Background:
You may recognize the name “Brontë”. In fact, there are three famous writers of classic books that go by that name: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë. They are the Brontë sisters. The family had not only one, but three literary geniuses, all who reached success with the novels they wrote at home. Books like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, and Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë are known world-wide and regarded as classics.
Of the three sisters, Emily and Anne died of tuberculosis at relatively young ages. Charlotte lived on to write a homage to her two sisters: Biographical Notice of Ellis and Acton Bell. This work acts as a preface to their books.
You may be thinking – who are Ellis and Acton Bell? Why are these names in the title of Charlotte Brontë’s homage to her sister?
Well, in the 1800s, it was difficult for women to be successful in the field of writing. Many took on pseudonyms. The three sisters went under the aliases of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Their works were published under these names.
Agnes Grey:
I have recently finished the book Agnes Grey. It follows the life of Agnes Grey, as she gets through challenges of being a governess for multiple wealthy families and meets a man named Edward Weston. It mirrors Anne Brontë’s life, as she had negative experiences working as a governess herself.
This book, peaceful yet engaging with the character’s unique experiences, with beautiful descriptions, and the introspective philosophical conversation, was a cozy read for a winter day. Going through Agnes’s everyday life and struggles was somewhat methodic and calming, and the bit of romance and drama here and there made the read fun and exciting.
The book expresses themes of superficiality, leaving home, independence, and education. It also represents the struggles of all kinds of women in that era through its diverse characters.
A surprisingly straightforward and quick read, Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë is the perfect book for people looking to get into reading classics.
