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Liked It “Loved it when I read this a fair few years ago - and need to add it onto the planning to read again pile.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Loved it when I read this a fair few years ago - and need to add it onto the planning to read again pile.”
EeeBee wrote this review Tuesday, October 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“loved this book. ”
Mary C wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“HIstorical fition - learned a lot about Emily Dickenson. She's an odd lady!”
Diane L wrote this review Thursday, July 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“First read this about 15 years ago but couldn't remember a thing about it. Quite good if not the most happy of books. Glad I've read it again but think that's it for this one - off to the second-hand bookshop with it.”
webfooted wrote this review Thursday, June 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An massive reading and an impressive story! Good work for Margaret Fletcher!”
Irina C wrote this review Thursday, May 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Just picked this up again (see failure with Bone People) to see whether I still liked it. When I first read it I enjoyed the backseat view of Elizabeth Barrett Browning through the eyes of her maid. I'll let you know!”
Elizabeth G wrote this review Wednesday, April 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“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 obstacles to the happiness of Mrs. Browning's maid, even though to help her would come at little or no cost to themselves, and would seem to be no more than she deserves after years of loyal and devoted service. But Wilson also makes poor choices; is she relying on the Brownings for their help inappropriately? That she continually chooses her employers over herself and her family is frustrating, as is the Browning's continuing inability to recognize the sacrifices she makes. The resolution of the book is not entirely satisfactory. After a lengthy, drawn-out process, Wilson more or less accepts that she is on her own and that the Brownings owe her nothing. But it feels more as though she was forced to this realization, rather than coming to it naturally, and showing some growth as a character.”
mmz wrote this review Friday, April 18 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Tells the story of Wilson, the maid of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. An interesting tale of life in the 19th century and the roles of the social classes.”
Aubepine12 wrote this review Sunday, April 13 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a fictionalized account of the llives of Robert Browning and his wife Elizabeth Barrett Browning told from the viewpoint of her lady's maid. Takes place during the time they lived in Italy. Loved it.”
Judy S wrote this review Monday, March 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very slow read that I hoped would get better....”
CT_Commuter wrote this review Tuesday, January 1 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
