A Countess Below Stairs

Reader reviewed by Sage

A Countess Below Stairs is about a Russian Aristocrat, Anna, that becomes a maid for the esteemed Westerholme family. Anna is overwhelmed with her new duties and struggles to hide her aristocratic background. She eventually falls for the Earl of Westerholme, Rupert. To make things worse he seems to be falling for her. Then there problem is that he is engaged to a not so plesant fiancee. This book is a story of love in all the wrong places. It was a great book that opens the reader to the world of English and Russian culture.  

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

During the Russian Revolution, Anna, a young Russian countess, and her family escapes to England. Penniless because their maid did not meet them at their apopinted place and time, Anna sets out to look for work to keep her family alive. With her governess taking care of her sickly mother and her brother going to school, she finds work as a maid in the Westerholme estate. At first, those hiring her wre a bit iffy on hiring her due to her lack of a working background. However, she is soon able to win everyone's heart with her sweet and wonderful being. She also finds there, Rupert, the handsome earl of Westerholme. Unfortunately, they both seem to be falling for each other. But before they can be together, Anna has to deal with Rupert's nasty and mean fiance. As the employers of the Westerholme estate and Rupert started to suspect her noble blood, they still loved her and accepted her. As time passed and the wedding day for Rupert and his fiance drew near, everyone started to uncover the fiance's true personality. With the help of everyone, Anna manages to get the fiance to break off the engagement, allowing Anna and Rupert to get married. With her wealth returned when her old maid came back with her family treasures, she and Rupert lives happily ever after. This book was interesting and the way the author worded some of the stuff was very unique. I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading historical fiction.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Anna and her family are Russian nobles, refugees from the civil war that tears their country apart in the middle of World War I. They go to England, where Anna takes up as a housemaid at Mersham, an elegant estate full of personality. Rupert is the young new Earl of Westerholme and reluctant owner of Mersham, just discharged from the hospital where he recovered from a plane crash, and where he has found his fiancee, a pretty young lady named Muriel Hardwicke. Muriel, an orphan, has money but no connections, and is determined to get them by marrying Rupert, whose family has no physical or mental flaws that she knows of.

As Anna flies about Mersham determinedly carrying out her duties and endearing herself to all of the staff there, Rupert cant help but be attracted to her. And everyone in the house and out is beginning to realize how stuck-up and purist Muriel is. Her demands for physical, mental, and genetic perfection put many of Mershams help in danger of losing their positions, their entire family. Can Annas friends, everyone at Mersham, come up with a plan to save the day?

It has been a long time since I have read a refreshingly straightforward fairy tale. Anna is a resourceful and delightful female protagonist. I couldve wanted more interaction between Anna and Rupert, but is the delightful way that Eva Ibbotson draws up her cast of characters that really make this simple story shine.

Reader reviewed by Megan

After the russian revolution hits, Princess Anna and her family have to flee the country. They go to England to live with an old nanny. However, it is hard for her cousin to support all of them, so Anna takes a job as a housemaid. Her job is to get the house ready for the master to get home, but she didn't count on being instantly attracted to him. But, the master has a beautiful, but mean, fiance. The servants (minus Anna) plot to get rid of the fiance once and for all.