the subject."
In this critic's defense, Anne (along with her sisters) published their books under masculine pen names, but it is a testimony to her skill that the conditions of the governess were captured so vividly. Being a governess herself (with many similarities to her title character, as we shall see in a moment), Anne was in the prime position to `spill the beans' on the plight of the governess. By today's standards "Agnes Grey" provides a vivid and interesting history on this aspect of life in Bronte's time period, but it is more valued for its glimpses into the Bronte sisters' lives than its compelling story.
Agnes Grey is the story of a young heroine who - because of her family's financial struggles - advertises herself out as a governess. Stepping out into the world from a life surrounded by a loving family is trial enough, but Agnes is looking forward to achieving her independence and helping her family in its time of need. She is sadly disillusioned, as her new position in the Bloomfield household is not at all what she expected. The children are unruly and spoilt, the house servants are unfriendly and the master and the mistress hold Agnes responsible for their children's wild behaviour. Her second position is only moderately better; treated as little more than a servant; she is only gradually accepted by her two new charges: the flirtatious Rosalie and the tomboyish Matilda Murray. Her only spark of light is the sensible young curate Mr Weston, a man whom Rosalie is determined to add to her list of conquests before her upcoming marriage is made public...
The similarities between Agnes and Anne's lives are numerous: both are the youngest and adored little sisters of their families (and although all but one of Agnes's siblings are dead, six were born - the same as Anne's family), both had two positions as a governess at two different households and were unfairly dismissed for incompetence from the first one, both are the daughters of North England clergymen, and both are nineteen when they take up their first post. What makes Agnes especially unique in the large canon of literary governesses (of which she was one of the first), is that she is actively enthusiastic about going out into the world and earning money - a trait that is admittedly coupled with a real need to help her family, but one which is rare (most book-governesses are forced reluctantly into their positions). Agnes's situation as the adored little sister of the Grey family is akin to Anne's own place in her family (a position that scholars now believe Anne rebelled against), perhaps accounting for the unique characteristic of Agnes's initial desire to become as a governess - that she actively goes out in search of a job, rather than being helplessly driven to it solely by poverty.
There is nothing wrong with Bronte's writing technique - her language is crisp and concise, her heroine realistic and sympathetic, and her social commentary on the plight of the young unmarried Victorian woman's chances at a career is as thought-provoking as ever (though naturally a bit dated by today's standards). The problem lies with the story itself, which is somewhat uneventful. Bronte is particularly good in capturing the frustrations of being governess to a pack of ungrateful children; their naughty behaviour, their disinterestedness and the unfair treatment accorded to her by her employees, but ultimately nothing is done with it. Because it is predominantly an exposition on the requirements and hardships of governesses, we never really get any satisfactorily comeuppance to any of Agnes's pupils, save one, whose unhappy marriage is almost *too* tragic. Anne Bronte's novel is more didactic than that of her sisters', as Agnes is a paragon of virtue and patience in the face of ongoing frustration. Yes, her temper is worn at times, but she is remarkable in her ability to withhold her emotions and keep in place her calm exterior. Just once I would have liked one of the little brats to get slapped! Also, I don't think I'm alone in thinking that Agnes's romance with Mr Weston is a little flat - we never really get to know him very well, and Agnes's falling in love with him is as much a leap of faith on his perceived goodness then any real meeting of minds and hearts.
But "Agnes Grey" is certainly worth the read, for the historical insight as well as a comparative text for Anne Bronte's second novel, the much more rich and accomplished "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall."
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Oxford World's Classics)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A charming, simple tale of Victorian England
Review: This was a simple, albeit enjoyable tale of Agnes Grey, a younger daughter who seeks her way in the world employed as a governess. I understand this tale is based upon Ms. Bronte's own experiences and brings to light the snobbery of the upper class along with the often degrading way that the servants are treated by the same.
The first family literally has the children from h***, the second family being not quite as abusive, but still treat the servants as second class people. The young Misses Murray are self centered and thoughtless, particularly the elder (who gets what she deserves in the end).
I have been reading a book called the Selected Works of the Bronte sisters, and it's been interesting to compare the sisters' writing styles. Anne's is much closer to Charlotte's, with the gorgeous flowing prose, but not quite so littered with the large words and the smattering of french.
Well worth your time checking out for a pleasant, short read.