Author's name: Anne Brontë

The novel follows the story of the title character, Agnes Grey, a governess working for families of the English gentry. Research and commentary by Charlotte Brontë (Anne's sister) indicate that the latter drew inspiration for the novel from her own experience as a governess for five years. As with Charlotte's Jane Eyre, Anne addresses the difficult position of the governess in the novel and how it affects her as a young woman. The choice of a central character allows Anne to address issues of injustice, abuse of women and governesses, isolation, and ideas of compassion. An additional theme is the kind treatment of animals. The novel also emulates some stylistic approaches from coming-of-age novels, employing ideas of character growth and progression toward adulthood, but depicts a character who never actually attains virtue.