For my fourth installment of “Under the Radar Books” I have an interesting trio - a classic that is getting a bit more attention, a non-fiction selection and a book from one of my favorite female writers.
“You think, because I always do as you bid me, I have no judgment of my own: but only try me - that is all I ask - and you shall see what I can do.”
Agnes Grey by, Anne Bronte is the Bronte sister that tends to get left behind, but she has been getting a bit more attention recently - mainly for her novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. For me, Agnes Grey is a hidden, quiet gem. This is a novel about a governess and she is a governess for some pretty horrible children. Her life however if pretty quiet and there’s a sweet little love interest embedded in the narrative. This s a cozy novel; it’s quiet and calm. I can see how some people would claim that this novel is boring, but I think the beauty of this novel is that it is so quiet. Sit back and enjoy the language.
“… he also wanted her to know something of the ‘graver sciences’ in the event that she is responsible for educating her children because she had married a ‘blockhead’ - possiblity that Jefferson had calculated ‘at about fourteen to one.’”
Jefferson’s Daughters by, Catherine Kerrison is a non-fiction detailing Thomas Jefferson’s three Daughters - one of which was enslaved. This book is a real treat. Kerrison goes into a lot of detail about each daughter and give a lot of information about Jefferson as well. I love how the author paints a complete picture of Jefferson and his daughters, which really emphasizes how nuanced people are. She does not sugar coat and does call out Jefferson’s contradictions, while still portraying a man who loves his home, his books, his university, and his family. He was a man of his time. The information on Jefferson enlsaved children is few and far between, but Kerrison pieced what she could find together and it’s still really interesting. If you have an interest in Thomas Jefferson, Revolutionary American history, slavery and domestic history, this may really appeal to you. Also, my fellow WAHOOS - this is a must have for your shelves; there are some interesting little tidbits included about the construction of the University of Virginia.
The Priory by, Dorothy Whipple was my introduction to Mrs. Whipple. She’s such a lovely story teller - her writing is simple, yet evocative and she somehow has this gift of getting to the root of human emotions. The Priory is a story about two sisters the and how the marriages they make affect their lives, when the world of on the cusp of World War 2. What’s so poignant is how realistic Whipple is - these marriages have issues and yet there is this thread of hope, faith, forgiveness and redemption in this novel. Whipple excels in domestic fiction and fans of Persephone Books, domestic fiction, inter-war fiction and British female writers may really enjoy The Priory.
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