Agnes Grey
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Narrated by:
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Emilia Fox
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By:
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Anne Brontë
About this listen
Exclusively from Audible
Drawing heavily from personal experience, Anne Brontë wrote Agnes Grey in an effort to represent the many 19th Century women who worked as governesses and suffered daily abuse as a result of their position.
Having lost the family savings on risky investments, Richard Grey removes himself from family life and suffers a bout of depression. Feeling helpless and frustrated, his youngest daughter, Agnes, applies for a job as a governess to the children of a wealthy, upper-class, English family.
Ecstatic at the thought that she has finally gained control and freedom over her own life, Agnes arrives at the Bloomfield mansion armed with confidence and purpose. The cruelty with which the family treat her however, slowly but surely strips the heroine of all dignity and belief in humanity.
A tale of female bravery in the face of isolation and subjugation, Agnes Grey is a masterpiece claimed by Irish writer, George Moore, to be possessed of all the qualities and style of a Jane Austen title. Its simple prosaic style propels the narrative forward in a gentle yet rhythmic manner which continuously leaves the listener wanting to know more.
Anne Brontë, the somewhat lesser known sister, was in fact the first to finish and publish Agnes Grey under the pseudonym of Acton Bell. Charlotte and Emily followed shortly after with Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
As Anne passed away from what is now known to be pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of just 29, she only published one further title; The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. As feminist in nature as Agnes Grey, Anne's brave voice resonates and permeates during one of the most prejudiced and patriarchal times of English history.
Narrator Biography
Emilia Fox is an English stage, film and TV actress, best known for playing the role of Dr Nikki Alexander on the BBC's crime drama Silent Witness. Having been involved in the programme since 2004, she is now its longest serving cast member.
Her other credits include Merlin, Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca, and her theatre background includes performances of The Cherry Orchard with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Emilia has also starred alongside Adrien Brody in Roman Polanski's The Pianist, beside Billie Piper and Dougray Scott in Things to Do Before You're 30 and with Maggie Smith and Kristin Scott Thomas in Keeping Mum.
She has voiced many audiobooks for Audible, including Philippa Gregory's The White Queen, William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Sylvia Plath's Lady Lazarus and Victoria Hislop's The Island.
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The unapologetic intensity with which Emily Brontë wrote this story ensures that it will forever be considered one of the greatest works of English literature. A passionate tale of a chaotic and often violent love, Wuthering Heights transcends your average romance and, with its Gothic undertones, takes the listener on a journey through one man's lustful hunt for revenge.
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Almost Peerless
- By Brad Simkulet on 02-04-18
By: Emily Brontë, and others
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The Belton Estate
- By: Anthony Trollope
- Narrated by: Flo Gibson
- Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Charming, loving Clara Amedroz is involved with two suitors. How she deals with this dilemma is full of humor and very moving.
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Claire's Two Lovers
- By Joseph R on 08-27-09
By: Anthony Trollope
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Middlemarch
- By: George Eliot
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 35 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Dorothea Brooke is an ardent idealist who represses her vivacity and intelligence for the cold, theological pedant Casaubon. One man understands her true nature: the artist Will Ladislaw. But how can love triumph against her sense of duty and Casaubon’s mean spirit? Meanwhile, in the little world of Middlemarch, the broader world is mirrored: the world of politics, social change, and reforms, as well as betrayal, greed, blackmail, ambition, and disappointment.
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Best Audible book ever
- By Molly-o on 12-25-11
By: George Eliot
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The Claverings
- By: Anthony Trollope
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 20 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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At the opening of The Claverings (1866) the beautiful Julia Brabazon jilts her lover Harry Clavering in order to make a marriage of convenience with a wealthy but dissolute earl. Harry licks his wounds, leaves London to train as a civil engineer, and falls in love with his employer's daughter, to whom he soon becomes engaged. But when Julia returns unexpectedly as a wealthy widow, the flame of Harry's old love is rekindled.
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A classic love triangle in a classic novel...:)
- By Lidia Chymkowska on 12-17-18
By: Anthony Trollope
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David Copperfield
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 36 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Between his work on the 2014 Audible Audiobook of the Year, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel, and his performance of Classic Love Poems, narrator Richard Armitage ( The Hobbit, Hannibal) has quickly become a listener favorite. Now, in this defining performance of Charles Dickens' classic David Copperfield, Armitage lends his unique voice and interpretation, truly inhabiting each character and bringing real energy to the life of one of Dickens' most famous characters.
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A PERFECT narration of an English classic!
- By Wayne on 09-03-17
By: Charles Dickens
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The American
- By: Henry James
- Narrated by: Adam Sims
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Self-made American millionaire Christopher Newman arrives in Paris brimming with hope and optimism, excited to experience the culture and, hopefully, find the perfect woman to become his wife. After a chance encounter with American expatriate friends, his attention is drawn to Madame de Cintré, 25-year-old widowed daughter of the late Marquis de Bellegarde. Having fallen on hard times, the centuries-old aristocratic family permits Newman's courtship to proceed; however, they later persuade the widow to break off her engagement to the nouveau-riche businessman.
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excellent reading
- By Andorboth on 12-03-22
By: Henry James
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An Old-Fashioned Girl
- By: Louisa May Alcott
- Narrated by: Anne Hancock
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Immediately following the success of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott sat down to write An-Old Fashioned Girl, expanding on the subject of rich versus poor that she explored in her first novel. It’s a story of a country mouse and a city mouse: 14-year-old Polly Milton travels to Boston for a stay with her friend Fanny Shaw. The wealthy Shaws’ way of life is foreign to Polly who tries to adapt but is quickly labeled “old-fashioned”. Fanny and her friends dress and behave as their elders do, flirting with boys and gossiping.
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Okay
- By selene on 07-15-18
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Dombey and Son
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: David Timson
- Length: 39 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Dombey and Son is vintage Dickens and explores the classic themes of betrayal, cruelty and deceit. Dombey's dysfunctional relationships are painted against a backdrop of social unrest in industrialized London, which is populated by a host of fascinating and memorable secondary characters. The complete and unabridged novel is brought spectacularly to life by veteran reader David Timson.
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Utterly incredible!
- By Amazon Customer on 03-12-12
By: Charles Dickens
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On the Origin of Species
- By: Charles Darwin
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Abridged
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Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion and a life-long committed Darwinist, abridges and reads this special audio version of Charles Darwin's famous book. A literally world-changing book, Darwin put forward the anti-religious and scientific idea that humans in fact evolved over millions of generations from animals, starting with fish, all the way up through the ranks to apes, then to our current form.
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A Perfect Abridgement
- By M on 05-28-09
By: Charles Darwin
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Magnificent reading
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In her daring first novel, the youngest Brontë sister drew upon her own experiences to tell the unvarnished truth about life as a governess. Like Agnes Grey, Anne Bronte was a young middle-class Victorian lady whose family fortunes had faltered. Like so many other unmarried women of the 19th century, Bronte accepted the only "respectable" employment available - and entered a world of hardship, humiliation, and loneliness.
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Unexpected love for this Novel
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By: Anne Brontë
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What Maisie Knew
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Maisie is an innocent six year-old, torn between her divorced parents, pathetically isolated yet tragically involved.
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A great reader reads a great writer
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The story of a woman's struggle for independence from an abusive husband. Helen 'Graham' has returned to Wildfell Hall in flight from a disastrous marriage and to protect her young son from the influence of his father. Exiled to the desolate moorland mansion, she adopts an assumed name and earns her living as a painter. Gilbert Markham, a local man intrigued by the beautiful young 'widow' offers his friendship but becomes distrustful when her reclusive behaviour sparks rumours and speculation.
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My favorite Bronte book
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Classic 19th Century “sensation novel”
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Madame Bovary
- By: Gustave Flaubert, Gerard Hopkins - translator
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Overall
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Before marrying, Emma Bovary believed she would enter a life of luxury and passion like the sentimental stories she'd read in her novels and magazines. Now married to an ordinary country doctor her life is not the romantic ideal she imagined and seeks an escape through having extra-marital affairs. This devastating spiral into deceit and despair leads to catastrophic consequences. Emma Bovary continues to be enjoyed to this day because of its profound humanity, still as fresh today as when it was first written.
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Fantastic Narrator
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Unexpected love for this Novel
- By Rachel on 03-18-21
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A great reader reads a great writer
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Superb! Story and Narration A++
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Gulliver's Travels
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Andrew Sachs reads Jonathan Swift's humorous and unforgettable tale of a strange man in some very strange lands. Gulliver had always wanted to see the world. But whenever he steps on board a ship, bad luck always seems near at hand. He is shipwrecked, abandoned, marooned and mutinied against - and each time lands in a strange and curious place.
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another great abridgement
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By: Jonathan Swift
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The House of Mirth
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Beautiful, sophisticated and endlessly ambitious Lily Bart endeavours to climb the social ladder of New York's elite by securing a good match and living beyond her means. Now nearing 30 years of age and having rejected several proposals, forever in the hope of finding someone better, her future prospects are threatened. A damning commentary of 20th-century social order, Edith Wharton's tale established her as one of the greatest British novelists of the 1900s.
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Like Henry James but more accessible
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Peter Firth gets this book
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- The Audible Dickens Collection
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'Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life.' So says Thomas Gradgrind, a wealthy, utilitarian school board superintendent. Father to Tom and Louisa, he shapes the minds of all the young children, including his own, with the exception of only one: the circus-born Sissy Jupe.
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Excellent book and excellent performance
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Hailed as Charlotte Brontë’s “finest novel” by Virginia Woolf, Villette is the timeless semi-autobiographical tale of Lucy Snowe. Left with no family and no money, Lucy goes against her own timid nature and travels to the small city of Villette, France, where she becomes a school teacher in Madame Beck’s school for girls. During her stay, she falls in love—twice—and discovers an independent, inner strength rarely seen in women of her time.
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The Divine Ms. Porter delivers as always
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Anna Karenina
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Beautiful story, amazing narration
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The Well of Loneliness
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After publication in 1928, it was banned for obscenity before going on to become an international best seller. It tells the story of Stephen Gordon, an Englishwoman from an upper-class family who is ostracised for falling in love with another woman, Mary Llewellyn. Groundbreaking in its day, Radclyffe Hall’s novel ultimately makes a very clear plea in regards to homosexuality: 'Give us also the right to our existence'.
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More Ell Potter as narrator!
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Crime and Punishment
- By: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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Often considered one of the first ever psychological thrillers, Crime and Punishment is a gripping tale of a poverty-stricken young man in Saint Petersburg, Russia, who hatches a plan to kill someone for money. Once the deed is done, he finds himself racked with guilt, confusion and disgust for his act. In this new recording, Will Poulter gives new life to the troubled protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov, in a performance that will have you questioning where we draw the line between right and wrong.
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fantastic performance
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What listeners say about Agnes Grey
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- M. J. Walsh
- 02-03-22
Slight but substantial
This relatively simple tale about a pious young woman's experiences when she takes work as a governess seems slight by comparison with the best known works of the Bronte sisters. But it has substance to enhance its merits.
The character studies of those that employ Agnes, and are taught by her, are the book's high point. They more than compensate for a religiosity from Agnes that can seem cloying at times.
The reading becomes another highlight as the characters are brought to life with insight and a fine acting skill.
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- Kindle Customer
- 01-09-23
great love story
it's a great classic love story by the infamous Anne bronte. spoken by Ms. fox in a pleasant tone
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- Julie
- 02-28-23
Excellent story with excellent narration
I’ve read several other works by the Brontë sisters, but not this one. I (unsurprisingly) enjoyed the story, but especially the narration.
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- Marcia S
- 03-31-23
Excellent audio interpretation.
Lovely story of quaint times gone by, well presented by the reader. Enthusiastically recommend.
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- dagwoodacquisitions
- 06-17-24
Bronte greatness
My introduction to the lesser known Bronte was a pleasant surprise! I read along while listening to The Literary Life Podcast episodes 224-227 and really enjoyed the story as well as their offerings. The narrator did a wonderful job with inflection, tone, and vocal variation.
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- K. Fuller
- 10-01-24
The goodness of Agnes
The two chapters before the last ran together. It was really pleasant and a good read!
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- Carole T.
- 06-17-12
The Unknown Bronte
Anne is often overlooked among the Bronte family, and this book shows why. It's hard to overlook the martyred tone. I read this for a book club and might not otherwise have finished it. If you can overlook the unpleasant heroine, there is some wonderful description in the writing.
I'd recommend this mostly for people wanting the entire Bronte experience. Anne is much better represented by "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall".
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4 people found this helpful
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- Alcee Arobin
- 10-15-14
Lovely tale from the forgotten Brontë
If you could sum up Agnes Grey in three words, what would they be?
Lyrical, humorous, and preachy.
Who was your favorite character and why?
In fact I quite liked the would-be villain, Rosalie Murray. She wasn't a kind person, but the reader could also sympathize with the intractability of her position as a woman of that era. She wanted adventure and amusement, but in the end couldn't escape her fate as a cloistered country aristocrat.
What does Emilia Fox bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I loved the soft, reflective quality of her narration. She also managed to vocalize each of the characters uniquely without resorting to exaggerated voices.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Among others, when Agnes travels to Wellwood for her first appointment as a governess. She's excited to begin her new life, but when the house comes into view from her carriage window she wishes it were just a few miles further away. I experienced the same sentiment the first time I moved away from home at around Agnes' age.
Any additional comments?
I loved Emilia Fox's narration but the quality of the recording is a little lacking. I had to lower the volume for her performance of Rosalie Murray's voice because the sound was much more piercing.
Final thought: the plot is overly moralizing (I told a friend it's essentially proto-Christian fiction), the romance rather uninspired, and no doubt some readers will be put off by Agnes' absolute moral superiority. That said, the elegance and precision of the writing more than make up for any deficiencies of characterization or overbearing religious admonitions. Really a beautifully composed book.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Revive
- 04-20-23
A favorite of mine
Such a beautiful story, my other favorites are hers or her sisters’ The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. This narrator is particularly pleasant.
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- Ginger Francis
- 02-05-24
Beautiful prose
This is a beautiful story and the preformmance is outstanding. My only complaint is they didn't remove the prompt to remove the discs.
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