Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Lady's Maid

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 701 ratings · 122 reviews

“Fascinating . . . The reader is treated to a revealing account of the passionate romance between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning through the eyes of an intimate observer.”
–Booklist

Young and timid but full of sturdy good sense and awakening sophistication, Lily Wilson arrives in London in 1844, becoming a lady’s maid to the fragile, housebound Elizabeth Barrett. Lily...more

Paperback, 576 pages

Published May 15th 2007 by Ballantine Books (first published 1990)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best 1800s Historical Fiction

5th out of 116 books — 42 voters

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

REALLY Underrated Books (Fewer than 1,000 Ratings)

218th out of 2,591 books — 902 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,394)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 16, 2012 Evie Byrne added it · review of another edition

This book did a good job portraying issues of class and privilege in Victorian society. It's also paints a vivid picture of servant life in that period--and I love servant tales. BUT it is relentlessly depressing. I just want to put that out there as a warning.

The back of my book was covered with glowing blurbs, one of which said it had a happy ending. Well, maybe it does by lit fic standards. Certainly I'll admit that it ended better than say... The Road. (Yay! She kept her limbs! Happy!) But...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 03, 2011 Bowerbird rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very many years ago I saw the musical "Robert and Elizabeth" in London and fell in love with their characters. Wilson and Flush just appeared on the periphery. However, the musical only went as far as their leaving for Italy. If I had read this book at the time I would have been devastated to find that two poets could be so selfish. Maybe I thought poets had more insight into life and its traumas than ordinary people. But of course they treated servants just as others of that period would - inva...more

like · see review

Apr 06, 2011 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, england, historical-fiction, historical-women

Lady's Maid is the fictional life story of Lily Wilson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's maid. Since all I knew about either of the Browning poets before starting this book was the little bit I remember from high school English, I wasn't sure if this was the book for me; fortunately, it really is the story of Wilson (as she is called throughout the book), and background knowledge about her employers is not essential. In fact, being famous poets, I expected to see them romanticized, but they're not;...more Lady's Maid is the fictional life story of Lily Wilson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's maid. Since all I knew about either of the Browning poets before starting this book was the little bit I remember from high school English, I wasn't sure if this was the book for me; fortunately, it really is the story of Wilson (as she is called throughout the book), and background knowledge about her employers is not essential. In fact, being famous poets, I expected to see them romanticized, but they're not; this is an unflinching tale of the conditions of 19th century servitude, including low wages and the impossibility of starting a family and retaining work as a maid. Parts of the book are likely to leave the reader angry with the Brownings, which may be disappointing for fans of their work.

The book is narrated in the 3rd person and almost entirely from Wilson's perspective, but peppered with letters she writes to friends and family, long enough that at times it feels as if the book is jumping back and forth between 1st and 3rd person. The beginning positively drags, but the pace picks up slightly as the book goes on and Wilson travels with the Brownings and courts several different men. I found this to be an engaging book and well worth reading if you're interested in seeing life from the servant's perspective; somehow all those books where the main characters are served fail to portray the difficulty a servant faces if she dares to want a life of her own. And Lady's Maid is also an interesting study in co-dependency in its portrayal of Wilson's relationship with her mistress. At 550 pages, the book at times feels overlong, although I understand the difficulty in trying to cover 17 years of a woman's life while including enough concrete scenes that we still feel connected to her.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you have the patience to see it through and still think it worth your time. If nothing else, it's an honest look at relationships that transcends any specific time period. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 30, 2011 Mary Ronan Drew rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish

Lily Wilson is not in her first youth when she is hired in 1844 to be lady’s maid to Elizabeth Barrett. She finds a seriously dysfunctional family, under the complete control of the Barrett father, who forbids any of his children to marry. When Lily arrives Elizabeth Barrett is seriously neurotic, but also suffering from an unidentified lung condition and an addiction to opiates. With the help of Elizabeth’s sisters Lily slowly encourages EB to leave the house and eventually to take walks in the...more

like · see review

Jan 23, 2011 Felice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lady's Maid also takes historical fact and expands it into a novel. It is the story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning as told through the eyes of Barrett's maid, Lily Wilson. Wilson as Barrett called her, was instrumental in getting Barrett's correspondence to Browning during their romance. When the famous couple eloped to Italy Wilson accompanied them. Wilson lived her life through Barrett's. She was Barrett's maid, companion, confidante, nurse and support through every crisis and succes...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: just-finished

This was by far one of the best and most engrossing books I read this year. Actually I listened to it on audio. There's nothing better than a superb book with a very engaging, well-spoken narrator. This book is about Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her husband, Robert Browning. But the story itself centers around Elizabeth's maid, Wilson. I can't honestly remember when a book evoked so much emotion in me: joy, happiness, resentment, anger, outrage. The writing was so beautiful, and so true to the...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 16, 2009 Antof9 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-read, about-books, alterna-history, biographies-memoirs, depressing, women, wanna-change-the-ending, travel

This is the fictional story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's real-life lady's maid, and it was fascinating to read. The author really drew me into the era and Wilson's feelings. I really felt like I was living with Wilson while I was reading this book! "Wilson", of course, is Lily Wilson, who comes from a small town to London to work for Elizabeth Barrett, works for her through her marriage to Robert Browning, miscarriages, the birth of her son, and on and off through the rest of Elizabeth's life...more

like · see review

Dec 27, 2010 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

At a time when everyone had servants (or was a servant), servants knew more about the intimate details of their employers' lives than anyone else could. They moved in and out of their private rooms at all hours, saw them when they woke up and went to bed, dressed them, undressed them, washed them, cleaned up after them, repaired their clothes, washed their faces, brushed their hair, straightened their pillows, knew how often they had sex and when a woman's period was late, overheard conversatio...more

like · see review

Dec 28, 2009 Gretchen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Gretchen by: Nancy

Shelves: historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 R.J. rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was on more than one list of recommended books. I was attracted to the reviews mentioning the novel's dissection of class and though the setup and title can lead one to believe its a bodice ripper, it is not. The story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's devoted personal servant starts off well enough. Lily Wilson is a lively young woman, a bit reticent from a family of women, her father long dead. Both she and two of her sisters are in service. She moves to London to care for the invalid poete...more

like · see review

Feb 16, 2013 Sabina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

The story begins in London in 1844 when 23-year old Elizabeth Wilson becomes lady's maid to Elizabeth Barrett. A complex and, at times, difficult relationship develops, which only ends with the death of Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1861. The story follows the courtship of the Brownings, the dramatic elopement and their lives abroad, all the while with Wilson, as she is called throughout the book, attending her mistress' every need through good times and bad. Yet the Browings only provide the ba...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 16, 2011 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, 2011, 1990s

Lady's Maid tells the story of Wilson, a girl from the northeast who becomes lady's maid to Elizabeth Barrett. At first she feels alone and awkward in her situation, but slowly she comes to love her mistress and grows in confidence. Wilson becomes increasingly important in Miss Barrett's life, facilitating her secret marriage to Robert Browning and flight to a new life in Italy. Throughout this, Wilson has her own life to contend with: her family, her suitors and her hopes for the future.

I reall...more Lady's Maid tells the story of Wilson, a girl from the northeast who becomes lady's maid to Elizabeth Barrett. At first she feels alone and awkward in her situation, but slowly she comes to love her mistress and grows in confidence. Wilson becomes increasingly important in Miss Barrett's life, facilitating her secret marriage to Robert Browning and flight to a new life in Italy. Throughout this, Wilson has her own life to contend with: her family, her suitors and her hopes for the future.

I really enjoyed this book. It struck an excellent balance between being the story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's maid, encompassing her daily life, concerns, struggles and interactions with other people in service, and the story of Elizabeth Barrett Browning as told by her maid, who is the initial draw of this book for most people, I should imagine, myself included. Margaret Forster has written a biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and so, feeling reasonably safe that it was as historically accurate as I was likely to get, I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of two of the great Victorian poets. In fact, this book has reminded me of how much I enjoy Robert Browning. His wife, however, is not someone I've read very much (the ubiquitous 'How Do I Love Thee?' excepted) and after reading Lady's Maid I'm so cross with her that I don't feel any inclination to do so any time soon. Elizabeth Barrett in this book is utterly selfish; she is kind and affectionate towards Wilson only when she needs her or has no better occupation, and as soon as Wilson asks her a favour or goes against her wishes then she is petulant, tetchy and sometimes downright cruel. I spent most of the book feeling righteous indignation of Wilson's behalf for her treatment at the hands of her mistress, and this is indicative of Forster's skillful storytelling.

The style of the novel is unusual but effective. It alternates between third person narration, although the perspective that this reports is always Wilson's and the reader never sees the thoughts of any other character except through her own interpretations of what they might be, and letters from Wilson to various other characters. The writing segues seamlessly between the two forms, often running sentences across the break between the two so that the narrator will begin saying something and Wilson herself will finish it. I thought that this semi-epistolary style worked very well, as it gives the impression that more of the book comes direct to the reader from Wilson than really does, while simultaneously allowing Forster a freedom of writing which would have been necessarily restricted by a novel comprised purely of letters. It is a clever technique and results in an engaging, emotionally involving read.

The letters are also a means of reflecting Wilson's growing confidence and learning, both personally and stylistically. Initially, her letters are timid and shy, desperate to please the recipient and so hiding a lot of the truth that is revealed to the reader in the narrative sections of the novel. As Wilson becomes increasingly sure of herself, she begins to be more open and honest. She express opinions and even makes demands. At the same time, her letters go from being full of unnecessary capitalisations and awkward phrasing to being written in a smooth, warm, elegant prose. I thought it was an interesting touch that the writing skills of both Wilson and Elizabeth Barrett Browning develop only as they begin to blossom personally.(less)

like · see review

Apr 18, 2008 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Told from the intriguing perspective of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's maid, Wilson, this book asks us to look at the relationship between the English upper-class and their personal servants in the nineteenth century. Where close bonds can develop, as they do here, what are the obligations of a maid to her mistress, and what are the obligations of a mistress to her maid?

Here, the Brownings (especially Elizabeth) do not necessarily come off well, at some points seeming to deliberately throw up obst...more

like · see review

Feb 29, 2008 The Book Maven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: victorian_fiction

I love novels set in the Victorian era. That's all I need to be happy. Nothing hugely remarkable about this book (yet), but atill a pleasant way to while away the evening.

The premise: Wilson is a servant, tried and true. Through luck, she is appointed to the enviable position of lady's maid to a gentlewoman, a sickly poet by the name of Elizabeth. Slowly, Wilson grows attached to her mistress, even being willing to help her elope and accompany her abroad, to the Continent.

As far as I am concern...more

like · see review

Jul 06, 2007 Maryll rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those interested in 19th century gossip

An "Upstairs/Downstairs" type rendering of the Barrett and then Browning households and, as the title would suggest, it makes Elizabeth's personal maid seem much more engrossing than the poet herself. If you pick it up, like me, because you're interested in the Brownings art and their marriage, you will leave disappointed. The Brownings themselves come off as rather self-absorbed and oblivious to life in the lower classes. They evidently had a happy marriage but you don't learn much about the pr...more

like · see review

Mar 17, 2010 Joyce M. Tice rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy the story and the interrelationship of Wilson and Elizabeth, BUT I do like historical fiction take me to the time and place of the story. This does not. I have to constantly remind myself that is takes place in the 1840s. Except for one mention so far of Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Dickens, I do not feel the period. I can't tell most of it from the 1880s or 1890s. The time and culture markers are not there to put it into its place. The imagery is lacking. Half way done. Onward. Easy, f...more

like · see review

Jul 23, 2010 Amy Geriak rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have always enjoyed Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poetry, her sonnets especially -- one was even read at my wedding. This novel was written by one of her biographers, and while that encouraged me, promising historical accuracy, I have to admit that I'm not all that fond of Elizabeth's character or personality. In fact, I find her to be a bit of a self-centered crybaby. And Robert Browning isn't much better.

Luckily, the novel does not focus on them, but rather on Elizabeth's maid, who was not on...more

like · see review

Oct 28, 2007 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: lit geeks, historical romancers

Lady's Maid does exactly what I want historical fiction to do--it takes us to a time and place not our own, tells us a story we think we already know from a different perspective, and personalizes names and dates that would otherwise be just...well...names and dates. LM is a first-person narrative, told by Wilson, the personal maid of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Following her story from her initial hiring through EBB's death, the reader gets insight into the day-to-day realities of life as a upp...more

like · see review

Nov 03, 2009 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

An incredible reimagining of the life of a marginal figure of history. The book is an account of the life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's most faithful maid. Forster really makes the conflicts of servant and mistress, companion and intellectual, and life and art, real. I would unequivocally recommend this to any reader. I will be adding this with Jane Eyre and Memoirs of a Geisha to my annual reading list.

like · see review

Dec 05, 2009 Rosemary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating view into the life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning from the perspective of the woman who was her maid/friend for 16 years. I had no idea that her family disowned her when she married Robert Browning and that she was addicted to laudanum (opium) for years. Kind of long (19 CD's), but I looked forward to listening to some each night before I went to sleep.

like · see review

Oct 02, 2009 Joy rated it 2 of 5 stars

5.5/6 -- Have you ever liked an actor in a movie and then seen them interviewed and wished that you had never seen the interview because your opinion of them changed (for the worse)? Well, now I am not sure I like Elizabeth Barrett Browning... her selfish, self-centered personality was immense. Altho I did find the book sort of interesting, I would have difficulty in recommending it to many people: the writing is slow, so the reader must have a definite interest in period writing and an interest...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 15, 2010 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked the perspective of this story - looking at an historical figure through the eyes of someone overlooked but who probably understood their character better than anyone. It's a terribly sad story, but a fascinating look at the time period, at Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and of the life of poor servants and maids.

like · see review

Mar 07, 2011 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Slow. Very, very slow.

When I took this book out, the premise sounded so promising--so interesting. The book crawled along, and about half way through, I asked myself why I was going to finish it, when, to be honest, I didn't like the characters, didn't appreciate their struggles.

Well, I did read it all, and it started to pick up the pace a bit after I hit the half way point. Unfortunately, it didn't continue to move along. Maybe I just don't appreciate that there were such constraints on people...more

like · see review

Mar 17, 2011 Natasha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I didn't care for Wilson, I didn't care for the Browings, nor did I for most of the other characters. This book dragged on for too long. Wilson irked me with her wishy washyness and her always changing her mind and/or mood. It is sad that she never realized how the Brownings viewed her until it was too late, but I couldn't feel sympathy for her.

like · see review

Aug 21, 2010 Kristin Lennert Murra rated it 2 of 5 stars

This was very interesting until about two-thirds of the way in, when the tone seemed to change and it became very slow going. It was as if all the characters just got tired of each other, and there wasn't anything compelling for me to stay engaged with them (except that I hate leaving a book unread).

1 like · like · see review

Aug 27, 2008 Annalee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Sep 15, 2007 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

A favorite of mine. The fictional account of the life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "lady's maid" Wilson. Though the book is fiction, the bulk of the book is based in truth. EBB's letters and such mention Wilson quite a bit. EBB was always interested in the "plight of the lower classes" yet saw no irony in denying Wilson a raise after years of devoted service. Despite the fact Wilson's job duties expanded to include that of baby nurse EBB thought Wilson ungrateful to ask for more money!

Margare...more

like · see review

Dec 19, 2008 Shirlyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Non-fiction intertwined with fiction tells a very detailed story of the marriage to two famous poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett. Through the eyes of her Lady's Maid, it reallys draws you in, an amazing discrepency between the servant class and those with money. People then really thought they were of a better class simply because ot the "lucky gene pool" they were born into. I hope we have all moved away from this division.
Really liked the book, really got to know all the characters...more

like · see review

Apr 07, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked the book even though I got a bit impatient when it dragged on in the middle. I liked getting a glimpse into the world of maids and their employers' relationships in the 1800s, but it made me really glad I didn't live back then!!

like · see review

Apr 05, 2009 Janellyn51 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I did really enjoy this book....I went on an Elizabeth Barrett Browning bender after this, although why I don't know, because she certainly was a creep to poor Wilson here. It was a very well written book and it held my interest throughout.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 46 47 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (9)

More editions...

Genres

Historical Fiction

75 users

European Literature > British Literature

14 users

Literature > 19th Century

5 users

Literary Fiction

4 users

Novels

3 users

Book Club

2 users

Literature

2 users

Cultural > Italy

2 users

Travel

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Margaret Forster

Margaret Forster was educated at the Carlisle and County High School for Girls. From here she won an Open Scholarship to Somerville College, Oxford where in 1960 she was awarded an honours degree in History. The day after she finished her final exams, she married the writer Hunter Davies, whom she met and fell in love with at the age of 17.

Since 1963 Margaret Forster has worked as a novelist, biog...more

More about Margaret Forster...

Books by Margaret Forster

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Lady's Maid

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Lady's Maid

“She smiled slightly as she continued to gaze at the passing scene: she was being a snob and delighting in it.” — 1 person liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Lady's Maid
avg rating	preview: Lady's Maid Goodreads rating: 3.72 (701 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1034151.Lady_s_Maid?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320522733l/1034151.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1034151.Lady_s_Maid?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Lady's Maid by Margaret Forster[/url]

Lady's Maid

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website