The tragic lives of the Bronte sisters hold a romantic fascination as great as that of the stories into which they poured their rich imaginations and experiences. Following their first appearance in 1847 and the deaths of Emily (1818 48) and Anne (1820 49), these two classics of English literature one an impassioned tale of doomed love, the other a quietly intense portrait of the governess in Victorian society were published together with poems and a biographical notice in this revised 1851 edition. It was prepared by the authors' sister and fellow novelist, Charlotte (1816 55). Wuthering...

The tragic lives of the Bronte sisters hold a romantic fascination as great as that of the stories into which they poured their rich imaginations and experiences. Following their first appearance in 1847 and the deaths of Emily (1818-48) and Anne (1820-49), these two classics of English literature - one an impassioned tale of doomed love, the other a quietly intense portrait of the governess in Victorian society - were published together with poems and a biographical notice in this revised 1851 edition. It was prepared by the authors' sister and fellow novelist, Charlotte (1816-55). Wuthering...

'The name of governess, I soon found, was a mere mockery ... my pupils had no more notion of obedience than a wild, unbroken colt'

When her family becomes impoverished after a disastrous financial speculation, Agnes Grey determines to find work as a governess in order to contribute to their meagre income and assert her independence. But Agnes's enthusiasm is swiftly extinguished as she struggles first with the unmanageable Bloomfield children and then with the painful disdain of the haughty Murray family; the only kindness she receives comes from Mr Weston, the sober young curate. Drawing...

A powerful depiction of a woman's fight for domestic independence and creative freedom, from the youngest of the Bronte sisters
Gilbert Markham is deeply intrigued by Helen Graham, a beautiful and secretive young woman who has moved into nearby Wildfell Hall with her young son. He is quick to offer Helen his friendship, but when her reclusive behaviour becomes the subject of local gossip and speculation, Gilbert begins to wonder whether his trust in her has been misplaced. It is only when she allows Gilbert to read her diary that the truth is revealed and the shocking details of...

Combining a sensational story of a man's physical and moral decline through alcohol, a study of marital breakdown, a disquisition on the care and upbringing of children, and a hard-hitting critique of the position of women in Victorian society, this passionate tale of betrayal is set within a stern moral framework tempered by Anne Bronte's optimistic belief in universal redemption. It tells the story of the estranged wife of a dissolute rake, desperate to protect her son from his destructive influence, in full flight from a shocking world of debauchery and cruelty. Drawing on her first-hand...

Anne Bronte's first novel, Agnes Grey, combines an astute dissection of middle-class social behavior and class attitudes with a wonderful study of Victorian responses to young children which has parallels with debates about education that continue to this day. In writing the novel, Bronte drew on her own experiences, and one can trace in the work many of the trials of the Victorian governess, often stranded far from home, and treated with little respect by her employers, yet expected to control and educate her young charges. Agnes Grey looks at childhood from nursery to adolescence, and it...

Anne Bronte's second and last novel was widely and contentiously reviewed upon its 1848 publication, in part because its subject matter domestic violence, alcoholism, women's rights, and universal salvation was so controversial. The tale unfolds through a series of letters between two friends as one man learns more about Helen Huntingdon and the past that brought this young painter and single mother to Wildfell Hall. Powerfully plotted and unconventionally structured, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" is now considered to be a classic of Victorian literature. This Broadview Edition includes a...

Agnes Grey is a classic story written by Anne Bronte. The story is about Agnes, the eighteen-year-old daughter of a poor clergyman. When her family loses a lot of money, Agnes decides to help by finding a job as a governess. But it proves to be a lot more difficult than Agnes imagined... Also comes with audio CD.

Part of the Vintage Classics Bronte Series: three sisters, three major novels, beautifully designed.
When the mysterious and beautiful young widow Helen Graham becomes the new tenant at Wildfell Hall rumours immediately begin to swirl around her. As her neighbour Gilbert Markham comes to discover, Helen has painful secrets buried in her past that even his love for her cannot easily overcome.