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

A Humble Companion

by Laurie Graham (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 34 ratings · 10 reviews

Nellie Welche is the daughter of a high-ranking steward in the household of Prinnie, Prince of Wales. In 1788, at the age of twelve, she's proposed as a suitably humble companion to Princess Sophia, one of George III's enormous brood of children. Nellie and Sofy become friends for life. From the first rumblings of revolution in France to the exciting, modern times of gas l...more

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Published June 7th 2012 by Quercus (first published June 1st 2012)

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

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 115)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

May 17, 2013 P.d.r. Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mysteries

‘A Humble Companion’ is an enjoyable and less usual style of historical novel. It’s an ‘insider’ novel where an outsider becomes part of a well known real historical group and tells us their story. Poor ordinary Nellie is a character the reader quickly warms to and her observations and dry wit make for excellent and humourous reading. She has plenty to observe, her position as the outsider, way out of her social world, gives the reader a very different view of King George III and his family life...more
‘A Humble Companion’ is an enjoyable and less usual style of historical novel. It’s an ‘insider’ novel where an outsider becomes part of a well known real historical group and tells us their story. Poor ordinary Nellie is a character the reader quickly warms to and her observations and dry wit make for excellent and humourous reading. She has plenty to observe, her position as the outsider, way out of her social world, gives the reader a very different view of King George III and his family life.

In 1788 Nellie Welche is the daughter of the Prince Regent’s steward. Quick and lively, she should have a promising future in the 18th C style, a husband and happy home. But poor Nellie was born with a port wine birthmark on her face. Her father therefore teaches her tricks of his trade and it is when she is with him in Brighton that she meets the Prince Regent. The Prince decides she might be a suitable companion for Princess Sophia, the youngest of his sisters, a way of entertaining and teaching the neglected princess about ordinary people and their lives.

Sophia’s father is mad King George III but Nellie’s observations show that his madness is just one of the difficulties plaguing the lives of the royal family. Really, and Nellie observes this with dry wit and a sense of the comic which makes the reader laugh, the entire family is nutty. The princes are vile and peculiar, the poor princesses have such a deadly dull life ruled by their peculiar mother and mad father. Nellie had an idea that princesses had gay lives, lots of parties, wonderful gowns, marble palaces for homes and handsome princes visiting, eager for marriage. Not so, their lives are more boring than Nellie’s home life. Restricted by their mother, Queen Charlotte, and their father’s refusal to consent to their marriages, Nellie shows us theirs is a sad life, particularly for her princess. Nellie has a kind heart as well as a great sense of humour. She forms a friendship with the King and values Sohpia and their friendship but, because she has an independent life of her own, she isn’t afraid to tell her friend, dear Sofy, unpalatable truths where others won’t.

The book covers Nellie’s life from the time she becomes a royal companion until her death. We see the royal family and the contrast of Nellie’s family. The contrast between Nellie’s world, especially after she marries, and the enclosed royal world is marked but Nellie does meet Fanny Burney, novelist and attendant to Queen Charlotte. Nellie has always wanted to write and Fanny Burney encourages her with excellent advice. Of course the greatest book she writes is about Sophia.

Full marks to Laurie Graham for her research, and her handling of the historical information without dumping it on the reader in boring lumps. She has created a ‘real’ world for the reader and a fascinating one at that.
(less)

like · see review

Jul 20, 2012 Mieneke rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, historical-fiction

In the past, I've made no secret of my love for historical fiction concerning royalty and aristocracy and in fact, Laurie Graham's A Humble Companion made my Anticipated Reads post for the first half of this year. What interested me about this novel in particular was the era it dealt with, as the Hanoverian George's are some of the kings in British history I'm least familiar with. To say that I now know lots more about them, would be an exaggeration, but what I did learn more about is the life o...more In the past, I've made no secret of my love for historical fiction concerning royalty and aristocracy and in fact, Laurie Graham's A Humble Companion made my Anticipated Reads post for the first half of this year. What interested me about this novel in particular was the era it dealt with, as the Hanoverian George's are some of the kings in British history I'm least familiar with. To say that I now know lots more about them, would be an exaggeration, but what I did learn more about is the life of Georgian princesses and how limited, lonely and none too happy their life was.

The life the daughters of King George III led wasn't even close to how you'd imagine a princess' life to be: no endless parties, gorgeous clothes, stunning palaces and princes vying for their hands in marriage. Instead, they lived lives of relative simplicity, restricted in their movements and ruled with an iron hand by their mother, Queen Charlotte, and weren't allowed to marry until they were almost middle-aged. Graham sketches a sad life for her princesses, which despite its security in regards to the necessities of life – food, clothes, shelter – seems to have been a lot less happy than that of their father's subjects. Nellie, the daughter of a successful tradesman who's risen to become steward for the Prince of Wales, seems to be far happier and more free than Sophie could ever dream to be, even if she had been able to escape the clutches of her mother through marriage.

The narrator of the story is Nellie Welche, only child of the Prince of Wales' steward. A smart and surprisingly educated girl, who is cherished by her parents, Nellie has one physical feature that sets her apart, a port-wine stain across one side of her face. Nellie is used to people staring at her because of it, but she never comes across as ashamed of it or insecure because of it. I loved Nellie's tone of voice. She's irreverent, acerbic, humorous and a keen observer, but she is also wise and has a kind heart. I loved the way she lost her awe of the 'Royalties', as she calls them, and sees through their foibles and eccentricities to their humanity. She's very loyal to Sophie, while at the same time very well aware of what she will and won't accept from her. She values their friendship, but isn't afraid to lose her place as Humble Companion and thus tells Sofy truths others won't, something Sophie doesn't always appreciate.

We follow Nellie from about her twelfth year until her death and during this we meet not just most of the royal family, we also meet Nellie's family: her Dutch/German-descended parents, their cook, their manservant, Morphew, who stays with Nellie when she gets married. And later we meet her husband, the orphans they take in and their families. I loved the contrast between Nellie's world which is open and industrious and Sofy's shuttered and insulated existence within the walls of the different royal houses she occupies. The different characters Graham creates for the non-royals in her book are lovely and diverse and I really enjoyed the glimpses of Nellie's life we got. These were far fewer than I would have liked, because in the end this is as much or more Sofy's story as it is Nellie's and most of Nellie's narration focuses on her interactions with Sofy.

And that would be my biggest complaint: Sofy. For most of the narrative she remains rather flat; she is a mousy, quiet girl, snowed under by the stronger personalities of her sisters and it's not quite clear why she'd deserve such devotion from Nellie. Only once we get halfway through the book does she show a more developed spark of personality. At the same time, this is also the point where the friendship between the two becomes quite strained by circumstances best not revealed so as not to spoil the story, so it also means a shift in the relationship. It is only by the end of the book that they truly seem equal in friendship, if not in station, then in feeling and devotion. When going out they seem like any other set of old, grey ladies, albeit that one of them is a little strange in the ways of the real world. The scenes were Sophie finally visits Nellie's house and the confectionery shop she runs with her husband, Jack, were lovely and some of my favourites in the book.

Another recurring thread throughout the story is Nellie's love of writing and her wish to become a published author. The flames of this desire only get fanned when she meets Fanny Burney, one of the first female novelists and attendant to Queen Charlotte. The scenes she and Nellie share are just wonderful and she seems to speak not just to Nellie, but to any budding author. Nellie eventually gets her wish and becomes a published author. But in the end, it seems her greatest writing wasn't to be her fiction, but the commitment to paper of her memories of a princess, her princess, Sofy, Her Royal Highness The Princess Sophia.

A Humble Companion is the tale of a friendship between two unlikely girls. It is a story of loyalty, secrets and the strength of character of its narrator. I found it compelling reading, because of Nellie's wonderful voice and, not least, because of Graham's smooth writing and the fascinating look at the late Hanoverian period. If you enjoy historical fiction centred on royalty or set in British history, A Humble Companion is a book well worth reading.

This book was provided for review by the publisher.(less)

like · see review

May 26, 2012 Anita rated it 4 of 5 stars

It is 1788, and twelve-year-old Cornelia [Nellie] Welche’s lives in her comfortable home in Soho, where her father is a high-ranking steward in the household of Prinnie, Prince of Wales. Nellie is mourning the loss of her elder sister, Eliza, manifested in her overeating her father’s cakes. The fact that she also suffers from a disfiguring birthmark, does not help her appearance as it attracts both sympathy and derision.

Her world changes forever when her father puts her forward as a companion to...more

like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 CuteBadger rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nellie Welche is a commoner chosen at the age of 12 to be a Humble Companion to Princess Sophia, one of the daughters of George III. The idea is that she will teach the Princess about ordinary life, but in telling us her own and Sophia's life stories it becomes obvious that the commoner learns more about Royal life and scandal than Royalty learns about commoners.

I loved this book from beginning to end and was really sorry when it was over. Nellie is a wonderful creation who jumps from the page a...more

like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Vicky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I learned a lot about the British Royals. The history behind the Hanoverian dynasty is fascinating. The Mad King George and his 15th children are at centre of this book. And what a family they were! Many readers found this book boring, with the main character coming and going, her life entangled with princesses, her presence as a humble companion made her a unique witness to their miserable life. The Royals are dying from boredom and the country being ruled somehow by a bunch of narrow minded si...more

like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I always look forward to a new Laurie Graham novel, and loved this one. Graham has written historical fiction before, but never gone so far back in time, and has found a rich seam to mine. "Mad" King George's large family, are viewed by Nellie via her role as a companion to Princess Sofy. The privilege afforded to the family and their waste of it is the theme that Nellie returns to time after time: waste of money, waste of their time and talents, and carelessness of other's feelings.

We see all...more

like · see review

Sep 16, 2012 Brenda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: keeper, reading-group-review-book

The cover of my bound proof copy said this :- You are cordially invited to spend an evening with A Humble Companion by Laurie Graham to make the acquaintance of Miss Nellie Welche, companion to Royalty and Keeper of Secrets.
How I wish that I could have read it all in just one evening! From page one I was hooked by this story, written as a memoir by the companion of the title but woven around the historical facts of 'the Royalties' during the years 1788-1848 covering the reigns from George III,-...more

like · see review

Nov 16, 2012 Laura Daly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of Laurie Graham so I pre ordered this for Kindle. I should first of all say that it/was not my favorite of Grahams books. It was really well researched and I learned plenty about how awful the life of a Royal Princess was in the 1700s. I grew into the book but it will not stick out in my mind. It was all pretty tame and I won't be rereading it.

like · see review

Dec 18, 2012 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

I enjoy reading Laurie Graham's books, each one of them is vastly different from the others and she tackles subjects from Wallis Simpson to cross dressing with aplomb. A Humble Companion is is about Charles III's family of 15 children and in particular his daughter Sofy and her 'humble companion' Nellie who tells the story. It is an entertaining look at this period of English history from the Napoleonic wars, the French revolution and the start of the Industrial Revolution. I learnt alot from La...more

like · see review

Jan 03, 2013 Catherine Holmes added it

a good book, interesting but about 50 pages too long.

like 1 like · see review

May 05, 2013 Kay Gittins marked it as to-read

Shelves: lockyer, my-ebooks

May 04, 2013 Great Historicals added it · review of another edition

May 04, 2013 Lesezeichen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Apr 26, 2013 Muis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 26, 2013 Karen Marais marked it as to-read

Apr 24, 2013 Carolynne marked it as to-read

Apr 24, 2013 Augusta Arnold rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 23, 2013 Heidi marked it as abandoned

Apr 22, 2013 HC marked it as to-read

Apr 19, 2013 Holliekins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 16, 2013 Rose Ann marked it as to-read

Shelves: england

Apr 09, 2013 Sophie Houston rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 18, 2013 Dyscover marked it as to-read

Shelves: historical-fiction

Mar 17, 2013 James Breeds marked it as to-read

Mar 03, 2013 Lucia marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Mar 11, 2013 Janet rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Feb 23, 2013 Jill Hyams is currently reading it

Feb 22, 2013 Lynsey Brooks marked it as to-read

Feb 17, 2013 Tilly marked it as to-read

Feb 17, 2013 Di Emslie rated it 1 of 5 stars

« previous 1 2 3 4 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 (2)

Genres

Historical Fiction

4 users

See top shelves...

About Laurie Graham

Laurie Graham was first published at the advanced age of 40. She is the author of THE TEN O'CLOCK HORSES, PERFECT MERINGUES, THE DRESS CIRCLE, DOG DAYS GLENN MILLER NIGHTS, THE FUTURE HOMEMAKERS OF AMERICA, THE UNFORTUNATES, MR STARLIGHT, GONE WITH THE WINDSORS, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING KENNEDY, LIFE ACCORDING TO LUBKA, and AT SEA.

Mother of four and grandmother of nine, Laurie also writes and appea...more

More about Laurie Graham...

Books by Laurie Graham

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About A Humble Companion

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: A Humble Companion
avg rating	preview: A Humble Companion Goodreads rating: 3.71 (34 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13554890-a-humble-companion?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334155866l/13554890.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13554890-a-humble-companion?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]A Humble Companion by Laurie Graham[/url]

A Humble Companion

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (2)

Genres

About Laurie Graham

Books by Laurie Graham

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About A Humble Companion

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)