Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor

Well written memoir about a life below stairs. Rose has spirit and determination, and she needs it in order to attend Lady Astor, one of Britain’s high-energy political dynamos. A rich, intimate picture of life leading up to World War II.

Although she had spent time with other mistresses, Rosina Harrison’s life in service to Lady Astor was quite lengthy. Starting in 1928 until Lady Astor’s death in 1964, Rose was the personal maid and companion to Lady Nancy Astor. This strange pairing found both women meeting their match in the other. While American born Lady Astor was demanding, difficult and changeable, Rose stuck to her Yorkshire stubbornness and didn’t hesitate to talk back to her mistress, especially when she was in the wrong.

Like “Upstairs, Downstairs” and “Downton Abbey”, the book gives us a look at both ends of the great houses. The hard working staff that keep things running smoothly and the wealthy upstairs of parties for royalty, fancy dinners show more and trips to exotic locations. Rose was closer to Lady Astor than anyone, and was in charge of her clothes, furs, and jewellery. Although there were times that Nancy Astor could be very mean-spirited she did have a softer side and wasn’t always the pompous privileged ass that married into great wealth and position.

Gradually over the years, Rose grew to love Lady Astor and grieved her death, although the family ensured that she was pensioned and taken care of. Rose: My life in Service to Lady Astor was an interesting read but I would have enjoyed it even more if the author had indulged in more gossip and tattletales. show less

Rosina (Rose) Harrison was born in 1899, in a time and class where she was expected to go into service. She determined early on to be a ladies' maid in order to travel, eventually working for Nancy, Lady Astor, for over 30 years.

This is my second memoir of life in service, and it made an interesting contrast to [Below Stairs], which I read about a month ago. LTer mbellerose recommended this one, and it was also suggested as "Further Reading" in [The World of Downton Abbey]. Rose, unlike Margaret Powell, calls herself a "career woman," and unlike many of her time, decides that she wants her profession over marriage. Though Lady Astor is headstrong and difficult, Rose is a match for her and loves her, too. Rose takes great pride in her show more work, and seems happy and content; she doesn't overlook disparity, but doesn't seem to think that she's owed anything either. Her anecdotes are often eye-opening or funny. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself along the way. show less

Here's another favorite of the year! This is a cool autobiography of Rosina Harrison, who was the Lady's Maid to an American turned British noble and at the same time the first woman to serve in the British parliament. I'm also fairly certain that this was one the major influences on Kazuo Ishiguro's book, The Remains of the Day. There are a lot of similarities between the two.

The author, Rosina Harrison began her service with Lady Astor in 1928 and served her until Lady Astor's death. Then Rosina Harrison wrote this book in 1975. Harrison has a strong personality and writing style, and I was interested the whole time. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator, Wanda McCaddon, is great!

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 perform her duties and still retain something of her own characters. This she does to marvelous effect. I think I would have liked to have met this plucky woman. Fans of Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs will enjoy this account.

For a behind the scenes, Upstairs/Downstairs, view of life in one of the great houses of England, get this book. Rosina Harrison, the personal maid to Nancy Astor, tells her life story in the most winsome, funny and moving way. The foibles and faults of Nancy Astor and the various members of the Astor family are interesting to read. It is a glimpse into a world gone away that will never be seen again. I truly enjoyed this book!

Fascinating story. Rosina is a wonderful storyteller. It does go back and forth in time, but wasn't hard to follow. Downton Abbey lovers will enjoy this look into real life in service.