Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Just finished Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte. This story begs the question, did every Victorian era young woman work as a governess? The title character of the story is a young lady who after the financial ruin of her family decides to become a governess to help raise money. She quickly finds out a very important teaching lesson, parents believe that their children are "little angels" and you're the problem. She goes through a couple of sets of students and in each situation the children are a challenge to say the least. Agnes relies on her religious beliefs to pull her through the obstacles.

There was a line in this story that I really enjoyed. As Agnes describes her parents she tells that her mother chose to marry her father and it caused her to be cut-off. The line that was:

"An elegant house, and spacious grounds were not to be despised, but she would rather live in a cottage with Richard Grey, than in a palace with any other man in the world."

Not too many women like that around today. The more realistic is the the sheer joy that Rosalie Murray feels about breaking the hearts of her admirers.

The story is believed to be at least somewhat autobiographical as Anne served as a governess for five years.

Next up is Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.