Friday, November 16, 2007

A Countess Below Stairs


A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

If you enjoy historical fiction, especially the kind dealing with royalty, you will enjoy A Countess Below Stairs. The book takes place shortly after World War I in a small village in England. Anna Grazinsky, a Russian countess, finds herself and her family penniless after the recent Russian revolution. Anna's father is dead and she takes it upon herself to become the family's breadwinner.

Jobs are hard to get after the war, especially for women. So, Anna turns to a book she has found on housekeeping. This book leads her into the life a maid in a old estate house. Anna has never worked as a maid before and know little of the life "below stairs." All she knows is that she needs to take care of her family and the new Earl, who she works for at Mersham.

Things only get more difficult for Anna as she begins falling for the Earl. A man who is set to marry for money a most horrible woman. Although it might seem cliche this book is not. There are twists and turns you will not see coming. The characters too are delightful and enough to keep anyone enthralled with their lives.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I completely adored this novel. There is nothing like some Eva Ibbotson and awesome titleness to attract the eye and cure the soul! I love your blog. It has some really great suggestions. Come check out the Maelstrom.