Product Description
When her family becomes impoverished after a disastrous financial speculation, Agnes Grey determines to find work as a governess in order to contribute to their meagre income and assert her independence. But Agnes' enthusiasm is swiftly extinguished as she struggles first with the unmanageable Bloomfield children and then with the painful disdain of the haughty Murray family; the only kindness she receives comes from Mr Weston, the sober young curate. Drawing on her own experience, Anne Bronte's first novel offers a compelling personal perspective on the desperate position of unmarried, educated women for whom becoming a governess was the only respectable career open in Victorian society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

The ending brought it up one star
I must admit that this book was quite boring at times and I kept asking why this was a classic. The story did not go in-depth enough, but, I kept with it, and found it pleasing enough in the last two-thirds of it. This is the second book I've read of the Bronte sisters, "Jane Eyre" being the first one (which was amazing and my favorite of all the classics). But this one I will remember fondly, and I am thankful it wasn't any longer, because I may have lost patience with it. The ending is what saved it from a three star vote, when Agnes was able to see some of the comeuppance with her silly students, and become the wife of the man she fancied. I own "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" so I will give it a try, which is said to be better than this one.

A time capsule
I've never read anything by Anne, but I had high expectations since after all, it's a work written by a Bronte. It's a simple story on the surface, a poor daughter decides to become a governess to not only help her family, but to give her a sense of independence & accomplishment in the world. How she ends up being treated in her role as governess to two families is disrespectfully, making something like the `Nanny Diaries' look like nothing. Spoiled children whose discipline is lax with parents, who undermine her efforts to improve their behavior. Agnes was hopeful at first, because she thought her place in a household would be one of respect, but governesses had more of an ambiguous social standing. Should they be treated like servants or not?

`Agnes Grey' doesn't have the timeless quality that her sisters' works do, but it does let the reader in how poorly a governess was treated in Victorian England. How they gradually came to be accepted by the children or families they worked with, but they still had to walk a fine line between employee & friend/companion. But the novel has a good message about staying true to yourself, about doing right by others, & there is a romance with a certain vicar, Mr. Weston.

I doubt I'll ever re-read `Agnes Grey', but I do recommend it to those who would like more understanding of the role of a governess & its historical insight into Victorian life.

Bronte Book
Not a well-known Bronte novel but a good one.If you liked Jane Eyre, you'll like Agnes Grey.

Carries Strong Messages
Agnes Grey was first published in 1847. In what appears to be an autobiographical rendering, Anne Bronte, the sister of Charlotte and Emily, seems to draw heavily from her own life in this Victorian classic.

The story begins as Agnes Grey's family fall on hard times. Although young, with very little world experience, she is determined to help her family, financially, by hiring herself out as a governess.

Agnes manages to find a job as governess and companion to the children of some wealthy people, but finds the working conditions intolerable and leaves. She eventually is hired by the Murray family and stays with them even though her life is still miserable.

After meeting Mr. Weston, a local curate, Agnes becomes more positive and dreams of a life with him.

Although, I feel the story lacks depth, it does carry strong messages on morality and self-respect, and gives the reader a realistic glimpse into the life Anne Bronte probably experienced.

The governess
Less dramatic than her own Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and less read than her more famous sisters' works, Agnes Grey is a straightforward, semi-fictional chronicle of the experiences of agoverness in 19th century England. Agnes is the younger daughter of a mother whose wealthy family disowned her for loving marrying an impoverished clergyman. To help ameliorateher family's dire financial condition , Agnes chooses to seek a situation as companion and teacher to the children of wealthier people. Though she understands well how to raise responsible children, their selfish parents undermine her attempts by neglecting yet overindulging them. Treated as underling by her employers, ignored by their servants, and plague by her students, poor Agnes must struggle alone under impossible working conditions, determined to help her own family regardless of the cost to herself. Her story comes to a happy conclusion, but Bronte was not interested in writing about "felicitous" times. Her intention with this book, to reveal some of the injustices of the class system, is achieved by example rather than preaching. Reminiscent of some of Jane Austen's stories, particularly Persuasion, Agnes Grey is a gracefully narrated, unpretentious story told with impressive effect. ... Read more

Product Description
Combining a sensational story of a man's physical and moral decline through alcohol, a study of marital breakdown, a disquisition on the care and upbringing of children, and a hard-hitting critique of the position of women in Victorian society, this passionate tale of betrayal is set within a stern moral framework tempered by Anne Brontë's optimistic belief in universal redemption. It tells the story of the estranged wife of a dissolute rake, desperate to protect her son from his destructive influence, in full flight from a shocking world of debauchery and cruelty. Drawing on her first-hand experiences with her brother Branwell, Brontë's novel scandalized contemporary readers and still retains its power to shock today. The new introduction by Josephine McDonagh sheds light on the intellectual and cultural context of the novel, its complex narrative structure, and the contemporary moral and medical debates about alcohol and the body with which the novel engages. Based on the authoritative Clarendon text, the book has an improved chronology, an up-to-date bibliography, and many informative notes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Scandal of Wildfell Hall
Anne Bronte is often the forgotten sister among the Brontes.But she may be the most courageous in her writing.She weaves a tale of a woman who leaves her abusive husband, taking her child, and traveling to an unknown location to make her living by painting.This is unheard of in 19th century England.The wife, her children, and all her material goods belong to the husband who can do with them as he wishes.Anne Bronte is ahead of her time in saying that this is wrong and makes her heroine both courageous and compassionate.It is my favorite of the Bronte sisters' stories.If you haven't read it, I recommend it highly.

All time favorite classic novel! Strong female character ahead of her time!
Of all classic novels, this one is an all time favorite. Anne Bronte was a visionary of her time. This book was not originally published under Anne's name. Actually, readers did not know if the author was male or female. This is a book that can be read over and over again and different passages will connect with you. Highly recommend!

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: Book Review
This is not my first time reading a Brönte novel. The Tenant of Wildfell was a gripping novel, rich in religion, duty, and morality. When I think of Helen, I think of her as the reflection of the moon in a lake at night. She, a beautiful glowing object of virtue (yet human in motives), amidst black evil; watery shallow souls. Her husband is her personal devil who constantly tries her and tempts her, which leads to Helen's separation from him (thus introducing us to Gilbert and his townsfolk). Brönte elegantly works the story backwards through Helen's journal; she gives it to Gilbert to read (doubtlessly because it is painful to speak about). As a teen, I feel sorry that my generation has Facebook, cell phones and texting, unable appreciate the deep, enrapturing literature that is so available to them. By the way, this is NOT a feminist novel (as Amazon puts on the tags for people writing a review for this).Beauty is abundant, but the fruit remains untouched. Please read this masterpiece.

historically interesting presentation
In some ways, it's surprising that both this Bronte novel and sister are not as well known as the Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Charlote and Emily Bronte respectively.Social issues, including martial breakdown, alcoholism, adultery, divorce, women's rights, child custody,and comparison of Protestant sects such as Calvinism versus Universalism, are boldly confronted. Excellent character and setting development throughout the story provide another strong part to the story. This Oxford edition's note section also enhances understanding of the 1820-1840 era, with fascinating tidbits such as the new German dance, the waltz, was then viewed as amoral, while homemade ale was considered virtuous. One wonders how much is based on various actions of several Bronte family members.These components make The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a very worthwhile read.The only shortcoming is the long drawn portion near the end--very repetitous and tedious for about a 100 pages; otherwise this would be a 5 star novel.

"Oh Helen, if I had listened to you, it never would have come to this!"
**** slight spoilers. nothing drastic*******
This story is about a young lady of a good family in England 1827. Her name is Helen and her buyer's remorse after marrying for love.She ends up marrying a swine in Arthur Huntington.You can see Arthur H's in any bar or pub.The scenes of his abuse are well done.There are times when his wife, the main protagonist, is being abused by one of his friends and he sits back in drunken reverie, laughing foolishly.

The novel itself is told in the epistolatory style, meaning it is told in a series of letters.The effect comes off well and it comes off as if you're reading the private lives of someone, getting their most intimate thoughts.If you like that style, I recommend the very different but very well done dangerous liasons.

In the story, Helen's suffering is well portrayed.The reader gets a good sense of how and why she does what she does.Time and time again, I'm amazed at how resourceful and knowing she is for a woman of her age (early 20's I believe).But as she said to her illicit would be lover later on, young in years but old in tears.I can feel the cruelty of the world around her.It is as if everyone is perfectly conscious of her sufferings but no one dare acts (although this changes later, as you'll find out).

The other protagonist, Gilbert Markham, is sort of a pompous fool.At one point he nearly kills Helen's brother.He's spellbound by love, yes, but I got the feeling that he just wasn't the kind and gentle type that you want Helen to end up marrying.Luckily most of the book revolves around Helen who is far more interesting because of how she handles her problems and her sheer resourcefulness.

The reason why I closed the book and felt that I profited from it is because the imagery of the scenery and Helen's steadfastness in the face of such hardship impressed me.There's a point in the book where her hopes are literally shattered and burned up and yet she still carries on.An ordinary woman, with few friends and little to look forward to carrying on with life despite such serious setbacks.Now that to me is heroism.I'll take that over Batman or any other comic book hero any day. ... Read more

Product Description
Edward Chitham's biography of Anne Bronte, the often underrated sister of Charlotte and Emily, makes imaginative use of recent research to redefine the personal and artistic relationship between Anne and her sisters, especially Emily. It produces new evidence about Anne's life away from home and re-examines the traumatic period before and after Branwell's 'disgrace'. It modifies the conventionally held view of Agnes Grey and reviews the evidence for Anne's relationship with William Weightman.
Now available in paperback, this biography provides an elegant and original life of one of the remarkable Bronte sisters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The "Quiet" Bronte Finds Her Voice
Dear Mr. Chitham,
I do not know whether you are among the living, or not. I am writing my praise in a public forum because it must be said.Somehow, despite a dearth of letters and surviving diary papers, you have written a masterful biography of the "baby" of the Brontes.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to extract Anne's story from the accounts of other people, especially Charlotte's best friend and her biographer. In the traditional portait, Anne is the "sweet" and "gentle" sister of three high-strung and tempramental Romantics. In your book, you examine the sources and and refute the mistaken impressions to reveal a rich imagination, a deep and sincere faith, a bright and observant wit, and a heart that survived loss and disappointment. Anne Bronte lived her life to the tempo of different music.

Thank You.

Anne Bronte has found a sympathetic & resourceful biographer
I remember once Edward Chitham saying to a conference of Bronte enthusiasts 'I am an Anne person' and his resultant biography, A Life Of Anne Bronte', shows both great sensitivity and a just awareness of Anne's considerable literary skills as a writer.He also shows us that Anne was interesting in her own right both as a writer distinct from Emily and Charlotte and as a person with a life of unfulfilled dreams.Far from being the weak sibling with the nun-like veil as Charlotte preferred to view her youngest sister, Chitham views Anne as the sister who stuck it out longest at being a governess in the outside world and as the sister with the strongest courage and sense of duty.

Chitham doesn't sensationalize his material but sifts it for truth and light.He is very aware that original source material on Anne's younger days, her time at, and reason for leaving, school, her two governess positions, her possibly strong feelings for her father's curate, William Weightma! n, and her fluctuating relationship with her sister, Emily, are scant and too reliant on Charlotte's screening.Nevertheless, Chitham tries to piece together what he can from Anne's five surviving letters, her poetry, her two great novels and other circumstantial material surrounding the Robinson family with whom she stayed with as a governess.However, as with most other Bronte scholars, he cannot finally prove that Anne loved Weightman or that Branwell left the above same Robinson family as a result of indiscretions towards the Lady of the House (Lydia Robinson) or towards the 12-year-old pupil in his charge, Edmund Robinson.

Edward Chitham is also cautionary about the use of Anne's novels as biographical material.Far from quoting parts of Agnes Grey verbatim, he shows us more where such sources are unreliable. However, in areas and tone where Agnes Grey and the life of its heroine, squares with Anne's poetry and life, Chitham is happy to show the ways in which the lik! ely facts of Anne's life unfold to the diligent researcher ! of the truth.

All in all, this is a great biography, and until more letters become dusted down from hidden, and as yet unknown, lofts or boxes, it is likely to be fairly definitive in its balance and appreciation of Anne Bronte.Chitham knows where the sources are weak and he also knows what future researchers will want to look at if any more sources unearth themselves.Should we be lucky enough to find more of Anne's letters to or from Emily, Charlotte or the Robinson girls she once taught and kept in touch with, then would be the time to write another and fuller biography of Anne's life.Sadly for both writer and reader, Chitham can only but leave us with an incomplete picture, many broken jigsaw pieces and an overwhelming desire for more. ... Read more

Product Description
The Brontë sisters made up one of the most well known literary families of all time. Collected in this giant book is the collective works of Anne, Charlotte, and Emily Brontë (along with their father Patrick Brontë). The book contains a navigable table of contents to help you easily find the work you are looking for.

Included in this edition:
Agnes Grey
Jane Eyre
Cottage Poems
The Professor
Shirley
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Villette
Wuthering Heights ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Complete Works of the Bronte Family
This edition has a lot of typos, but it's only $0.99. If you can overlook the typos then this edition is alright. ... Read more

Product Description
Agnes Grey
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Jane Eyre
The Professor
Villette
Wuthering Heights
Poems By Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

Powerful and compelling
This book took me quite some time to read. There were times when I needed to take a break from it, but somehow it always called me back.

There's a fairly complex narrative structure. The enveloping narrative is in the form of letters from a man to his friend, recounting events that happened years before. Several chapters in, the narrator tells of a journal that came into his hands, and the bulk of the book consists of entries from this journal. Within these narrative strands we at times get quotes from *other* correspondence. That Anne maintains this structure without ever confusing the reader as to which level of narrative we're in, and without thoroughly distancing her audience, says much for her skill.

The narrator, Gilbert Markham, comes across as a bluff, cheerful character, giving something of a leavening to the account. This leavening is most welcome, because oh! the central narrative is dark, dark, dark in its portrayal of the collapse of a marriage. And Helen, the "tenant" of the title, is not a comfortable character. She made one disastrous mistake, and has been doing penance for it ever since. She's strong and unyielding, clinging to self-respect by a rigid moral rectitude, and not afraid to tell others when she considers them to be in error. At times I found the unremitting darkness too oppressive, but always the book called me back, because I simply had to know what happened in the end.

Some of the subject matter was found shocking at the time. By making Helen's life more and more unbearable, the author makes us confront the question of when (if ever) it might be morally acceptable for a woman to leave her husband. And how is a woman to do so, in a time when she has no right to property of her own, and would almost certainly lose all access to her children?

There were places when I found my credibility strained, such as the narrator's being privy to the thoughts of a character he had never met. And some of the minor characters gave the impression of being "types": the rough diamond who only needed a stern talking-to to change from being a drunken wife-beater to a fine and upright husband; the man who exuded evil; the villain plotting a woman's downfall. But the central characters, and indeed most of the minor ones, are beautifully drawn, and the plot goes through its many twists and turns to reach an ending I found most satisfying.

A powerful criticism of British property law in marriage
Anne Brontë's "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is much, much more than mere gothic romance or the puffery that a modern reader might categorize as Victorian chick lit. A powerful feminist novel that excoriates repressive British laws surrounding marriage and the property rights of females with respect to their husbands, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" tells the story of Helen Huntingdon, a female, who like so many others of her sex both then and now, fell prey to the fantasy that the questionable values and dubious behaviour of the man with whom she had fallen in love could be changed by her example, by her loving care and tutelage.

There are few vices that do not appeal to Arthur Huntingdon. A philanderer, a hard-drinker, a cool and inattentive husband, a devil-may-care sportsman, a man whose attitudes toward church and religion are irreverent, flip and impious, and a profligate, if moderately successful, gambler, a man who cannot even search his heart to find love for his own son, Huntingdon has made his wife's life an unending lonely and miserable existence in which she has to suffer in silence, to hide her poor choices and incorrect decisions from the family who argued so eloquently against the marriage at the outset.

When Huntingdon hijacks his own son and seeks to teach him his evil ways, even to the point of cursing his own mother, Helen Huntingdon realizes that she must find a way for her and her innocent son to escape the relationship. But the unconscionable repression of Victorian property laws in marriage, which effectively make a wife her husband's property, force her to abandon everything and to escape into hiding with her son under the assumed name, Mary Graham.

Now earning a meagre living as a talented artist in a few rooms at the exquisitely isolated and all but abandoned Wildfell Hall, Mary Graham and her son are forced to endure the abusive, malicious gossip and imaginings of the local townsfolk ... well, that is, all of the local townsfolk except for Gilbert Markham who, much to his own surprise, works past his initial disdain for Mary and falls so deeply into love with her that an existence without her becomes a prospect that he cannot bear to dwell upon.

Powerful, haunting, violent, disturbing, and moving, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is an eloquent critique of the legally codified sexual double standards that exemplified Victorian behaviour. From the standpoint of a modern reader, the only criticism I could possibly make is that, for my tastes at least, Markham and Huntingdon are just a little too saintly and long-suffering. I prefer my protagonists to be moderately more human.

That said, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" was certainly a gripping story that, while not a modern thriller, is undeniably a page turner. As a newcomer to the writing of the entire Brontë family, I'll be looking for more in the very near future. Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

A feminist book read from a male perspective
Anne Bronte's novel "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" exposes the extreme double standard that existed between men and women in England during the mid nineteenth century. The evil male in the story and a few of his associates are easy to dislike whether the reader be male or female, but what is refreshing about the novel is that several men are reported as decent, loving and hard working individuals who help restore our faith in the male gender before the book ends. Helen, the heroin in the story, is portrayed as almost a saint like figure who few of us, male or female, could readily identify because of the abuse for which she allows herself to be subjected by her husband and the continued attempts by her to love and forgive him in spite of himself. But, for someone who wishes to see the ultimate examples ofChrist-like behavior, this is the book to read.

Loved this book.
This book was so good it suprised me! I was very happy with the price and the order shipped really fast. Much less expensive than a book store and convienent.

an absolutely worthless description
This book is clearly labelled Spanish edition and yet by the accompanying picture is in fact in English. Messages to sellers about such matters are NEVER answered, and Amazon should work to correct such obvious mislabelling of products which leads to returns and bad feeling. Why not be honest and tell the truth? ... Read more

Product Description
Jane Eyre ranks as one of the greatest and most popular works of English fiction. Although Charlotte Brontë's heroine is outwardly plain, she possesses an indomitable spirit, and great courage. Forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order which circumscribes her life when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic Mr Rochester.
Villette is based on Charlotte Brontë's personal experience as a teacher in Brussels. It is a moving tale of repressed feelings and cruel circumstances borne with heroic fortitude. Rising above the confinement of a rigid social order, it is also a story of a woman's right to love and be loved.
Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's wild, passionate tale of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine's father. After Mr Earnshaw's death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine's brother Hindley and, wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, he leaves Wuthering heights. When he returns years later as a wealthy man, he proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries.
Agnes Grey, Ann Brontë's deeply personal novel, is a trenchant expose of the frequently isolated, intellectually stagnant and emotionally starved conditions under which many governesses worked in the mid-nineteenth century.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall shows Ann Brontë's bold, naturalistic and passionate style. It is a powerful and sometimes violent novel of expectation, love, oppression, sin and betrayal. It portrays the disintegration of the marriage of Helen Huntingdon, the mysterious 'tenant' of the title, and her dissolute, alcoholic husband. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Long time to arrive
This book, while an excellent read, and in good condition, took well over 3 weeks to arrive.That is just too long.

Great bang for your buck!
What a great value, and a wonderful way to rediscover some old favorites, and perhaps to find some new ones, along with comparing the different writing styles of the Bronte sisters.

One thing in this printing is you will not find the endless footnotes that you would in some of the other printings available now. I don't feel I missed out on anything, but if you feel you need to understand every word and nuance you might want to get a different version of the book(s).

Jane Eyre -- which I enjoyed much more the second time around. It's always good to take time to reread those required books from school once you've obtained some years and maturity. This is a lovely and somewhat autobiographical tale of Jane Eyre, orphaned and raised by self-centered and uncaring relatives until they send her off to school. Eventually she is hired as a governess to a young girl and meets the girl's guardian Mr. Rochester, and of course they fall in love and plan to marry. But, there is a mystery about the house that once it is discovered destroys the wedding plans.

A lovely tale, and Bronte has such a wonderful prose that makes you want to slow down and savor it and the story like a fine red wine or chocolate. Highly highly recommended, one that should be taken off the shelf and reread every couple of years or so. Five stars.

Wuthering Heights -- The dark and brooding tale of Cathy & Heathcliff. What a great experience to finally reread this classic as an adult. Emily Bronte depicts a very gothic and depressing story of two star-crossed (but not terribly likeable) lovers, Cathy & Heathcliff, and the love between them that transcended the grave. Added to that a wonderful depiction of the dark English moors and the local characters with their strange dialects. This was also told in a very unusual style, like a tale within a tale within a tale, adding more layers and perspectives to the story.

How unfortunate that one's upbringing can so affect a person that their grief and bitterness turn what could have been a fine young man into such a hateful and vengeful person as Heathcliff became. And fortunate that Cathy's daughter and Hareton could overcome their dark upbringing to bring a happier light onto the dark moors of England.

It's one book you have to read at least twice in your life -- of course in school as required reading and then again as an adult to add that perspective of age and experience in life so that one can more fully appreciate a such a classic tale. Four stars.

Villette -- another semi-autobiographical tale from Charlotte Bronte, based upon her time spent teaching in Belgium. This is not a novel of page turning excitement, but a lovely tale of one woman's battle to maintain her independence. It's very interesting how the author brings characters in and out of her tale, and ties them all together in the end. Along with that, Bronte's gorgeous prose and all those large words that make you want to go running for the dictionary.

A lovely tale, but this one had much more french than Jane Eyre and I would have appreciated some footnotes to interpret those phrases to enjoy the tale more. Five stars.

Anges Grey -- 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 and self centered and thoughtless, particularly the elder (who gets what she deserves in the end).

It's been interesting to compare the sisters' writing styles. Anne's is much closer to Chartlotte'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. Four stars

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall -- This is a very different novel from the other of Anne Bronte's that I've read, Agnes Grey. The story is told mostly from the first person viewpoint of Gilbert Markham as he and his fellow villagers meet the mysterious new tenant of Wildfell Hall, the widowed Mrs. Graham, who has a bit of a mystery about her and her young son.

As feelings grow between the two main characters, the story is shifted to the viewpoint of Mrs. Graham as retold through a diary she wrote, and about her life married to an abusive, unfaithful alcoholic, and her efforts finally to extricate herself from the marriage.

An interesting tale, and I give the author marks for tackling what in her time would have been a most controversial topic (women just did not leave their husbands, no matter what the reason). Some of the melodrama is more than a tad bit over the top, Helen was just too pure and good natured, and having a woman writer write in the first person viewpoint of a man was a bit of a stretch for me. Gilbert was at times too emotional in a womanly sort of way -- I mean throwing himself down on the wet ground and having a good cry over a broken heart was way over the top for me. He was also a bit too brutish and rough at times for my taste, and not always very likeable, but that is the author's choice as to how she wrote her characters.

Other than those quibbles it was a very entertaining read and some very thought provoking topics to take with you when finished with the book.Four stars.
... Read more

Product Description
A celebration of the life, times and work of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Anne Brontë's first novel, Agnes Grey, combines an astute dissection of middle-class social behavior and class attitudes with a wonderful study of Victorian responses to young children which has parallels with debates about education that continue to this day. In writing the novel, Brontë drew on her own experiences, and one can trace in the work many of the trials of the Victorian governess, often stranded far from home, and treated with little respect by her employers, yet expected to control and educate her young charges. Agnes Grey looks at childhood from nursery to adolescence, and it also charts the frustrations of romantic love, as Agnes starts to nurse warmer feelings towards the local curate, Mr. Weston. Sally Shuttleworth's fascinating introduction considers the book's fictional and narrative qualities, its relationship with Victorian child-rearing and the responsibilities of parents, and the changing attitudes to the book influenced by modern concerns for children's rights. The new edition includes a revised and updated bibliography as well as revised notes drawing on the latest critical material. ... Read more

Product Description
Careful selection of 47 poems by talented literary siblings. 23 poems by Emily (including "Faith and Despondency" and "No Coward Soul is Mine"), 14 poems by Anne (including "The Penitent" and "If This Be All") and 10 poems by Charlotte (including "Presentiment" and "Passion"). Reproduced from standard editions. Publisher’s Note.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great poetry
This book of poetry is wonderful and it is great to have. I'm glad that I had the time and the money to get this. It is a must read for all female aspiring writers.

Bronte Poems
A wonderful book for any person interested in reading poetry from the Bronte sisters. Even though they were well - known for their novels ( Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Villette...), their poetry wasn't really known that well. This book presents it in a readable format. I recommend it for any Bronte fan. It's good to know about their novels, its even better when you are familiarized with their poems. : )

Ah, the successes and faults of the Brontës...
This is a rather small book composed of various poems by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë. It's divided into three parts; one for each author.

I gave it three stars because it's a good collection, but not really a good read. I find the Brontë's poetry rather dry and cumbersome compared to their books, but it's still worth a look if you're a true fan. Emily is by far the best poet of the three, and at a whopping $2.00, you're not out much if you decide you don't like it... and you definitely get all that you paid for with this one.

Total Chick Bait
Yep, this book is fine for getting college chicks to dig you.Just have a copy of it on your bedside table and they will think you are sensitive and will be all over you. Don't bother to read the book - just keep it in plain sight.

READ ME! READ ME! READ ME!
I enjoyed the selected poems. I saw a lot of the same passion in the poems that I have seen also in many of their novels. If you enjoyed the poems you should be sure to get a hold of the Tenant of Wildfell Hall written by Anne Bronte and my utmost favorite Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is definitely a book I would recommend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Anne Bronte
Rare book, excellent shape minus dust jacket (I had hoped that there would be one), arrived in great shape before expected ship arrival. ... Read more

Product Description
When her family becomes impoverished after a disastrous financial speculation, Agnes Grey determines to find work as a governess. This is a personal perspective on the desperate position of unmarried, educated women in Victorian society. "Agnes Grey" is undoubtedly a deeply personal novel, in which Anne Bronte views on the 'contemporary' issue of the treatment of governesses, as well as her passionate religious sympathies, find very deliberate expression; but she also touches on issues of moral behaviour, moral responsibility, and individual integrity and its survival. ... Read more

Product Description
Anne began Agnes Grey with the words "All true histories contain instruction", and wrote in a realistic, rather than the romantic style followed by her sisters. The title character is the younger daughter of a poor clergyman and sets out to earn a living as a governess. Anne drew strongly on her own life. Her rather plain first-person female narrator begins the story young, inexperienced, and idealistic, but strives for self-respect and independence.

Agnes Grey is a wish-fulfillment story in which patience and virtue are rewarded. It is also a quiet but sharply pointed critique of the life of a governess and the instruction of children at the time. Anne portrays her characters and their surroundings with the minute attention to detail of a camera eye, focusing on the direct experience of daily life in a constrained environment, and recognizing the importance of subtle impressions. Anne's understated humor and occasional satire also remind the reader of Jane Austen. ... Read more