Agnes Grey was published in 1847 under Anne Brontë’s pen name, “Acton Bell”, and was her first novel. Agnes Grey, a governess, works within families of the English gentry. Scholarship and comments by Anne’s sister Charlotte Brontë suggest the novel is largely based on Anne Brontë’s own experiences as a governess for five years. 233 pages. The Cranford collection of beautifully-made, hard cover novels includes many of the world’s most successful and popular authors.