Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë (1847)

Agnes Grey is a novel by Anne Brontë, first published in 1847. It follows the life of Agnes Grey, a governess, as she works in several different households. Agnes is the daughter of a poor clergyman, and she takes a job as a governess to support her family. She is hired by the Bloomfield family, where she is treated poorly by the children and their mother. Agnes is then hired by the Murrays, where she is treated better, but still struggles to maintain order and discipline. Agnes eventually finds a job with the Robinsons, where she is treated with respect and kindness. She is able to form a bond with the children and teach them valuable lessons. Throughout the novel, Agnes reflects on the difficulties of her profession and the importance of patience and kindness. She also reflects on the importance of education and the power of literature. In the end, Agnes is able to find happiness and contentment in her life.

By Anne Brontë · First published 1847 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Gothic Fiction · 25 chapters · 68,374 words

First lines

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.

Shielded by my own obscurity, and by the lapse of years, and a few fictitious names, I do not fear to venture; and will candidly lay before the public what I would not disclose to the most intimate friend.

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What this Textopian page supports

Agnes Grey is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anne Brontë, dated 1847 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Anne Brontë
• Date: 1847 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Gothic Fiction, Social Criticism
• Length: 68,374 words
• Structure: 25 chapters, 1,023 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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• Work identity for Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres

• Realistic Fiction — Agnes Grey is a novel of realistic fiction, as it is based on the real-life experiences of the author, Anne Brontë, and her sister Charlotte. It follows the story of Agnes Grey, a governess, and her struggles with her employers and their children.
• Romance — Agnes Grey contains elements of romance, as Agnes falls in love with a curate, Mr. Weston, and they eventually marry. This romantic subplot is a key part of the novel's plot.
• Gothic Fiction — Agnes Grey contains elements of Gothic fiction, as it features a mysterious and isolated setting, as well as a sense of dread and suspense. The novel also contains supernatural elements, such as a ghostly figure that appears to Agnes in one scene.
• Social Criticism — Agnes Grey is a novel of social criticism, as it critiques the Victorian class system and the mistreatment of governesses. It also critiques the hypocrisy of the church and its members, as well as the mistreatment of animals.

Tags

Autobiographical fiction · England · Feminist fiction · Fiction · Governesses · Single women · Victorian Literature · an' · bloomfield · care · children · day

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 Out"
• The Ball
• The Church
• The Cottagers
• The Shower
• The Primroses
• The Rector
• The Walk
• The Substitution
• Confessions
• Mirth and Mourning
• The Letter
• The Farewell
• The School
• The Visit
• The Park
• The Sands
• Conclusion

More by Anne Brontë

• The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848)
• All works by Anne Brontë