Agnes Grey

Por Menchu Gutiérrez y Anne Brontë

“¡Qué maravilloso sería convertirse en una institutriz! Salir al mundo...ganar mi propio sustento... ¡Enseñar a madurar a los jóvenes!” Éste es el sueño de la hija de un modesto vicario, un ideal de independencia económica y personal, y de entrega a una noble tarea como la educación. Una vez cumplido, sin embargo, los personajes de este sueño se revelan más bien como monstruos de pesadilla: niños brutales, jovencitas intrigantes y casquivanas, padres grotescos, madres mezquinas e indulgentes...y en medio de todo ello la joven soñadora, tratada poco menos que como una criada. Agnes Grey (1847), primera novela de Anne Brontë, es una árida revelación basada en experiencias autobiográficas del precario status, material y moral, de una institutriz victoriana; y constituye a la vez un relato íntimo, casi secreto, de amor y humillación, en el que el “yo más severo” y el “yo más vulnerable” sostiene una dramática batalla bajo lo que la propia heroína define como el “sombrío tinte del mundo inferior, mi propio mundo”.

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Alba Editorial
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 1 oct 2016
• ISBN: 9788490652473

Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë (1820–1849) hailed from an English literary family responsible for some of the medium’s most memorable works. She was the youngest of six children that included sisters, Charlotte and Emily. Their father was a clergyman, who raised them in a parish with very little money. As an adult, Anne took a position as a governess to financially support herself but found the position difficult and unfulfilling. In 1846, she and her sisters published a collection of poetry called Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, which marked a humble beginning to a short yet impactful career.

Vista previa del libro

Anne Brontë

Agnes Grey

Traducción

Menchu Gutiérrez López

ALBA

Nota al texto

Agnes Grey fue publicada por primera vez en Londres en diciembre de 1847 por T. C. Newby, formando parte de una edición en tres volúmenes que incluía asimismo la célebre novela de su hermana Emily, Cumbres borrascosas. Los editores Smith, Elder and Co. publicaron en 1850 una segunda edición en un solo volumen, también con Cumbres borrascosas y además una «selección de los restos literarios» de Ellis y Acton Bell, corregida, a su criterio, por la hermana superviviente, Charlotte.

Sin embargo, el reciente hallazgo de una copia de la primera edición de Newby, al parecer corregida por la propia mano de Anne Brontë, ha llevado a algunos estudiosos a considerar esta versión como la más cercana a las intenciones de la autora. Sobre ella se basa la presente traducción.

I. La rectoría

Todas las historias verdaderas contienen una enseñanza aunque en ocasiones el tesoro sea difícil de encontrar y, una vez encontrado, resulte tan insignificante que el fruto seco y arrugado apenas compense el trabajo de romper la cáscara. Sea o no éste el caso de mi historia, no soy la persona más apropiada para juzgarlo. A veces creo que ésta podría ser de cierta utilidad para algunas personas, entretenida para otras, pero el mundo debe juzgarlo por sí mismo: protegida por mi propia oscuridad, por el paso de los años y por algunos nombres ficticios, me arriesgo sin miedo a exponer abiertamente ante el público lo que no me hubiese atrevido a revelar al amigo más íntimo.

Mi padre era un clérigo del norte de Inglaterra, merecidamente respetado por todo aquel que le conocía; había vivido con bastante holgura en su juventud gracias a una modesta renta y a una cómoda y pequeña casa de su propiedad. Mi madre, que se casó con él en contra de los deseos de su familia, era la hija de un caballero, y una mujer de carácter. En vano le recordaron que, si se convertía en la pobre mujer de un rector, debería prescindir de su carruaje, de su doncella y de todos los lujos y comodidades propios de la riqueza, que para ella eran casi indispensables. Un carruaje y una doncella eran cosas muy convenientes, sí, pero, gracias a Dios, tenía pies para caminar y manos para atender sus propias necesidades. Una casa elegante y jardines espaciosos no eran bienes despreciables, pero prefería vivir en una casa rústica con Richard Grey que en un palacio con cualquier otro hombre del mundo.

Finalmente, al no encontrar argumentos convincentes, su padre les dijo que podían casarse si ése era su deseo pero que, de hacerlo, su hija perdería todo derecho a su fortuna. De esa forma esperaba que el ardor de ambos se enfriase; pero estaba equivocado. Mi padre conocía demasiado bien las extraordinarias cualidades de mi madre para no darse cuenta de que ella sola constituía una valiosa fortuna, y si accedía a embellecer su humilde casa, él se sentía dichoso de tomarla por esposa en cualquier circunstancia; por su parte, mi madre prefería trabajar con sus propias manos a separarse del hombre que amaba, cuya felicidad era la suya propia, y con quien, unidos en cuerpo y alma, ya formaba un solo ser. De forma que su fortuna pasó a engrosar la bolsa de una hermana más inteligente que se había casado con un rico nabab, mientras ella, para sorpresa y disgusto de todos los que la conocían, iba a enterrarse en una sencilla aldea rural entre las colinas de... Y sin embargo, a pesar de todo esto, y a pesar de la energía de mi madre y de los caprichos de mi padre, creo que no se podría encontrar en toda Inglaterra una pareja más feliz.

De seis hijos, solo mi hermana Mary y yo logramos sobrevivir a los peligros de la infancia. Como yo era cinco o seis años más pequeña, siempre fui «la niña» y el muñeco de la familia; padre, madre y hermana: todos unidos para malcriarme, no con una loca indulgencia que hubiese hecho de mí una niña rebelde e ingobernable, sino con una atención constante que me convertiría en una persona demasiado indefensa y dependiente, incapaz de enfrentarse a las inquietudes y sobresaltos de la vida.

Mary y yo crecimos en el más absoluto aislamiento. Siendo mi madre una persona inteligente, culta y trabajadora, cargó con todo el peso de nuestra educación, a excepción del latín –de cuya enseñanza se hizo cargo mi padre–, de forma que nunca fuimos a la escuela y, como no había vida social en la vecindad, nuestro único contacto con el mundo consistía en serias reuniones en las que se invitaba a tomar el té a los principales granjeros y comerciantes de los alrededores –las justas para que no se nos tildara de gente demasiado orgullosa para relacionarse con sus vecinos– y en una visita anual a la casa de nuestro abuelo paterno, donde nuestra amable abuela, una tía soltera y dos o tres ancianas y caballeros fueron las únicas personas que jamás vimos. Algunas veces, nuestra madre nos contaba historias y anécdotas de su juventud, las cuales, además de divertirnos y sorprendernos, solían despertar –al menos en mí– un vago y secreto deseo de ver un poco más del mundo.

Yo pensaba que debía de haber sido muy feliz, pero ella nunca dio muestras de echar de menos tiempos pasados. En cambio, mi padre, cuyo temperamento no era tranquilo ni alegre, a menudo se atormentaba sin razón pensando en los sacrificios que su querida esposa había hecho por él, y le daba una y mil vueltas a la cabeza con proyectos para aumentar su pequeña fortuna, por ella y por nosotras. En vano mi madre le aseguraba que no necesitaba más de lo que tenían y que, si ahorraba un poco de dinero «para las niñas», tendríamos más que suficiente para el presente y para el futuro. Pero ahorrar no era el punto fuerte de mi padre. No era de los que se endeudaban (al menos, mi madre se cuidaba mucho de que no lo hiciera), pero cuando tenía dinero se sentía impelido a gastarlo. Le gustaba ver su casa confortable, y a su mujer e hijas bien vestidas y atendidas. Por otra parte, tenía una naturaleza caritativa y le gustaba ayudar a los pobres según sus medios, o, como algunos podían pensar, más allá de éstos.

Sucedió, sin embargo, que un buen amigo le sugirió la manera de doblar el valor de su patrimonio personal de un golpe, y de aumentarlo después a una cantidad indecible. Ese amigo era comerciante, un hombre de espíritu emprendedor y talento indiscutible, limitado empero en sus propósitos mercantiles por falta de capital; generosamente, ofreció a mi padre una buena parte de sus beneficios si éste le confiaba una cantidad de la que pudiera prescindir, en la fe de que fuera cual fuese la suma que pusiese en sus manos se la devolvería multiplicada por dos. El pequeño patrimonio se vendió rápidamente y todo su valor fue depositado en las manos del amable comerciante, quien procedió a embarcar su cargamento y a preparar su viaje de inmediato.

Mi padre estaba encantado, igual que todas nosotras, con las prometedoras perspectivas. Es cierto que, de momento, nos veíamos limitados a vivir de los modestos ingresos de la iglesia, pero mi padre pensaba que no había necesidad de restringir nuestros gastos escrupulosamente; de forma que, tras abrir una generosa cuenta con el señor Jackson, otra con Smith y una tercera con Hobson, vivíamos incluso con más comodidad que antes; mi madre, sin embargo, afirmaba que era mejor mantenerse dentro de nuestras posibilidades –ya que nuestras expectativas de riqueza no dejaban de ser precarias, después de todo–, y que si mi padre le confiaba la administración de todos nuestros bienes, no tendría nunca sensación de escasez. Pero, por una vez, él se mostró inflexible.

Qué horas tan felices pasamos Mary y yo, sentadas junto al fuego con nuestras labores, vagando por las colinas cubiertas de brezo, reposando ociosamente bajo el abedul (el único árbol grande de nuestro jardín), hablando de nuestra futura felicidad y de la de nuestros padres, de lo que haríamos, veríamos y tendríamos, sin que ese agradable horizonte tuviera otra base que la de las riquezas que esperábamos que recaerían sobre nosotros por el éxito de las especulaciones del meritorio comerciante. La actitud de nuestro padre era casi tan reprochable como la nuestra; pero intentaba quitar importancia a sus sentimientos y expresaba sus esperanzas de prosperidad y optimistas expectativas con bromas y alegres ocurrencias que siempre me parecían muy agradables e ingeniosas. Nuestra madre reía, encantada de verle tan feliz y lleno de esperanzas, pero temía que se hubiese creado demasiadas expectativas y, en una ocasión, la oí murmurar al salir de la habitación:

–¡Dios quiera que no sufra una decepción! No sé si podría soportarlo.

Una decepción fue lo que sufrió, y muy amarga. La noticia cayó sobre todos nosotros como un rayo: la nave que contenía nuestra fortuna había naufragado y se había hundido en las profundidades arrastrando consigo toda la carga, a algunos miembros de la tripulación y al desdichado comerciante. Sentí pena por él; sentí pena porque caían por tierra todos los castillos que habíamos construido en el aire, pero gracias a la flexibilidad de la juventud, pronto me recuperé del golpe.

Aunque la riqueza tuviera atractivos, la pobreza no infundía terror en una muchacha sin experiencia como yo. Si he de ser sincera, había algo excitante en la idea de pasar a depender completamente de nuestros limitados recursos. Hubiera deseado que papá, mamá y Mary pensaran de la misma forma que yo; y, así, en vez de lamentar calamidades pasadas, hubiéramos podido buscar juntos el medio de remediarlas con buen ánimo. Cuanto mayores fueran nuestras dificultades y duras nuestras presentes privaciones, mayores serían nuestra alegría para soportar las primeras y nuestro vigor para luchar contra las últimas.

Mary no se lamentaba, pero rumiaba constantemente nuestra desgracia, hundiéndose en un estado de abatimiento del que ningún esfuerzo de mi parte podía sacarla. No me era posible hacerle ver el lado bueno de la situación, tal y como yo lo veía, y lo cierto es que temía tanto que me acusasen de frivolidad infantil o de estúpida insensibilidad que guardaba para mí la mayor parte de las brillantes y alegres ideas que se me ocurrían, sabiendo bien que éstas no serían entendidas.

Mi madre solo pensaba en consolar a mi padre, pagar nuestras deudas y reducir nuestros gastos por todos los medios posibles. Pero mi padre estaba completamente abrumado por la calamidad. El golpe minó su salud, sus fuerzas y su ánimo, y nunca volvió a recuperarse del todo. En vano mi madre intentaba animarle apelando a su piedad, a su coraje y a su amor por ella misma y por nosotras. Ese mismo amor era la causa de su gran tormento: era por nosotras por lo que había deseado tan ardientemente aumentar su fortuna, era la idea de nuestro bienestar la que había dado alas a sus esperanzas y la que ahora le amargaba. Se atormentaba con el remordimiento de no haber seguido los consejos de mi madre, los cuales le hubiesen salvado, al menos, del peso adicional de las deudas. En vano se reprochaba el haber arrancado a mi madre de la dignidad, la comodidad y el lujo de su vida anterior para enfrentarla a las preocupaciones y trabajos de la pobreza. Ver a aquella mujer tan inteligente y dotada, cortejada y admirada en otro tiempo, convertida en una hacendosa y eficiente ama de casa, con las manos y la cabeza siempre ocupadas en los trabajos domésticos y en la economía familiar, era hiel para su alma. La misma forma voluntariosa con que llevaba a cabo sus tareas, la alegría con que soportaba los reveses de la fortuna y la generosidad con que le negaba cualquier responsabilidad en la presente situación se convertían, en la activa imaginación de este ser atormentado, en nuevas formas de aumentar sus sufrimientos. Y, así, la mente hizo mella en el cuerpo y atenazó sus nervios, los cuales, a su vez, aumentaron los problemas de la mente; hasta que, por acción y reacción, su salud se vio seriamente alterada, sin que ninguna de nosotras pudiera convencerle de que nuestros problemas eran mucho menos sombríos de lo que él pensaba, ni tan absolutamente desesperados como su mórbida imaginación los pintaba.

Tuvimos que vender el práctico faetón y el robusto y bien alimentado poni, aquel que tanto queríamos y que habíamos decidido que debía terminar sus días en paz, sin cambiar jamás de amos; la pequeña cochera y el establo fueron alquilados, el criado y la más eficiente de las sirvientas (por ser la más cara) fueron despedidos. Se reformaron, remendaron y zurcieron nuestros vestidos hasta el límite que permitía la decencia; nuestra comida, siempre sencilla, se simplificó a un extremo sin precedentes, a excepción de los platos favoritos de mi padre; el carbón y las velas se restringieron de forma dolorosa; las dos velas se redujeron a una y el carbón se escatimó, reservado cuidadosamente en el hogar medio vacío, especialmente cuando mi padre estaba ausente cumpliendo sus obligaciones pastorales o confinado en la cama por la enfermedad. Nos sentábamos entonces con los pies en el guardafuegos, escarbábamos en las brasas agonizantes de vez en cuando y, ocasionalmente, añadíamos una ligera capa de polvo y fragmentos de carbón para mantenerlas vivas. En cuanto a nuestras alfombras, también éstas se desgastaron a su tiempo, y fueron remendadas y zurcidas, más incluso que nuestros vestidos. Para ahorrar el sueldo de un jardinero, Mary y yo nos encargábamos del cuidado del jardín, y todo el trabajo de la cocina y de la casa que no podía ser atendido por una sola sirvienta era llevado a cabo por mi madre y mi hermana, a quienes yo ayudaba de vez en cuando –solo un poco, porque, aunque yo me consideraba una mujer, seguía siendo una niña para ellas–. Mi madre, como todas las mujeres activas y eficientes, no supo criar hijas muy activas: siendo ella tan inteligente y activa, nunca quiso confiar sus asuntos a otra persona; por el contrario, se mostraba siempre dispuesta a actuar y a pensar por ella misma y por los demás; y fuera cual fuese el asunto en cuestión, creía que nadie podía hacerlo tan bien como ella; de forma que, siempre que me ofrecía a ayudarla, recibía una respuesta como:

–No, cariño, realmente no puedes..., no hay nada que puedas hacer. Ve a ayudar a tu hermana o haz que vaya contigo a dar un paseo. Dile que no debe estar tanto tiempo sentada y en casa, o acabará por tener un aire triste y demacrado.

–Mary, mamá dice que te ayude, o que vayas conmigo a dar un paseo. Dice que si te quedas todo el tiempo sentada en casa, acabarás por tener un aire triste y demacrado.

–No puedes ayudarme, Agnes, y no puedo salir contigo. Tengo demasiadas cosas que hacer.

–Entonces, déjame ayudarte.

–De verdad que no puedes, cariño. Ve a practicar tus ejercicios de música o juega con el gatito.

Siempre había mucha ropa por coser, pero nunca se me enseñó a cortar un vestido y, excepto dobladillos y pespuntes, era poco lo que podía hacer; porque ambas me aseguraban que era mucho más fácil para ellas hacer el trabajo que prepararlo para mí; y, además, preferían ver cómo continuaba mis estudios o me divertía, ya tendría tiempo de inclinarme sobre la labor, como una seria matrona, cuando mi gatito preferido se hubiese convertido en un gato viejo y formal. En aquellas circunstancias, y aunque en realidad no fuese mucho más útil que mi gatito, mi ociosidad tenía cierta disculpa.

Durante todo aquel tiempo lleno de dificultades, jamás escuché a mi madre quejarse de nuestra falta de dinero. Cuando se acercaba el verano, nos decía a Mary y a mí:

–Qué bueno sería que vuestro padre pudiera pasar unas cuantas semanas en alguna playa. Estoy convencida de que la brisa del mar y un cambio de aires le harían un bien incalculable. Pero no tenemos dinero –añadía con un suspiro.

Las dos deseábamos de todo corazón que aquello pudiese suceder y sentíamos mucho que no fuera posible.

–¡Bueno, bueno! –decía ella–. No sirve de nada quejarse. Después de todo, quizá se pueda hacer algo para llevar a cabo nuestro plan. Mary, tú pintas muy bien. ¿Qué te parecería pintar algunos cuadros más, en tu mejor estilo, enmarcarlos junto con las acuarelas que ya tienes e intentar venderlos a un marchante de arte que tenga sensibilidad para reconocer su valor?

–Mamá, nada me haría más feliz, si tú crees que merece la pena y que podrían venderse.

–Merece la pena intentarlo, cariño. Tú trabaja en los cuadros y yo haré lo posible por encontrar un comprador.

–Ojalá pudiera hacer algo –dije yo.

–¿Tú, Agnes? Bueno, ¡quién sabe! Tú también pintas muy bien: si eligieras un tema sencillo, estoy segura de que harías algo que todos nos sentiríamos orgullosos de enseñar.

–Yo había pensado otra cosa, mamá, desde hace tiempo... pero no me atrevía a decirlo.

–¡Vaya! Por favor, dinos de qué se trata.

–Me gustaría ser institutriz.

Mi madre profirió una exclamación de sorpresa y se echó a reír. Mi hermana dejó caer la labor y exclamó, perpleja:

–¿Tú, una institutriz, Agnes? ¡Qué imaginación!

–¡Pues vaya! No veo nada de extraordinario en ello. No pretendo enseñar a chicas mayores, pero seguro que podría dar clases a unas niñas... y me haría tanta ilusión... ¡me gustan tanto los niños! ¡Déjame, mamá!

–Pero, cariño, si todavía no has aprendido a cuidar de ti misma. Y los niños requieren más juicio y experiencia que los que hacen falta para educar a los mayores.

–Pero, mamá, tengo dieciocho años cumplidos y soy perfectamente capaz de cuidar de mí misma y de otros también. No puedes conocer ni la mitad de la inteligencia y prudencia que tengo porque nunca las has puesto a prueba.

–Pero piensa –dijo Mary–, ¿qué harías en una casa llena de extraños, sin que mamá o yo pudiéramos ayudarte... con un grupo de niños a quienes atender y sin nadie a quien poder pedir consejo? Ni siquiera sabrías qué ropa ponerte.

–Creéis que, porque siempre hago lo que me decís, no tengo un juicio propio. Solo ponedme a prueba, es lo único que pido, y veréis de lo que soy capaz.

En aquel momento mi padre entró en la habitación y le explicaron el tema de la discusión.

–¡Mi pequeña Agnes, una institutriz! –exclamó, y a pesar de su depresión, la idea hizo que se echara a reír.

–Sí, papá, no te opongas. ¡Me gustaría tanto! ¡Y estoy segura de que lo haría tan bien!

–Pero, cariño, no podríamos prescindir de ti. –Y en uno de sus ojos brilló una lágrima mientras añadía–: ¡No, no! Es posible que pasemos un momento difícil, pero no hemos llegado a ese extremo.

–¡Claro que no! –dijo mi madre–. No hay ninguna necesidad de dar un paso como ése. Se trata, simplemente, de un capricho. De modo que ya puedes sujetar la lengua, niña mala, porque aunque estés tan dispuesta a dejarnos, sabes muy bien que nosotros no podríamos separarnos de ti.

Aquel día me hicieron callar, y otros muchos, pero yo no renuncié completamente a mi maravilloso plan. Mary consiguió su material de pintura y se puso a trabajar con tesón. También yo, aunque, mientras pintaba, pensaba en otras cosas.

¡Qué maravilloso sería convertirse en una institutriz! Salir al mundo; comenzar una nueva vida, ser responsable de mis actos, poner en práctica mis facultades aún no desarrolladas, poner a prueba mis poderes desconocidos; ganar mi propio sustento y ayudar también a mi padre, a mi madre y a mi hermana, además de ahorrarles los gastos de mi comida y de mi vestuario; demostrar a papá de lo que era capaz su pequeña Agnes, convencer a mamá y a Mary de que no era el ser desvalido e inconsciente que suponían. Y, entonces, ¡qué estupendo que me confiaran la labor de cuidar y educar a unos niños! No importaba lo que otros dijeran. Yo me sentía perfectamente preparada para acometer esa tarea: el recuerdo tan claro que tenía de los pensamientos y sentimientos de

Comentarios para Agnes Grey

[nx74defiant · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Anne is very under appreciated.I like her more realistic style.The book is told in the first person by Agnes. As a governess Agnes is given no real authority to punish her charges. So of course they feel free to disrespect her.

[lisa.isselee · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

a realistic & plain love story. The main character is normal and there isn't anything extravagant about the whole thing. Which makes this book a very nice read, it's a nice change to all the drama filled romance novels you find today.
It was charming & wonderful.

[thatotter-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Plain and rather predictable, but nice.

[sherdenise · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

I had a hard time with Ann Brontes writing style. An enjoyable story was mired down in too many words!

[michellech_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This was a Librovox recording that was ok. I thought that the voice of Agnes was a bit whiny. This matched the first half of the book which was Agnes's narrative about the awful students in her care. I sympathized with her a bit and thought that not only the students but parents were absolutely awful and disrespectful. It is interesting how little preparation a governess had for taking care of the young people she spent all day teaching and guiding. Going into a family with predefined behavior and disfunction had to be incredibly difficult. I am sure that very little was ever discussed prior to starting a placement in terms of managing difficult situations a governess was most likely going to experience.

A governess was both a necessity and an evil. She was needed but not included as a member of the family. The ultimate decision-making was also in the hands of the parents, something that I am sure many youth took advantage of on a day to day basis.

The second half of the book was more bright as some of the characters received their just desserts and Agnes found her path and voice. I was happy with the ending and must confess that I do enjoy things being wrapped up neatly.

Looking forward to more of the Bronte sisters.

[rmckeown_9 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I am resolved to work my way through all the novels by the Brontë sisters – Ann, Emily, and Charlotte. Agnes Grey is Anne’s first of her two novels. Anne was born January 17, 1820. She was a novelist and a poet. She spent most of her life with her family at the parish church of Haworth on the Yorkshire moors. She was a governess from 1839 to 1845. Agnes Grey was published in 1847. Anne died May 28, 1849.She drew on her experiences at Haworth and as a governess in writing the novel. The first paragraph sets forth her ideas on writing a novel. She wrote, “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 shriveled 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 my 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” (1). Every time I delve into one of the Brontës, I can not help to hear their voices—soft, gentle, erudite—as I imagine them to be.As was frequently the case in those days, a writer was at the mercy of the typesetters. In a letter to her publisher, she wrote, “There are numerous literal errors, and the text of Agnes Grey is marred by various peculiarities of punctuation, especially in the use of commas (some of these, however, may be authorial)” (xi). She began revising the text, and a copy of the third volume has “some 121 revisions made in pencil in her hand, many of them involving quite significant substantive alterations” (xi). James Joyce faced the same problem with Ulysses with typesetters who could not read English. I corrected the text for many years—nearly up to his death.Anne’s novel is considered quite an achievement. As the novel proceeds, she becomes more confident. Here is a conversation between Anne and Rosalie: “‘If you mean Mr. Weston to be one of your victims,’ said I, with affected indifference, ‘you will have to make such overtures yourself, that you will find it difficult to draw back when he asks you to fulfil the expectations you have raised’ // [Anne’s reply] ‘I don’t suppose he will ask me to marry him—nor should I desire it … that would be rather too much presumption! But I intend him to feel my power—he has felt it already, indeed—but he shall acknowledge it too; and what visionary hopes he may have, he must keep to himself, and only amuse me with the result of them—for a time’” (xii).As the Introduction to my paperback copy points out, “Agnes Grey is undoubtedly in many ways a deeply personal novel’ (xii). “Charlotte Brontë described the work as ‘the mirror of the mind of the writer” (xii-xiii). One of the things that Anne emphasized in her novels, comes right out of her experiences as a governess. The treatment of these young women was nothing less than atrocious. Agnes Grey speaks with the authority of experience. In addition, her moral and religious sensibilities are evident throughout the novel.I hope this taste of a fantastically talented young writer will inspire you to snuggle up with Anne Brontë and delve into Agnes Grey. All you need is a cup of tea, some patience, and the reward is a thoroughly satisfying picture of young women in England of the 1840s. 5 stars!--Jim, 12/6/17

[jmchshannon · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This book was an almost unanimous selection for my book club. When we were voting, we were in the throes of some very weighty books, Little Dorrit, The Three Musketeers, Of Human Bondage, and the like. I think almost everyone in the group was ready for something a little lighter and definitely shorter. Agnes Grey definitely fits that bill. If you read it looking for similarities in writing to her sisters, however, you will be disappointed. Anne is the vanilla to Jane and Charlotte's more exotic chocolate. Agnes Grey contains no Gothic elements. It is slightly preachy and somewhat predictable. I would term it an overall pleasant book to read, albeit one that is not going to change the world.Agnes is just plain nice. She could have been very annoying with her goodness, but I think Anne avoids that very deftly. While on the outside she may appear like a goody-two-shoes who does nothing but preach to her charges, she throws in enough criticism for the reader's eyes that makes her story quite interesting and fun to read. In general, the entire story is a good, old-fashioned love story. I may not be particularly happy that Anne finds true happiness through marriage (because I get tired of that lesson), I do understand that for women in the 1800s, there truly were very few options.Speaking of options, I do believe Agnes Grey does a tremendous job of showcasing the struggles of governesses and the limited options for women who needed to work to support their families. As Agnes (and Anne) can attest, often they were considered lower than the servants. They had no respect or authority but were expected to mold spoiled children into model citizens. Without the authority to do anything, their jobs were often doomed from the beginning. And for all their efforts, they received pitiful wages that barely helped. However, if one were truly to do a comparison, are teaching positions all that different now than they were in Anne's time? Teachers remain grossly underpaid, often have no authority for discipline and yet expected to mold students and help them reach their full potential. Parents either thwart their efforts at home or throw fits over certain punishments that a teacher's hands are tied. It appears that governesses and today's teachers still have much in common.Overall, I found Agnes Grey an enjoyable read. I know that Agnes bothered some of my fellow book club members, but I liked her. She had spunk and backbone and never once deviated from her beliefs. We should all be so strong in our convictions.

[stouthearted_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

The least-studied Bronte throws her experiences as a governess into the ring and the result is a scathing tale of the upper classes and how they treat their middle class servants.The heroine Agnes Grey is a virtuous clergyman's daughter who, when her family finds themselves struggling, offers up her services as a governess. Her experiences are terrible: The children are unruly and unwilling to submit to authority, and the parents expect the kids to be tamed without discipline or harsh words. Agnes soon finds that governesses have an awkward place in their charges' families. They are treated like servants, yet expected to hold themselves in a manner better than such. Servants, in fact, seem to hold a resentment for a governess's place in their master's home. The governess then lives a lonely life, without confidantes, far from home. They are supposed to have no feelings, and to think only of their charges. When Agnes suffers a loss, her mistress is sulky that Agnes should take a short leave. She is ordered about with no concern of her own health or welfare, stuffed into uncomfortable carriage seats and forced to endure walks in uncomfortable weather and often finds herself sick.Agnes survives it all due to her sense of moral duty, which oftentimes borders on pride. She is afraid to admit failure to her family, who discouraged her from the work at first. Thus, she puts up with the cruelest of children in her first job as a governess, which she was woefully underprepared for. The second family she worked for was almost as bad. There, her primary charges were two young women: one a determined flirt, the other a foul-mouthed tomboy, neither of which felt obliged to be peacefully taught anything by a governess. The flirt, eldest daughter Rosalie, establishes a semblance of a friendship with Agnes, which consisted of Rosalie confiding in all the naughty things she did, and Agnes admonishing her. When Rosalie marries unhappily and is shut away in the country by her jealous husband, she calls on her old governess for conpanionship, but as usual does not listen to any of her advice. Thus, Rosalie becomes a self-sabotaging character: she is determined to always have things her way, even if her way makes things worse for her. In contrast, Agnes finds a most agreeable companion in the curate Mr. Weston. Both find comfort in religion and helping the less fortunate. Agnes falls in love almost immediately, but does not dare hope that marriage is in the cards for a woman of her class and position. As stoic and sensible as she tries to be, her mind belies an schoolgirl giddiness when she thinks of Mr. Weston. It is interesting that she and Rosalie take almost similar actions to cross his path: Rosalie wants to ensnare Mr. Weston's affections before her marriage to stroke her ego, so she visits the cottagers more in hopes to find him administering to parishoners there. Similarily, Agnes hopes to run into and hear about Mr. Weston as she visits the cottagers. The difference lies in their motives: Rosalie's intents are perverted because she disdains mens' feelings and only wants to be adored and have the satisfaction of turning down another proposal. Agnes's love is pure and based on admiration for Mr. Weston's moral character.The novel ends with happiness for those who deserve it -- very satisfactory for the reader. It is interesting to compare the novel to the "governess stories" of another Bronte, Charlotte, like "Jane Eyre" and "Villete", the latter being a closer comparison. In "Villette," Lucy Snowe is an isolated teacher who finds herself in a patronizing pseudo-friendship with one of her flirtatious and insulting charges. Like Agnes, Lucy makes a romantic connection with a likeminded sober and upstanding character. "Agnes Grey," however is a more damning account of the treatment of governesses. Few respectable jobs were open to educated women with no fortune to tempt men into marriage. Their minds and moral character set them apart, making them outsiders and resigned to a lonely life. They worked to survive, not to hope for any wordly pleasure, for the only pleasure that mattered was that of the family for whom they worked. The fact that Agnes can find happiness at the novel's conclusion is heartening, but it does not diminish the harsh treatment she received by her employers. I can only hope that the novel's publication made an impression on Victorian readers, and sought them to treat their governesses much more fairly.

[gypsysmom_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Anne Bronte is one of the Bronte sisters, all of whom wrote novels. This book is based on Anne's own experiences as a governess. If the details are true to life then she had some horrible brats as students and I do feel sorry for her. However, feeling sorry doesn't mean that I thought the book was good. I don't think Anne had the skill that her older sister, Charlotte, did for writing about characters that made one care what happened to them. Even the eponymous character didn't engage me. I wanted her to, at least once, stand up for herself but she consistently backed down. In one of the most horrible scenes she prevented a cruel boy from torturing a little bird by killing the bird herself. Surely there was some other way to resolve this problem. I could tell almost from the minute the young curate, Edward Weston, was introduced that Agnes would fall in love with him and, somehow, they would marry. Even when both Grey and Weston each leave the place where they met and Agnes was not able to learn where he had gone I knew that somehow they would reconnect. If that's a spoiler I apologize but, as I said, it seemed pretty obvious from the outset.Not my favourite classic by any stretch of the imagination. Give me George Eliot or Elizabeth Gaskell any day.

[the_hibernator · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

When the Grey family begins to have financial problems, Agnes, a sheltered minister's daughter, begins life as a governess. She is shocked and appalled by how she is treated and what miracles she is expected to achieve. This book is a social commentary on the treatment of governesses and unruly children. It also touches on the charms of marrying for love instead of money. It was a quick read, but rather unexceptional.

[helenliz_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

A largely biographical novel, telling the trials and tribulations of a daughter of a clergyman who resorts to being a governess in order to reduce her burden on the family finances. Unfortunately, Agnes is allowed too little authority over her spoilt charges and has too little experience, character and authority in herself to be able to exert what little authority she does have over the brats. And they are uniformly brats who are neglected and over indulged by their parents. It is also a cycle that is difficult to break, with Rosalie Murray looking set to treat her child in the same manner as she was, thus perpetuating the cycle of bad behaviour. Agnes herself is not someone I'd want to spend a great deal of time with. Too innocent to know much of the ways of the world, she is entirely out of her depth for most of the novel. She is also too insipid to do much about it. She always takes the back seat and does little to develop her own character. I accept she's in a difficult situation, the governess sitting uncomfortably between the servants and the family, being a part of neither circle. It leads to a isolating position, despite Agnes' claim (about which she then does nothing) that she is the equal of the ladies and their friends that she has been employed to educate. The other topic this book covers is courtship & marriage. There are two very different end results, and, one suspects, one is supposed to take the message that a good marriage is deserved by the more godly (preachy and pious) person. I, however, take from it that I'm amazed any marriage was ever good, in that they seem to be based on a mere handful of meetings and those barely seem to scratch the surface of the kind of exploratory conversations you'd have on a modern date. Rosalie discovers her husband is not at all what she imagined he would be, and has no skills to manage him. I occasionally complain my husband is not at all romantic, but I did know that before I married him. Not the longest book, and not a difficult read. But it has that 19th century preaching tone about it - you're supposed to take a lesson from it. And so it's unlikely to be one I'll come back to.

[rainpebble_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte; (2 1/2*)A clergyman's family falls into difficult financial times and one of the daughters must go into service as a governess. How many times and how many ways have we read this one? To give Bronte her due, she was young at the time she wrote this and she did have some experience of that which she wrote. I have to admit part of the reason I read this is that I was quite curious as to how this sister held up against her sisters and the outcome was 'rather poorly'. But then who can stand up against Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights? I found Agnes Grey rather predictable and somewhat of a snooze. Anne Bronte does bring some nice bits of writing to the table throughout her novel but I doubt I would have completed the read had it not been that I was taking part in a tutored & group read. I did love the very last part of the novel so the author did score some marks.

[alhana_2 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I really loved this book. I think Anne among the Bronte sisters is too underrated. Okay, her book is not groundbreaking as Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, but it's still a good book, sweet and nice, and that leaves you with a good feeling in your heart. So, for me, it's five stars.

[missjomarch · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A very simple and heart- warming story based on the author's own experience as a governess. Anne Bronte does very well to engage the reader into a personal account of Agnes and the two positions she held to assist her own family's income. The challenges she faces dealing with over-indulged and disrespectful children would make any woman grateful that there are more choices for employment in the modern world. I adore the Bronte sisters and enjoyed this quick read.

[zeborah · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Many similarities to her sister Charlotte's Villette, though not so powerful. Agnes is more reliable a narrator -- occasionally coy, but transparently so -- though somehow (or perhaps 'therefore') I didn't find her quite as engaging. She's steadfast and determined, but mostly in a very quiet manner, so without the Villette-style revelations that "Oh by the way, I lied about X" there's little real spark. But she is likeable and admirable, and the story a sweet one of what makes a good education and a happy marriage.

[killerx-2 · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

Agnes is an idiot. And I only made it through about 60% of this very boring book.

[dreesie-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

1001 list book #158.Sweet, short, sappy, romantic, yet somehow satisfying. This would actually be a great read for middle/high schoolers--especially for those kids who are young but read at an advanced level. The 18th century language is not simple to read (not hard either, just different), social history is important, and this book is clean and gentle.Read on Serial Reader.

[amerynth · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Based upon her own experiences as a governess to two wealthy families, Anne Bronte's "Agnes Grey" is an interesting look at a world with very big class divides. I enjoyed the book, which was a super quick read, but found it's greatest interest lay not in its literary strength, but on the true life experiences it drew upon.Agnes, the daughter of a clergyman, becomes a governess to help with her family's financial troubles. She attends to two different families during her career -- one with a set of spoiled, troublesome tots and another with older, carefree teens who care little for learning, instead yearning for more frivolous activities. Agnes attempts through patience, kindness and gentle instruction to make a different in the lives of these folks with little success.The book does come across as moralizing and preachy sometimes-- more so than Anne's second (and vastly superior book) "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," which also has a similar sensibility. However, I found there was also a sweetness to it that kept the narrator from crossing the line into annoying-ville. Overall, I found it a decent summer read, but not quite up to par with her other book, or the more well-known books of her sisters.

[john257hopper · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I am a big fan of the Brontes. While Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Emily's Wuthering Heights are deservedly all time classics, Anne's two novels are less well known and comparatively neglected; and Agnes Grey is probably less known than Anne's other novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Agnes Grey is comparatively short and is a semi-autobiographical novel where Anne recounts the eponymous young lady's experiences as a governess to the children of wealthy families. When her father's business ventures fall apart after the sinking of a ship of his merchant business partner, young Agnes goes to work as a governess to earn the family some money, despite discouragement from her family. Her experiences are actually quite hilarious, dealing with spoiled and delinquent children and their oblivious parents who refuse to see any wrong in their offspring, particularly in the case of the Bloomfields. Later she looks after the older daughters of the Murrays, who are also a trial, being self-centred and needy, but with whom she is able eventually to establish a modus vivendi. She also falls in love with a vicar in the Murrays' local village, Mr Weston. This is a lovely and very satisfying novel, in some ways ahead of its time in dealing with "feral" children, as is Wildfell Hall in dealing with domestic abuse. A great read.

[lynn_barker_14 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Agnes wants to prove herself and help her family by working as a governess. Her family try to dissuade her, thinking she is too young and not competent. Her first job is to teach two little uncooperative imps from the nether regions. The parents don't allow her to discipline the two, yet criticize her for not being able to control them. The only way she can get the little boy to pay attention to his lesson is to back him into a corner and not let him go until she gets a response. Meanwhile, he incites the little sister to throw Agnes' work bag in the fire, or toss her letters out the window. When the governess goes to rescue her possessions, the boy escapes his lessons after all. These are the first in a series of horrid children we meet in the novel. Agnes never loses her patience and feels quiet consistency and kindness will eventually win over her charges. Poor Anne was obviously writing from experience. I got a little irritated with the novel's heroine at times. She's a little too much of a victim, and constantly emphasizing the contrast between her employers' lack of character and her own moral superiority. Worthwhile reading.

[shereadsnovels · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Although I didn't think this book was as good as Anne Bronte's other novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and it didn't have the feel of a must-read classic like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, there was still a lot to like about Agnes Grey.The plot is simple, plain and linear. It's the story of a young woman in 19th century England who goes out to work as a governess when her family fall on hard times. Unfortunately Tom, Mary Ann and Fanny Bloomfield are three of the most badly-behaved children imaginable. When her short, unhappy time with the Bloomfields comes to an end, Agnes finds another situation with two older pupils, Rosalie and Matilda Murray. This second position is not much better than the first - the Murray girls are selfish and thoughtless and the only thing that makes Agnes's life bearable is her friendship with Mr Weston, the village curate.Agnes Grey has an autobiographical feel because Anne Bronte herself had worked as a governess and was able to draw on her own personal experiences to show how servants were often treated with cruelty and contempt by their employers. I could sympathise with Agnes as I would soon have lost my patience with the spoilt Bloomfield children and the self-centred, inconsiderate Murrays. I also thought it was unfair that the parents expected Agnes to control their children without actually giving her any real authority over them. It was such a difficult position to be in. However, I found it slightly disappointing that Agnes seemed prepared to just accept things the way they were and not do anything to change the situation. The book was more about tolerance and perseverance than about taking action to try to make things better.Another of the book's themes is the importance of morality, virtuousness and goodness, qualities in which the Bloomfield and Murray families seem to be sadly lacking, leading Agnes to feel isolated and miserable. However, I think many readers will find Agnes too self-righteous and superior, so if you prefer your heroines to be flawed and imperfect this probably isn't the book for you! Reading about the day to day life of a governess is not particularly exciting or dramatic, but I still found the book enjoyable and interesting - and at under 200 pages a very quick read compared to many of the other Bronte books.

[jeb5 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Anne Bronte's writings bring like in the 1800s to life on the page. Her short descriptive chapters set a fast pace to her vivid writing. This is a small treasure of a novel with semi-biographical experiences is often ignored alongside her sisters more famous novels, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights but it is not forgotten.

[lucybrown_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Okay, don't throw things at me... Anne is my favorite Bronte. There is something more human about her compared to the the masochistic Charlotte and the transcendent Emily. I loved this book, but it has been awhile since I read it.

[luli81_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Not as good as "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall", but still worth reading.A classic Cinderella's, the gentle and patient governess turned into the princess by the love of a Parson.

[rosecityreader · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

The Nanny Diaries of the 19th Century.

[bleached_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Like her sisters, Anne Bronte is a truly talented writer. While one sister leans more toward romanticism, the other toward morbidity, Anne is in the middle with realism. Her characters portray the nature of humanity in all their flaws and strengths.A heart-warming tale of Agnes who, wanting to help her family's financial situation, becomes a governess. The first family is a nightmare, children are ill-mannered and the parents put all the blame on her for their lack of discipline.Luckily, her second situation was easier, though far from perfect. Through it all she manages to make it through, despite making no head way in morality with her pupils, and even finds Mr. Weston, the man who captures her heart.

[ashryan_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

As a novel that follows the plight of a young woman forced into the position of a governess to make ends meet, Anne Bronte's Agnes Grey has of course often been compared with her sister's more famous novel Jane Eyre. And as a love story, it has also been compared with the novels of Jane Austen. It even reminded me a little of the cautionary morality tales that had been popular up to that time, such as Defoe's Moll Flanders.Personally, I enjoyed it more than Pride and Prejudice, but not as much as Jane Eyre. It just doesn't have the same scope and depth. That said, it is a nice little novel, and interesting, and sometimes very funny. Well worth reading.

[kawgirl · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I read this while treking around the UK. It was entertaining, though lacked a certain quality with which Anne's sisters somehow infused their books. Definitely worth reading.

[varielle_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Fodder for all romance novelists who followed the Brontes, how many ways can you tell the story of a mousy, governess beset on all sides by poverty, the winds of fate and wicked souls who try, if not her virtue, at least her patience? Yet she victoriously outlasts them all through her basic goodness to win the heart and hand of the right man in the end. Anne Bronte's heroine may be a bit boring, but her wonderfully descriptive passages lift Agnes Grey above the ordinary. Her intense attention to detail and personality are extremely well done, particularly regarding some of the nasty little psychopathic charges Miss Grey had to take in hand and their equally repulsive parents.

[thenovelworld_1 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Somewhere in the middle of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Agnes Grey lacks character development and plot.