In 1844, Lily Wilson becomes lady’s maid to Elizabeth Barrett, invalid daughter of a wealthy, overbearing London merchant. Elizabeth became a recluse, corresponding and eventually meeting the poet Robert Browning. Because her father disapproved of his children marrying, Elizabeth eloped with Robert to Italy.

The story is half about Elizabeth Barrett Browning and half about Lily. I found the details of EBB’s life to be much more interesting than that of Wilson’s, and I wish there was more about her in this novel. I got the feeling that Wilson never really had a life of her own—everything she did was connected in some way with her mistress. However, I’d like to think that this was characteristic of the period—good servants didn’t really have lives of their own. Nonetheless, Wilson seemed to get herself into a lot of romantic entanglements that made me wonder what the point of it was. The writing style of the book is very dense, and it took me a long time to get through—much longer than it normally takes me to read a 550-page book. I also thought that about 200 pages could have been cut from the novel—it just seemed to drag on a bit.

Nevertheless, there were a couple of things I enjoyed about this book, not the least of which was the setting—Victorian England and Italy never fail to interest me. I also liked the author’s message about choice—Wilson could have learned a thing or two from her mistress. ( )

This book is the story of Wilson who becomes a servant to Elizabeth Barrett from before her elopement and marriage to Robert Browning unti her death. Elizabeth Barrett lived most of her life in poor health and Wilson cared for her. However she did have healthy periods and was able to have one son with Robert Browning whom Wilson had a very close relationship with. Wilson matures and grows as the novel progresses and both became extremely fond of and necessary to the other. But it is always an uneven relationship and this raises many questions. Did the Brownings treat Wilson fairly? For one thing she never recieved a raise as other servants did?. The Brownings always had the power. But at the same time Wilson always realised she had a prestigious job. I found this a very ineresting novel to read. It was very descriptive of the lives of Wilson and the Brownings but maybe a little too long I felt. ( )

Maids don't live boring lives when they work for upper class households. This fictional British novel's main character is Elizabeth, a maid who works full-time for the well-known poet Elizabeth Barrett. Living this lifestyle as a head servant Elizabeth realizes that she has to face competition with the other maids and give up her own personal ambitions, yet she wants her mistress to live happily and helps her secretly elope with Robert Browning. This richly detailed book would be great for the weekend.

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/f... ( )

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. ( )