Rating: 
Summary: Goodness Gracious Agnes
Review: A pretty little Victorian novel by Anne Bronte. Not nearly as good as `The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' but still charming and fun. The portrait of Agnes as an innocent but good and charitable governess is well drawn. However her `goodness' gets a bit tiring toward the end. You begin wishing she would stand up for herself, but I guess that wouldn't be acceptable Victorian behaviour. Of course as a governess she meets tyrannical children, stupid egoistic employers, silly gentry, but she also describes the peasants of the time and compares `good' and `vain' preachers. In the end goodness is rewarded and greed is taught a nice lesson. Worth reading if only to compare to `The Tenant' and better known works by the other Bronte sisters.
Rating:
Summary: Goodness Gracious Agnes
Review: A pretty little Victorian novel by Anne Bronte. Not nearly as good as 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' but still charming and fun. The portrait of Agnes as an innocent but good and charitable governess is well drawn. However her 'goodness' gets a bit tiring toward the end. You begin wishing she would stand up for herself, but I guess that wouldn't be acceptable Victorian behaviour. Of course as a governess she meets tyrannical children, stupid egoistic employers, silly gentry, but she also describes the peasants of the time and compares 'good' and 'vain' preachers. In the end goodness is rewarded and greed is taught a nice lesson. Worth reading if only to compare to 'The Tenant' and better known works by the other Bronte sisters.
Rating:
Summary: Simple, Unpretentious and Down-to-Earth
Review: After reading "Wuthering Heights" (by Emily), "Jane Eyre" (by Charlotte), and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" (by Anne), I found myself slightly disappointed by the lack of passion and romanticism in Anne Bronte's "Agnes Grey". This novel truly is simple, unpretentious, and down-to-earth--and, therefore, far too easy to underestimate and undervalue.The title character is the younger daughter of a poor family, who seeks employment as a governess in order to help her parents make ends meet. This noble act of maturity on her part earns her nothing but disillusion, humiliation and hardship in the hands of the tyrannical children and over-indulgent parents of Wellwood House (Note the intriguing initials W.H., which stand for Wuthering Heights and Wildfell Hall in other Bronte books) and, later, Horton Lodge. For several chapters, Anne Bronte does not do much but--dare I say it?--complain about the lot of the Victorian governess. Though her portraits of the children and their parents were obviously drawn from reality, which certainly won sympathy from me, I wanted to tell her to "Get on with the story" many times. The plot does pick up after the artful and exasperating Rosalie Murray has her "coming out" ball. Thoughtless rather than tyrannical, Rosalie has the most well-drawn character of all of Agnes' charges, which makes her such a great foil for Agnes. Rosalie delights in thinking that she could have any man she wishes and enjoys nothing more than toying with men's hearts. When she finds out that Agnes might be in love with the curate, Edward Weston, she makes every attempt to make Mr. Weston fall in love with _her_, thinking that it would be a grand joke to make Agnes miserable. Yet it is impossible to hate her, somehow. She steals every scene she is in; half the story is truly hers. I am happy to say that both Rosalie and Agnes get what they deserve, which is, fittingly, what each explicitly asked and worked for. (Read that any way you wish--or better yet, read the book.) "Agnes Grey" has left me believing that we truly do sow what we reap and receive what we ask for.
Rating:
Summary: Simple, Unpretentious and Down-to-Earth
Review: After reading "Wuthering Heights" (by Emily), "Jane Eyre" (by Charlotte), and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" (by Anne), I found myself slightly disappointed by the lack of passion and romanticism in Anne Bronte's "Agnes Grey". This novel truly is simple, unpretentious, and down-to-earth--and, therefore, far too easy to underestimate and undervalue. The title character is the younger daughter of a poor family, who seeks employment as a governess in order to help her parents make ends meet. This noble act of maturity on her part earns her nothing but disillusion, humiliation and hardship in the hands of the tyrannical children and over-indulgent parents of Wellwood House (Note the intriguing initials W.H., which stand for Wuthering Heights and Wildfell Hall in other Bronte books) and, later, Horton Lodge. For several chapters, Anne Bronte does not do much but--dare I say it?--complain about the lot of the Victorian governess. Though her portraits of the children and their parents were obviously drawn from reality, which certainly won sympathy from me, I wanted to tell her to "Get on with the story" many times. The plot does pick up after the artful and exasperating Rosalie Murray has her "coming out" ball. Thoughtless rather than tyrannical, Rosalie has the most well-drawn character of all of Agnes' charges, which makes her such a great foil for Agnes. Rosalie delights in thinking that she could have any man she wishes and enjoys nothing more than toying with men's hearts. When she finds out that Agnes might be in love with the curate, Edward Weston, she makes every attempt to make Mr. Weston fall in love with _her_, thinking that it would be a grand joke to make Agnes miserable. Yet it is impossible to hate her, somehow. She steals every scene she is in; half the story is truly hers. I am happy to say that both Rosalie and Agnes get what they deserve, which is, fittingly, what each explicitly asked and worked for. (Read that any way you wish--or better yet, read the book.) "Agnes Grey" has left me believing that we truly do sow what we reap and receive what we ask for.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Review: Agnes Grey est la cadette d'un couple de pasteur ayant épousé une femme de classe supérieure - qui par cette union a été déshéritée. Elle vit avec sa soeur Mary au presbytère d'une petite ville au coeur des landes anglaises. La famille se trouvant acculée par l'argent, Agnes décide de devenir gouvernante et part chez une famille qui mettra à rude épreuve sa confiance, sa foi et sa croyance en des préceptes élémentaires. Sa prochaine expérience lui fera cotoyer un univers légèrement différent mais pareillement similaire en gâteries, effronteries et mesquineries. Agnes fera vite l'apprentissage des rouages de la vie, auprès de la jeune Rosalie Murray, une jeune et ravissante intrigante, qui cherche à se parfaire dans le mariage. L'existence très ordinaire de cette gouvernante qui se décrit sans charme et sans attraits sera toutefois illuminée par le suffragant du pasteur de cette région éloignée de sa famille - Mr Weston. Toutefois la route pavée vers l'amour est diantrement cahotique !..
"Agnes Grey" rassemble donc tous les ingrédients délicieusement désuets de ces romans romantiques anglais, qui ont fait la gloire de Jane Austen et des soeurs Brontë. Anne, la moins connue des trois, signe un très pertinent roman avec "Agnes Grey" empreint d'une ironie mutine, d'une fraîcheur sans égale et d'un ton décalé qui fait plaisir à lire à l'heure actuelle. Plus jamais on ne lit ces accès de pudibonderie, de réserve, de tourmentes intérieuses en proie aux feux de la passion ! Il fut un temps où les jeunes filles rosissaient de confusion, faisaient commerce avec des galants hommes et étaient "rongées par l'affliction, harcelées par l'inquiétude, ou durablement oppressées par des sentiments puissants" et se refugiaient dans la poésie. Un temps où la littérature portait une lettre majuscule, où l'on encensait les sentiments purs, la nature et les vicissitudes de la condition féminine - qu'on soit pauvre ou riche, belle ou laide. Un très, très bon roman plein de raffinement !
Rating: 
Summary: Agnes Grey- simple but magnificent
Review: Agnes Grey is probably the simplest Bronte novel, but in my opinion the best, because it is a sincere story. It is always looked upon as inferior to "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights", but if reviewed as a story of a governess in the Victorian Era, it is suddenly far more interesting. "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre do not give a realistic view of the times the Brontes lived in, but "Agnes Grey" does and she does not spare us the details. I myself believe that Anne was in love with William Weightman, her fathers curate and seeing that she lets het own heroine Agnes win Mr. Weston, makes me feel that she tries to show us her dream, if she could have had it. It is simple, but happy. And that is exactly what this book is about. It is not to say that love is a never ending passion and all hardships end when one finds THE ONE, but simply to state that joy and wisdom can be found in a happy union. And now, after I have read it many times, I still cry when Agnes tells Mr. Weston that she loves him. That one word "Yes" says it all.
Rating:
Summary: Art Imitating Life
Review: As a fan of the Bronte sisters, I believe that Anne and her writing is most often overlooked. Everyone has read 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte or 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily, but few have read 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' or 'Agnes Grey'. While similar in style to her sisters' writings, Anne's writing has the proclivity to explore the religious side of her characters and their experiences. Her characters find great solace through their faith in God.
'Agnes Grey' is the 'diary' of a young governess. Its title character sets out to portray the squalid conditions that governesses worked under - how they were less than servants in the eyes of families whose children could do no wrong; but if they did do wrong, it was the fault of the governess and not the parent. As someone who works with children, it is no surprise that parents do not want to recognize their own fault in their children's misbehavior. Agnes' life is marked with poverty and fear that the only man she loves does not return her feelings.
Throughout the novel, the reader is treated to the inner thoughts of the main character, as she pours out her soul (and her numerous tears) onto the page. 'Agnes Grey' is a quick and straight-forward read, with little romanticizing; Bronte's narrator is quick to point out that there are certain things that the reader would not want to read and therefore she has left them out. Overall the book is a telling look at what life must have been like for one of the Bronte sisters - three sisters of a poor curate with few prospects for fortune other than through their writing. Yet the summation is a bit too cursory for a 'tell-all' look at Agnes Grey's life. She says few words, when more are wanted to fully conclude her story.
Rating:
Summary: Finding your home among the Victorians
Review: I read this book for my freetime and have two points of views to address:
The academic in me found the book to contain a good amount of symbols and transgressions worthy of noting in any good size paper. A lot of parallels can be drawn as to parenting and class, and also working women in the Victorian era.
The romantic reader felt relieved to be suddenly swept into a novel plot (starting middle of the book) and taken almost directly from Cinderella's famous plotline, the good people and the bad get what they certainly endeavour to deserve.
I liked that this book was something I could learn from and also satisfy my need for gooey longing romance.
Bring a pencil when you read; the book notes are extremely vexing as the editor gives one about every paragraph so read them all after or first. Also its a short book so don't despair when Bronte begins drowning in her own philosophies and metaphors during the middle passages (you'll find them) and be happy for what this book can provide for anyone who has ever felt the need to take care of their family.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected...
Review: I started reading the Bronte sisters several months ago, and I thouroughly enjoyed Vilette, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. Agnes Grey, though a pleasant enough book, didn't quite achieve the lofty expectations I had. There was one reviewer in here that said this book appears like something that Jane Austen would have wote - and I agree, with the exception that Austen would have never condescended to write about a mere governess. Jane Austen was more into the Lord and Ladies of British society - the Bronte sisters focused more on the hired help who actually kept that society together. While considerable time was spent going through Agnes's life prior to her marriage, very little time was spent covering the time between hers and Mr. Weston's reunion, and their subsequent marriage. It suggests that either she thinks that the months (or years) passing between two folks (although seperated) is insignificant in the light of their mutual love - or that the authoress is more interested in finishing the book in a hurry. Another paradox I saw was the behavior of the folks who hired Agnes. How can the ruthless, mean, spoiled, self-obsessed, over-indulged (the word "bitchy" comes to mind) people under Agnes' charge ever attract a man for marriage? While Rosalie paid dearly in the end for her earlier transgressions, I don't see her just rewards ever being paid in full. Perhaps it would have been better that Rosalie pining for Mr. Weston, with her hopes and spirit being crused upon notice of Mr. Weston's and Agnes' marriage. There could also have been some better development of the male characters throughout the book. While the men were exclusively in supporting roles, a little more into their minds would have improved the book. Again, I see this as book that was not bad, but not particularly good either. Perhaps, from my earlier reading, my expectations were too high - or, perhaps, the book simply missed the mark.
Rating:
Summary: Hmmm....
Review: I've read both the books of Anne Bronte- Agnes Grey & The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I must say, she did a better job while writing 'The tenant of wildfell hall.' 'Agnes Grey' is a story of a young girl, who driven by poverty seeks a job as a governess. Being the youngest of a children of two, she has always been protected & sheltered. But when her family loses all their money, she decides to take a post as agoverness. Though ridiculed by her family, she is determined to get a job & at last her family is forced to give in. Unfortunately for her, her employers aren't what she expected them to be. They're rude & unfriendly & the children treat her worse than a servant. But she, being of a strong character, doesn't want to give up & stays on, doing her best, until she is dismissed. After a few happy months with her family, she takes on a post with another family. Though they're no better. It is here that she finds true love,(Mr Weston) but the hero isn't anything like what we read about in books these days. Though her charges try their utmost to prevent Mr Weston from falling in love with her, he does. To cut a long story short, he somehow finds where she lives & proposes to her & they live happily ever after. Somehow, I think this review hasn't come out as planned. The problem is it's too long. Oh, well.
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