An Independent Woman

by Brenda Jagger

Book Overview

Grace Agbrigg has ambitions beyond merely ornamenting the home of a rich husband. But high Victorian England is still almost wholly a man's world in which women -- rich or poor -- must do the bidding... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451126114
• ISBN13: 9780451126115
• Release Date: December 1983
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Third generation of Barforths

Alternately titled "The Sleeping Sword", this is the story of brilliant, well educated Grace Agbrigg, who is put off by the implications of sexuality in her father's overtly pragmatic relationship with her stepmother, and mistrustful of men because they might marry her for her inheritance rather than herself. A maneuvered marriage enmeshes her in the pathetic shambles which is the family of Nicholas Barforth, where she falls heavily under the influence of her cousin and sister-in-law, Venetia. Grace finds in herself great talents as hostess and homemaker, traditional women's roles, despite the maelstrom of family dysfunctionality that rages about her. But then the tragedies and betrayals become more than she can bear and she takes the unthinkable step to extricate herself and become--an independent woman.Grace is feistier and has more attitude than the previous two central characters in the Barforth series, if also rather naive.This installment continues an interesting background chronicle of social, political and economic developments in 19th century England.