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54th out of 355 books
—
607 voters
Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor
In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament, entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no one expected was that the iron-wil...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
December 27th 2011
by Penguin Books
(first published October 5th 1976)
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In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament, entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no one expected was that the iron-willed Lady Astor was about to meet her match in the no-nonsense, whip-smart girl from the country.For 35 years, from the partie
...more
This memoir begins with Rose as one of four children of a Yorkshire stonemason, and his wife who took in laundry. Reading about Rose's day to day life is exhausting. She never seemed to have a moment to call her own, and that would stand her in good stead once she became Lady Astor's maid.
While it was a given that a person of her class would go into service, her dream was to travel. With the guidance of her mother she studied and trained so that she would be suited to the job of lady's maid in...more
While it was a given that a person of her class would go into service, her dream was to travel. With the guidance of her mother she studied and trained so that she would be suited to the job of lady's maid in...more
A really interesting look into a woman's life as a lady's maid. It's told in a very personal and conversational style as a series of recollections from her years in service. The tidbits are interesting and really kept me reading it quickly to see what would happen next since Lady Astor was quite the character. Rose really has a great attitude about her work and life. It's a joy to read about her and read her arguments with Lady Astor. You feel as if you knew her when you are done.
I'm not sure wh...more
I'm not sure wh...more
I received a promo galley of this book from Net Galley. 3.5 Stars.
This book piqued my interest because of my recent obsession with Downton Abbey. It is the memoir of Rose, lady's maid for 35 years to Lady Nancy Astor. This book reads as if you were sitting down for a conversation with Rose - she is frank and open about her opinions and feelings. Because of her honesty, she is able to portray a very realistic image of what life was like for the serving class in the early twentieth century.
Rose h...more
This book piqued my interest because of my recent obsession with Downton Abbey. It is the memoir of Rose, lady's maid for 35 years to Lady Nancy Astor. This book reads as if you were sitting down for a conversation with Rose - she is frank and open about her opinions and feelings. Because of her honesty, she is able to portray a very realistic image of what life was like for the serving class in the early twentieth century.
Rose h...more
Publisher's synopsis:
In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament, entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no one expected was that the iron-willed Lady Astor was about to meet her match in the no-nonsense, whip-smart girl from the country.
For 35 y...more
In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament, entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no one expected was that the iron-willed Lady Astor was about to meet her match in the no-nonsense, whip-smart girl from the country.
For 35 y...more
In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament, entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no one expected was that the iron-willed Lady Astor was about to meet her match in the no-nonsense, whip-smart girl from the country.
For 35 years, from the partie...more
For 35 years, from the partie...more
I got this book as part of my "Downton Abbey" reading list last fall, but it's taken me until the spring to really read it. This is a terrific memoir, and a touchstone for great series like Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs. Rose is the lady's maid to one of the 20th century's great women, Lady Astor, an American buccaneer from the South who married into one of the richest families in the British aristocracy. This is not really Lady Astor's story, though Rose is a champion for a woman histo...more
I found this book fascinating. If you liked watching Downton Abbey, you will like this book. I actually started wondering if Julian Fellowes had read this book & stolen some of the stories for DA. I love the chart at the front of the book, listing who worked for the Astors. It is CRAZY. A lot of people. Who knew one could have a job as a clockwinder? Or a hall-boy? Or odd man? So many different positions that vanished after WWII.
I love reading about the history of private lives and also read...more
I love reading about the history of private lives and also read...more
With the public's current obsession with shows like Downton Abbey, naturally, people will start to look for books either from or written about that period in British history. (I will readily admit that I'm absolutely in that number.)
Rose Harrison grew up in a poor Yorkshire family, destined for a life in service - which meant much more then than it does today: for a poor person to be in service to a great family was something to talk about, an honor. Starting off as a junior lady's maid, she qui...more
Rose Harrison grew up in a poor Yorkshire family, destined for a life in service - which meant much more then than it does today: for a poor person to be in service to a great family was something to talk about, an honor. Starting off as a junior lady's maid, she qui...more
I really enjoyed this first-person account of a lady's maid - it's very personal without ever being malicious or indiscreet. In fact some might find it too mild, considering some of the events that happened around Rose. Personally I quite like her refusal to say the things she could, as well as her disdainful, dignified dismissal of some of the wilder accusations centered around the family she worked for.
I think the most interesting bits were not the discussion of the war or the talk of famous p...more
I think the most interesting bits were not the discussion of the war or the talk of famous p...more
Roseina Harrison, better known as Rose, began her service to Lady Nancy Astor in 1928 and it was not quite the kind of experience I would have expected.
I liked both Rose and Nancy Astor and began to understand more about the Astor household and why things were done the way they were. The Astors, expected work, but were kind to their staff. While they did not pay much in wages, there were perks which more than made up for the difference.
Rose traveled the world at no expense to herself and was...more
I liked both Rose and Nancy Astor and began to understand more about the Astor household and why things were done the way they were. The Astors, expected work, but were kind to their staff. While they did not pay much in wages, there were perks which more than made up for the difference.
Rose traveled the world at no expense to herself and was...more
This is the first book I have read based on my love of the PBS TV series Downton Abbey. On the show, I love the behind-the-scenes look at what life was like in Britain during the first World War for an aristocratic family. This book does satisfy that need, but think that just reveals more about the author's point of view.
Most of the book is about Rose describing her life as the lady's maid to Lady Astor, starting in 1928 and ending with Astor’s death in 1964. The beginning chapter presents the...more
Most of the book is about Rose describing her life as the lady's maid to Lady Astor, starting in 1928 and ending with Astor’s death in 1964. The beginning chapter presents the...more
An interesting view from the perspective of the maid to Lady Astor (first female member of England's House of Pariliament). Downton Abbey-ish but totally from the servants' perspective. The "industry", as Rosina Harrison refers to it, employed numerous people, including gardeners, cooks, housemaids, scullery maids, parlormaids, ladies' maids, chauffeurs, etc etc just so the wealthy could entertain and live their lives. Ms. Harrison spent 35 years (beginning in 1918) in her position serving the w...more
I think that often Harrison wanted to paint a more flattering portrait of her Lady, but most of the time failed. Maybe its because being a 'red socialist' the ridiculous behaviour of the so called elite annoys me, but maybe its just that not enough 'good' of Lady Astor was shared or maybe its just that Lady Astor sounded and behaved often like a right royal prat. Whatever... I appreciated the honesty with which Harrison wrote on topics that probably felt like a form of betrayal; the giving away...more
Who could refuse a book about Lady Astor written by her ladies maid? Rose was with Lady Astor from 1928 until her death and during that time she was an eyewitness to this amazing American turned British politician and aristocrat's mercurial and dynamic personality. I was dying to hear Rose's take on the barbs Lady Astor traded with Churchill among others. Rather I was treated to the unusual and not very insightful relationship between Rose and Lady Astor, in which they spent more time bickering...more
I loved this book. It was only after I finished it that I googled historical information regarding Lady Astor, and found it seemed to differ significantly from Rose's memory. However, that's a minor quibble. This is a well-written book by an inquisitive, bright and unassuming author. Well worth the read for any fans of Downton Abbey or Upstairs, Downstairs. Rose's devotion to her lady is admirable, but she never allows it to cloud her vision. Rose does her best to portray Lady Astor and the life...more
The Foreword begins "Although this book is about domestic service it is also about people..." and that is exactly what Rosina Harrison brings out in this simple retelling of her life as a ladies' maid to American-born and hard-to-please Lady Astor. It's quite funny at times (the shouting matches between Rose and my lady) and exciting (surviving continuing bombings during WWII). The pairing seems to have been a good one - the women were the perfect match for each other and developed a deep love a...more
This is a memoir by Rosina (Rose) Harrison, it is a behind the scenes look at the life of Rose as she ministered to Lady Nancy Astor. Not knowing much about Lady Nancy Astor I googled her and read more about her history. She was one of the leading ladies of the early 1900s.
I found this book and interesting book about Rose a lady's maid for 35 years to Lady Astor. I think I especially found it interesting because of my interest in the TV show, "Downton Abbey."
Rose recalls many memories of the Ast...more
I found this book and interesting book about Rose a lady's maid for 35 years to Lady Astor. I think I especially found it interesting because of my interest in the TV show, "Downton Abbey."
Rose recalls many memories of the Ast...more
In the foreward of this memoir, author Rosina "Rose" Harrison professes that her story is a simple, perhaps uneven retelling of events as she saw them during her many years of service to Nancy, Lady Astor. She humbly warns that she "does not have the words or education" of those other observers to have written about Mrs. Astor. I must say that in finishing this keen insider story, Rose has words and education aplenty. She probably provides one of the most honest views of this American-gone-Briti...more
3.5 Fascinating glimpse of a world gone by, of the very rich, and their many extremes of behavior. Loved reading about Rose and her early life, her family and the support she received from her mother who helped her become a ladies maid. The hierarchy of the servant class placed a ladies maid nearer to the top, but it was still hard work. Lady Astor, who was the first woman elected to parliament was by all accounts very difficult, a difficulty that Rose had to learn to negotiate in order to perfo...more
Originally published in London in 1975, this is one of the books recommended to fill our time until Downton Abbey returns in the third season.
A true story and very simply written, it gives a goo overall view of what it was like to be in service at the time of WWI and into WWII. She is very fair and careful in what she says. Sounds to me like Lady Astor was a good person outwardly and in her charitable work in England but very selfish and harshly cold in private. The raising of their children see...more
A true story and very simply written, it gives a goo overall view of what it was like to be in service at the time of WWI and into WWII. She is very fair and careful in what she says. Sounds to me like Lady Astor was a good person outwardly and in her charitable work in England but very selfish and harshly cold in private. The raising of their children see...more
I have this friend who I lent the Downton Abbey DVDs to.
She has since purchased many books based on: Downton Abbey.
I have four of them sitting at my house right now.
Some of them I couldn't even get through the first paragraph.
Painful.
This was the least daunting.
It did have some parallels to Downton Abbey: the home being used during WWII, the flower show, class systems, etc.
But.
It wasn't at all like a soap opera.
Which, let's face it, is kind of one of the reasons it's so popular and I'm counting...more
She has since purchased many books based on: Downton Abbey.
I have four of them sitting at my house right now.
Some of them I couldn't even get through the first paragraph.
Painful.
This was the least daunting.
It did have some parallels to Downton Abbey: the home being used during WWII, the flower show, class systems, etc.
But.
It wasn't at all like a soap opera.
Which, let's face it, is kind of one of the reasons it's so popular and I'm counting...more
I, like everyone else I think, picked this up between seasons of "Downton Abbey." And this was a fun stand-in until new episodes began. Rose is quite frank in telling the dirty truths of being a maid--not nearly so easy as it appears on screen--and her relationship with Lady Astor was quite difficult, but truly caring it seems. The downfall of the book is in simply too much detail. I flew through the first half of the book, but there were many names dropped and extensive detail that weighed the...more
This was another book recommended by the Seattle Public Library's Shelf Talk blog for fans of Downton Abbey, and indeed, the details of life in service in early 20th century England were extremely interesting and well descibed. The book did drag a bit in parts (I was not terribly interested in the lengthy coverage of places the author got to travel while in service), and were I remotely interested in knowing more about Nancy Astor, the book would have been more interesting on the whole. However,...more
I really enjoyed reading this little gem. I've read some reviews that wished the author had used a ghost writer but I completely disagree. Rose, the personal maid to Lady Astor, is full of personality and Yorkshire character that would be completely lost with a ghost writer. Her unique and old school turn of phrases add so much charm to this story (ex: "never judge a sausage by its casing" LOL).
It is really worth a read if you enjoy Downton Abbey types of settings - I'm glad I picked it up at t...more
It is really worth a read if you enjoy Downton Abbey types of settings - I'm glad I picked it up at t...more
Rose Harrison was a ladies maid to the rich and famous. She wrote the story of her life, most of which is about her service to Nancy Astor. Her writing style is personal and straight forward and she strings together a series of anecdotes mostly in chronological order but sometimes around a theme.
It is an intriguing book but I wish Rose had used a ghost writer as the stories are good but there is never enough meat in them. Nancy Astor was a fascinating character (she seems to have had a personal...more
It is an intriguing book but I wish Rose had used a ghost writer as the stories are good but there is never enough meat in them. Nancy Astor was a fascinating character (she seems to have had a personal...more
This was one of those "if you like Downton Abbey, you'll love this..." recommendations in a New York Times article. I liked it! It's as if a nicer version of O'Brien wrote a memoir of 30+ years of her life. Lady Astor is an interesting character, not always likable, but the relationship between Rose and her ladyship is fascinating. I also really like her descriptions of all of the details behind huge parties, international travel, and visits with the royals. This is a really fast, easy read that...more
Biggest take-away from this book -- having your own personal ladies maid would be truly AWESOME! Unfortunately, it would seem that I am serving in the capacity of ladies maid to my children with all the picking up and fetching that I do for them.
This account by Lady Astor's maid painted an interesting picture of life in service, as well as an intimate look at the Astor family from her unique perspective. I enjoyed reading and learning more about this period of time in England. I had read Five Si...more
This account by Lady Astor's maid painted an interesting picture of life in service, as well as an intimate look at the Astor family from her unique perspective. I enjoyed reading and learning more about this period of time in England. I had read Five Si...more
I loved reading about the daily routines and surprising details of Rose's life in service to Nancy Astor, an American member of the British aristocracy who became a viscountess, Christian Scientist, MP, twice-married mother of six, and mistress of Cliveden. It was fascinating. But I wish Rose had reflected more on her own life in this world. By the end of the book, the forebearing, tart Rose has been in service to the difficult, scheming Lady Astor for 35 years. The aged Lady Astor routinely tel...more
Brilliant story and fascinating to hear of Lady Astor's life from the perspective of her maid. A wonderful historical record with great flow throughout and told with charm and humour and a great sense of loyalty through even turbulent times during her employer's life.
A colourful narrative charting not only the life of Lady Astor but also Rosina (her maid's) background history and also important key events of British history and the war.
A colourful narrative charting not only the life of Lady Astor but also Rosina (her maid's) background history and also important key events of British history and the war.
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Jan 10, 2013 12:29pm