Pandemic Reading List 2021 – Book Review – Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Free on Kindle

Book Description From Goodreads:

“Drawing heavily from personal experience, Anne Brontë wrote Agnes Grey in an effort to represent the many 19th Century women who worked as governesses and suffered daily abuse as a result of their position.

Having lost the family savings on risky investments, Richard Grey removes himself from family life and suffers a bout of depression. Feeling helpless and frustrated, his youngest daughter, Agnes, applies for a job as a governess to the children of a wealthy, upper-class, English family.

Ecstatic at the thought that she has finally gained control and freedom over her own life, Agnes arrives at the Bloomfield mansion armed with confidence and purpose. The cruelty with which the family treat her however, slowly but surely strips the heroine of all dignity and belief in humanity.

A tale of female bravery in the face of isolation and subjugation, Agnes Grey is a masterpiece claimed by Irish writer, George Moore, to be possessed of all the qualities and style of a Jane Austen title. Its simple prosaic style propels the narrative forward in a gentle yet rhythmic manner which continuously leaves the listener wanting to know more.

Anne Brontë, the somewhat lesser known sister, was in fact the first to finish and publish Agnes Grey under the pseudonym of Acton Bell. Charlotte and Emily followed shortly after with Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

As Anne passed away from what is now known to be pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of just 29, she only published one further title; The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. As feminist in nature as Agnes Grey, Anne’s brave voice resonates and permeates during one of the most prejudiced and patriarchal times of English history.”

This was a classic novel that I hadn’t read before and thought that I should give it a go. I wasn’t sure what to expect as the Bronte’s have a reputation for the dark and gothic and assumed that this would be similar. There were some dark bits to it with the cruelness of some of the families that Agnes went to work for, but there seemed to be more of an optimism about Agnes that I found endearing. No matter what happened she was determined to carry on and prove to her family that she could succeed. I liked the belief that she had in herself and it was this that carried her through the tough times.

The settings were also unexpected in that they didn’t seem to be dark or mysterious, just your average rich family home.

At times I really felt for Agnes, but it was her optimism that kept me intrigued and willing for her to have a happy ending.

Overall an enjoyable read and therefore a 5/5 rating from me!

Rated 5/5

#bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #classic #agnesgrey #annebronte

“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”, “popular”, “recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “reading slump”, “entertaining”, “what should I read next”