false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1180391694m/1034151.jpg 1034151 7 British novelist Forster (Georgy Girl ), whose biographies include Elizabeth Barrett Browning , lures the reader into the attic of the famous house on Wimpole Street, where Barrett's maid, Elizabeth Wilson, composes copious letters to her mother in the North Country. Her correspondence, the fulcrum of the novel, describes her daily experiences, her impressions of the large household and, especially, her sickly but charismatic mistress. Wilson's devotion is such that she forsakes her homeland, her family, a suitor and even her own reputation in order to aid Miss Elizabeth and her suitor Mr. Browning when they elope to Europe. At this point, the novel falters; Forster is not quite capable of juggling the glamorous settings, Wilson's frustrations (the Brownings, though generous in their affection, cannot see Wilson as other than a servant), her difficult marriage and family life. Wilson's ambivalence about Miss Elizabeth, whom she loves and resents, is the most interesting aspect of the novel, but despite otherwise sensitive handling, it is almost glibly resolved in the conclusion. On the whole, however, this is top-drawer historical fiction, akin to the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs in its appeal and its overtures toward discussions of class. 1020474 1990 Lady's Maid: A Novel total:244|5:50|4:99|3:78|2:16|1:1| 244 913 363 58 3 0 false false Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 09 10:19:21 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 16 21:30:52 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 11 12:10:17 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 18 09:21:10 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 22 12:53:05 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 29 11:47:54 -0800 2008
The premise: Wilson is a servant, tried and true. Through luck, she is appointed to the enviable position of lady's m...more...]]> 4 0 true false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Fri Jul 06 18:30:02 -0700 2007 Fri Jul 06 21:12:05 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Jul 11 08:22:16 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 28 12:14:30 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 18:30:46 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 18:30:46 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 17 10:05:29 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 02 09:50:31 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Fri Jan 23 10:40:45 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 23 10:43:42 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 true true Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Aug 26 11:06:32 -0700 2008 Wed Aug 27 06:38:05 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Sep 15 21:34:47 -0700 2007 Sat Sep 15 21:41:43 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 19 15:04:39 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 19 08:46:54 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Apr 05 08:38:56 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 05 08:40:54 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 28 12:34:37 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 13 18:16:41 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 21 19:55:08 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 17 14:06:46 -0700 2009
I love period pieces, this was good for understanding the English of the era, but totally l...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 27 19:59:13 -0700 2008 Thu Apr 10 10:21:42 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 13 09:56:26 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 13 09:56:26 -0700 2009 3 0 true false Sat May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 19:22:13 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 19:22:43 -0700 2009 1 3 0 false false Sat May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue May 05 22:22:50 -0700 2009 Sat May 30 23:52:43 -0700 2009
At times the events in the bo...more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 05 22:40:58 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 05 22:42:11 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 03 10:29:56 -0700 2008 Sat Sep 12 17:36:31 -0700 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=1034151