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11 June 2014

Book Review #1 - Agnes Grey, by Anne Brontë

Classics Club: Review 1

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity, that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut. Whether this be the case with my history or not, I am hardly competent to judge. I sometimes think it might prove useful to some, and entertaining to others; but the world may judge for itself."

In this no-nonsense and to-the-point way is how Agnes Grey begins to relate her story. But it seems more likely that it is in fact Anne Brontë herself who's talking to us through her character. The aim of the author is very clear from the very onset, and given the great extent of autobiographical elements present in the novel, it makes everything more insightful and relevant.


The heroine.-
The eponymous heroine, Agnes, is the youngest daughter of an empoverished clergyman, and we find her at the beginning of the novel about to seek her first employment as a governess. She is depicted as a well-bred, well-meant girl of eighteen, a little too sure of herself and totally unprepared to face the world.

She is hardly discouraged, however, when the first family she starts working for (the Bloomfields) dismisses her after a short stay on the grounds of her not being able to improve either manners or education in the spoiled children whom are put at her charge.

In her second employment, with the Murrays, her situation improves a bit, her pupils being a little older--and therefore more manageable--than in the previous household, but nevertheless the vain sixteen-year-old Rosalie and the wild fourteen-year-old Matilda constantly put Agnes' patience to the test.

Since she tells her own story in the first person, everything that happens in the book is seen through her eyes. And while I found her a little two-dimensional at times--there are almost no perceptive changes in her, nor are her moral values contested in any way--she proves to be a sharp narrator, with an acute penchant for irony.

"To school he was sent, [...] in a state [...] of scandalous ignorance as to Latin, as well as the more useful though more neglected things: and this, doubtless, would all be laid to the account of his education having been entrusted to an ignorant female teacher, who had presumed to take in hand what she was wholly incompetent to perform."


What I have learned.-
What's most interesting about Agnes Grey is that it gives its readers a chance to get a glimpse of what it meant to be a governess back in those days. Governesses were doomed to a life of solitude and self-effacing, always at the mercy of their charges' whims, since to submit and oblige was the governess's part, to consult their own pleasure was that of the pupils, as Agnes herself laments at one point of the novel. They were neither part of their employers' social circles nor were they servants; despised by both, cared for by none.


Some details I found interesting.-
  • A keen awareness for animals' rights. In fact, each character's moral worth is exemplified by how they treat their pets. In one particularly depressive and violent passage, Agnes is forced to kill a whole set of nestlings to prevent the young master of the house from further torturing the birds his uncle had given him to that end.

  • A pervasive presence of (very mild, of course) expletives. It's true they're used to mark the unlady-like attitude of one of Agnes' pupils, but the occasional damn it or blasted are actually worded, which I found... well... yes... interesting!

  • Agnes' mother's strength and independence of spirit are remarkable. After being disinherited by her family for having married beneath her, she has to suffer many a hardship derived from her husband's modest income, but shows absolutely no regrets in the thirty years I have passed in the company of my best and dearest friend, or in the fact that after his death she feels compelled to earn her own living.

Final thoughts.-
Though I would have loved for Agnes to develop more as a character throughout the novel, and her excessive conscientousness grated on me at times, it's been an interesting read. The text flows efortlessly in a beautiful way which, notwithstanding its naked realism, still allows for some deep and observant thoughts, and everything is permeated with a sense of truth that I highly appreciate. No doubt Anne Brontë knew what she was writing about.


Further reading.-



My review of A Room of One's Own, by Virginia Woolf

24 comments:

  1. I love this novel, more in aftermath (it has stayed with me) then in the moments after I closed the book. I think it was courageous for its day.

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    1. Oh, yes, it was very brave of her to write such an honest--crude, even--depiction of governesses and the kind of lives they led. Plus, knowing this is somehow based on her own experiences, it makes it all the more corageous!

      Glad you loved the novel, I liked it too :-).

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  2. I´ve never read this Brontë, but I am interested in doing so. The Brontës in general are fantastic writers and the world that they depicted was almost always part of their own life. All of them worked as governesses, and also all of them dedicated their life to writing. As you can see, I am completely in love with this sisters and their work. Thanks a lot for your review.
    Hugs.

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    1. I am completely in love with these sisters. Perdón por el error. Por no borrarlo entero, lo pongo abajo.
      Besos.

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    2. If you haven't read any Anne Brontë, then I'd suggest you go for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, instead. All three of them were remarkable sisters. Thanks to you for commenting :-).

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  3. Interesting. I've never really read a lot of the classics, so you gave me a lot of insight about this particular one anyway, and you made a lot of interesting points. I also learned a little bit about governesses. XD

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    1. It's alright not having read the classics, but it's never too late to give them a try ;-). Thanks for reading my review, anyway, I'm glad you found it interesting :-).

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  4. Tough times for women. Thank God they´re over. Or are they?

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    1. Hmm, well... At least teachers don't have to live along with their pupils any longer ;-). That, at least, is an improvement.

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  5. Hi!

    Anne is a wonderful and talented writer but sadly she's not as popular as Charlotte and Emily. I've never read "Agnes Grey" but I read "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" two years ago and it's a fantastic novel. I wrote about this novel in my blog and there are some interesting points that need to be discussed. If you want to take a look on "The tennant..." this is the link: http://elblogperdidodelaura.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/la-inquilina-de-wildfell-hall-la.html

    A kiss

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  6. Perdona por dejarte tres mensajes, no sé qué ha pasado. Blogger está fatal!!! Perdona!!

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    1. Yes, poor Anne, her sisters overshadowed her completely. I also read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a while back, and I think it's a far better novel than Agnes Grey. And, while I don't generally like Anne Brontë's excessive righteousness--and while I still believe Charlotte was the most talented of the three--I'm greatly indebted to The Tenant... as it inspired me to write ;-).

      Thanks for the link, heading to read it straight away :-).

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  7. Me pregunto si el comentario lo tengo que hacer en inglés sí o sí xD
    Me gustó más su otra novela, de esta me quedo con ese retrato de lo que era ser institutriz. Como dices, ni pertenían a los criados ni eran de la familia, una situación desagradable e incómoda.
    Un beso ;)

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    1. Nooo... Por favor, comenta en español siempre que quieras :-D.
      Si, creo que a ti y a todo el mundo, La Inquilina de Wildfell Hall es una obra mucho más madura en todos los sentidos. Y de ésta, pues sí, lo mejor es ese retrato tan duro que hace sobre la vida de las institutrices: realmente se aprende mucho de esa vida tan desagradecida que llevaban (¡y aún con todo se podían considerar afortunadas!).

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  8. I think I found some help with my summer reading. . .Thanks so much for sharing!!

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    1. Hehe, I think it can make for a great summer read: it's short, insightful in all the right places but overall light, and it leaves you feeling good and happy.

      Thanks to you for commenting :-D.

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  9. I have read novels from Emily and Charlotte, but nothing from Anne. This novel is one of my goals for this year and I really hope to enjoy it.
    Good review.
    Best wishes Marsar ^^

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    1. Thanks! :-D I do hope you'll like it if/when you read it.

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  10. Hay muchas novelas que debería leer, al menos para dar un comentario digno.
    Me interesó tu reseña.
    Un abrazo.
    HD

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    1. Me alegra que te resultara interesante.

      ¡Saluditos! :-D

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  11. Tengo pendiente este libro, leí La inquilina de Wildfell Hall y me encantó el estilo de la autora. Espero ponerme pronto. Una gran reseña, Marsar. Me encanta su nueva cabecera, está genial ;)

    Un saludito :)

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    1. Bueno, en mi opinión, La Inquilina... es mejor libro, pero si te gusta el estilo de la autora, seguro que Agnes Grey te agradará también. Me alegra que te haya gustado la reseña, y la cabecera :-).

      Saluditos :-D.

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  12. Huh, I shall give this book a read! :) I've been looking for something lately and I prefer to go off of reviews of people whose taste I trust than just pick at random. :D

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    1. Overall, this is a nice read :-). I'm glad you trust my opinion :-).

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