65 pages • 2 hours read
Agnes Grey
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Book Brief
226
Novel • Fiction
England • 1840s
1847
Adult
16+ years
Super Short Summary
Agnes Grey tells the story of a young woman from a clergyman’s family who becomes a governess to support her family after a financial loss. Through her experiences with two different families, the Bloomfields and the Murrays, Agnes confronts the challenges, isolation, and lack of respect inherent in her position, ultimately finding solace and love with Mr. Weston, a sincere and principled curate. The book addresses the harsh realities and emotional trials faced by governesses in the 19th century.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Romantic
Emotional
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
77,852 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Anne Brontë's Agnes Grey offers an intimate look at the struggles of a governess, combining social critique with personal hardship. Readers praise its realistic portrayal of 19th-century life and Brontë's understated narrative style. However, some find the pace slow and the plot lacking in dramatic tension. Overall, it's appreciated for its authenticity and moral depth.
Who Should Read Agnes Grey?
A reader who enjoys Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë likely appreciates Victorian literature and themes of social class and morality. Fans of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell would find this novel engaging for its nuanced portrayal of a governess's life and struggles.
77,852 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Edward Weston
Edward Weston
Agnes’s love interest, a curate who shares similar moral values and a love for books, showing kindness and integrity in his interactions with others.
Rosalie Murray
Rosalie Murray
The eldest daughter of the Murray family, she is charming yet impulsive, often driven by her feelings and desires, and her attitudes toward social status and relationships contrast with those of Agnes.
Mrs. Grey
Mrs. Grey
Agnes’s mother, who provides a strong example of maternal care and industry; she is practical, independent-minded, and instills in Agnes the Christian virtues central to her character.
226
Novel • Fiction
England • 1840s
1847
Adult
16+ years
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