Agnes Grey

When young Agnes Grey’s family is plunged into poverty, she wants to help them find a way out of their situation. However, she is constantly frustrated at their refusal to take her seriously. Being a young woman, there are very few options open to her, and she applies for work as a governess. This causes her to be stationed with several rich families that operate in a completely different way to her own.

Despite her often being unfairly treated, Agnes remains kind and charitable, and through her community work, she meets the gentle curate, Mr. Weston. Will he appreciate her goodness, or will his head be turned by a lady of wealthier means?

With its strong focus on women and how precarious their situations were in the Victorian era, Agnes Grey is widely credited as being one of the first feminist novels. Its story of perseverance resonates just as much today as it did when it was first published in 1847, and it continues to enthrall readers worldwide.