Anne Bronte's Novels Reveal a Talented Writer

A Critical Look at Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Sep 1, 2009

Anne Bronte's name is little known today, except as the younger sister of Charlotte and Emily Bronte, but her works are worthy of their own attention.

Since Anne Bronte’s novels were first published, they have been largely ignored in comparison with her sisters’. Indeed, both her novels are usually compared, and unfavourably, to Emily and Charlotte’s novels. Early critics found her novels inferior to her sisters’ and complained Agnes Grey was boring while The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was graphic and violent. However, her novels show that she deserves her place as a Bronte sister.

Anne’s first novel, Agnes Grey, was published in 1847 with Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte), shortly after Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) was a smashing hit. It was the popularity of Jane Eyre that convinced the publisher to bring out another work by a “Bell” (the Bronte sisters' pen name).

Under such circumstances, it was natural for Agnes Grey to be compared to the other Bronte works. Critics who were horrified and outraged by Emily’s novel liked the simplicity and gentleness of Anne’s; critics who recognized Emily’s brilliance and talent found Anne’s novel boring and flat.

Agnes Grey was also compared to Jane Eyre, because both were about governesses. Again, Agnes Grey usually lost by the comparison. It was a mixed blessing to Anne to be compared to her sisters; their fame and popularity gained her more attention, but her works, by being compared to her sisters’, were not recognized for their own genius.

Agnes Grey raises issues faced by young nineteenth-century women unable to marry who must find a means of income. This was an issue that Anne and her sisters knew well, as all of them had served as governesses and attempted to find ways to earn money. Readers today are familiar with the governess novel, but it was Anne started this trend in the novel.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was published in 1848 and raised much more controversy than Agnes Grey had. The graphic and violent scenes in the novel generally shocked critics. Some reviewers recognized the novel’s greatness, but censored it for its brutality and explicit portrayal of reality.

The Tenant was also compared to the previous Bell works and found lacking. Charlotte criticized Anne’s work, treating it as a mistake. After Anne’s death, Charlotte’s opinion of the novel influenced critics and readers.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall turns to the topic of marriage and women’s rights. Anne was not gentle in dealing with these issues, presenting reality just as she did in Agnes Grey. It was this harsh look at the facts that earned her the criticism of early reviewers. Anne’s chief fault was thus not in her writing – which was excellent – but in her daring to expose Victorian morals in such a way. Her society did not want to be confronted with their faults and so reacted against her novels, especially The Tenant.

Unfortunately, Anne died of consumption in 1849 at the age of 29. With the obvious development of her writing talent between Agnes Grey and The Tenant, one wonders what else she would have written if given the chance.

The copyright of the article Anne Bronte's Novels Reveal a Talented Writer in 18th & 19th Century British Fiction is owned by Bonnie Way. Permission to republish Anne Bronte's Novels Reveal a Talented Writer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.