Agnes Grey‘The name of governess, I soon found, was a mere mockery ... my pupils had no more notion of obedience than a wild, unbroken colt’ 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’s 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 Brontë’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. This edition also includes Charlotte Brontë’s memoir of her sisters, theBiographical Notice of Ellis and Acton Bell. Angeline Goreau examines Anne Brontë’s complex relationship with her sisters and her unhappy career as a governess as influences in writing Agnes Grey. |
Contents
THE PARSONAGE | |
FIRST LESSONS IN THE ART OF INSTRUCTION | |
A FEW MORE LESSONS | |
THE GRANDMAMMA | |
THE UNCLE | |
THE PARSONAGE AGAIN | |
HORTON LODGE | |
THE COMING | |
THE BALL | |
THE CHURCH | |
THE COTTAGERS | |
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Common terms and phrases
affection Agnes Grey amuse Anne Bront answer appeared asked Bell better Bloomfield Branwell Charlotte church coming considerable continued course dear delight dont duty early edition Emily expected expressed eyes face father fear feelings felt friends girl give governess Green half Hall hand happy Hatfield head hear heard heart hope keep kind knew ladies least leave less live look mamma Mary Matilda matter means mind Miss Grey Miss Murray months morning mother nature never Newby Notice novel observed once papa passed pleasure poor present pupils remarkable replied seemed sister smile sometimes soon speak suppose sure talk tell things thought told took trouble turned walk Weston wish woman wonder writing wrote young