Anne Brontë
Anne Bronte (1820-1849) was an English novelist and poet, the youngest of the three literary Bronte sisters and, for many readers, the most quietly radical. Though long overshadowed by her sisters Charlotte and Emily, she is now recognised as a bold and clear-eyed writer whose novels confronted the harsh realities of women's lives.
Her two novels are Agnes Grey, a sharp, realistic account of the hardships of a governess's life, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, a powerful story of a woman who flees an abusive, alcoholic husband to protect herself and her child. The Tenant, with its frank treatment of addiction and a woman's right to independence, is considered one of the first sustained feminist novels.
Anne wrote from close observation and firm moral conviction. She died of tuberculosis at just 29, the last of the Bronte siblings to pass.
Our editions present her fiction clearly for modern readers. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Anne Brontë in the library · 2 works
Agnes Grey
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Frequently asked questions about Anne Brontë
What did Anne Bronte write?
Anne Bronte wrote two novels — Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall — and poetry. Her sisters Charlotte and Emily were also novelists, authors of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is Anne's most important and admired work.
What is The Tenant of Wildfell Hall about?
It tells the story of Helen Graham, a mysterious young woman who arrives at a remote hall with her young son, hiding a painful secret: she has fled a cruel, alcoholic, and unfaithful husband. Told largely through her own diary, the novel exposes the reality of a destructive marriage and defends a woman's right to leave one. Its honesty about addiction and abuse made it strikingly bold for its time.
Where should I start with Anne Bronte?
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is her masterpiece and the natural place to begin — powerful, dramatic, and ahead of its time. Agnes Grey is shorter and quieter, a realistic portrait of a governess's hard life. Either is a fine introduction to her clear-eyed writing.
Why is Anne Bronte less famous than her sisters?
Anne was overshadowed partly by the sensational success of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, and partly because after her death her sister Charlotte suppressed the republication of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which she found too shocking. For a long time Anne was dismissed as the 'lesser' Bronte. Modern critics have thoroughly reassessed her as a bold, important novelist in her own right.
Are Anne Bronte's novels hard to read?
Not especially — her prose is clear and direct, and her storytelling is engaging and realistic. Occasional Victorian phrasing and social customs are the main dated elements. A clear modern edition makes her fiction very accessible.
When did Anne Bronte live?
Anne Bronte lived from 1820 to 1849, dying of tuberculosis at just 29 — the last of the Bronte siblings to die. She published Agnes Grey in 1847 and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall in 1848, both under a male pen name. She grew up with her sisters on the Yorkshire moors.
Where can I read Anne Bronte for free?
Anne Bronte's novels are in the public domain and freely available. Older editions keep the original text. Here you can read the openings free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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