Customer Reviews
Goveness in Strife - By: gem_marie, 28 May 2008 
I had the pleasure of reading this book this weekend. I had come to the book expecting a poor man's version of Jane Eyre but though it is set in the life of a goveness, the story is much more subtle. It reallly explores what the life of a goveness what like. The descriptions of the brats that our poor protaganist is charged with the education of is spot on. (For anybody who complains about the children of today, take a look at this lot.) The isolation & the cruelties bestowed upon them. There is no dashing Rochester, no mad woman in the attic, no mystery to be solved. Just the reader & the experience. It was refreshing & heartbreaking. However, it need some ummmmph. Agnes doesn't take a stand, doesn't fight for what she wants & I found that aspect very frustrating. The romance was underplayed & folded gently throughout the narrative but I wasn't shouting 'yes!' when they united at the end. Mr Weston was a bit wet to be honest but because you like Agnes you want what she wants.
All-in-alll different but not enouggh
A modest version of Jane Eyre - By: María José García Ferrer, 20 Mar 2008 I cannot say I do not enjoy "Agnes Grey", but I find the plot two linear & slightly deficient in suspense. If compared to her sister's governess novel, this one is quite inferior in my opinion. Anne Brontë's talent will shine more clearly in "The Tenant of Wildfell Halll".Beautiful prose though, & satisfactory happy ending to make up for the heroine's suffering.
Simple narrative about the plight of the C19 governess - By: Greshon, 28 Nov 2007 Agnes Grey suffers probably the worst critical reputation of alll the Bronte sisters' novels apart from Charlotte's The Professor, though hardly any would calll it a bad book.
This is a simple narrative of the trials of a poor governess, substantiallly based upon the author's own experiences. Apparently it is the best extant contemporary evidence we have of that occupation - the only 'respectable' occupation open to an educated woman who did not marry in the mnid C19. It expounds, somewhat pleadingly, the impossible position in which the typical governess is placed.
The narrator herself is an infuriatingly moral, religious girl. You sometimes find yourself wishing she would just lighten up a bit. Passion comes in the smalllest flickers: this is a cool, detatched book.
A charming, simple tale of Victorian England - By: Misfit, 01 Apr 2007 
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 & 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 literallly 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 are self centered & thoughtless, particularly the elder (who gets what she deserves in the end).
I have been reading a book callled the Selected Works of the Bronte sisters, & 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 & the smattering of french.
Well worth your time checking out for a pleasant, short read.
a beautifully written book. - By: lush, 14 Feb 2007 
This book provides a wonderful insight into the lives of gently bred women who find they suddenly have to support themselves in a male /class dominated society.
Short enough to read in a few days & a much easier read than Wuthering Heights & the like. Yes some of the characters are caricatures, Agnes a little too good to be true & there isn't much plot compared to her sisters Jane Eyre but its still a wonderfully simple tale that I never wanted to end.
Funny how some things never change - the problems the governess had then can be seen in the problems teachers have today- low pay, expected to produce exceptional results yet given no power to discipline your pupils
