A Countess Below Stairs (urspr publ 1981; utgåvan 2007)

3.5* I thought some of the characters were really great, such as Anna, Rupert and some of the staff. But the extra side ones were too much. Also Muriel was amazing to despise but at the same time it came off as predictable as well. Overall I thought it was good unfortunately not great. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2019/12/2019135-secret-countess-eva-ibbotson.html ( )

A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS by Eva Ibbotson
If you are enamored with the Russian Revolution and the Tsar’s family or you are a fan of British TV you will like this sweet story of a Russian Countess reduced to serving as a housemaid in England. Anna is almost too sweet and industrious to believe, but this tale written for middle and high schoolers has just enough heft to be an enjoyable romp.
You will learn a bit about the Revolution and quite a lot about being an immigrant in a country that is not quite welcoming to the impoverished Russians flowing into England. You will also learn a bit about how wealthy and titled Brits ran their households and treated their servants and fellow gentry.
Ibbotson produces well written books with engaging and well developed characters. This one is well worth the effort to read it.
4 of 5 stars ( )

A sweet and simple romance with interesting characters. ( )

I can't remember how this historical romance ended up in my listening list, but it was a little overly sweet, but good for listening before sleeping. Anna's aristocratic family has been displaced by the Russian Revolution. She finds a job as a maid at an estate that is being readied for a wedding. The earl is to marry a wealthy heiress and save the impoverished estate, but who cannot fail to be entranced by the charming and graceful Anna... ( )