Agnes Grey

De: Anne Brontë

Narrado por: Virginia Leishman

In her daring first novel, the youngest Brontë sister drew upon her own experiences to tell the unvarnished truth about life as a governess. Like Agnes Grey, Anne Bronte was a young middle-class Victorian lady whose family fortunes had faltered. Like so many other unmarried women of the 19th century, Bronte accepted the only "respectable" employment available - and entered a world of hardship, humiliation, and loneliness. Written with a realism that shocked critics, this biting social commentary offers a sympathetic portrait of Agnes and a moving indictment of her brutish and haughty employers.

Separated from her family and friends by many miles, paid little more than subsistence wages, Agnes stands alone - both in society at large and in a household where she is neither family member nor servant.

Agnes Grey remains a landmark in the literature of social history. In addition to its challenge to the era's chauvinism and materialism, it features a first-person narrative that offers a rare opportunity to hear the voice of a Victorian working woman.

Public Domain (P)2016 Recorded Books

Refreshing

As a lover of classics, it is astounding to me that I am just now discovering my love of the Brontë sisters! Of course I had heard of them before, but never read any of their works. I have been pleasantly surprised how clean, refreshing, and enjoyable they have been! I have also been pleasantly surprised at the amount of theology in these books. I was not expecting that! Overall a huge fan of this work.

Slow Start

Took a long time to get to the main thrust of the story and then it was just kind of a simple romance.
I’d actually give it 3.5 stars

Simplicity and genuine discourse.

It was too short. I would have liked to know more about Mary's life, as well as the life of Lady Ashby.

Agnes Grey

I love all of the writings of the Brontes & found this selection a pure delight.
This was the second time I read it and it was as enjoyable even the second time around!

Surprisingly Relatable!

After watching the excellent BBC biopic about the Bronte sisters (To Walk Invisible), I was excited to read more of the Bronte's works. So I decided to go for Anne Bronte's debut book. I was really surprised at how readable and relatable this story by Anne Bronte was. Agnes Grey is a young woman who is true to herself and who listens to her inner voice that guides her through her challenging experiences (often bordering on abusive) as a governess (like the author). I really enjoyed Agnes Grey's perspective on life and thought her experiences were completely relatable even today. She observes class differences, being a young woman trying to earn money for own economic independence, work for spoiled, vapid, amoral people, animal cruelty, people cruelty, finding a mate for friendship and love not just for economics. This fast moving story never lags and the characters are fully fleshed out with depth and reality. The narrator/reader is excellent and talented bringing the story to life without overdoing it--she nails it and I will look for more of her work because she's excellent and her voice is nice to listen to.
I highly recommend this story especially if you are interested in Bronte sisters' works.