Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor

by Rosina Harrison Narrated by Wanda McCaddon

Overview

In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the
Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the
infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament,
entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you
would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no
one expected was that the iron-willed Lady Astor was about to meet her
match in the no-nonsense, whip-smart girl from the country.

For thirty-five years, from the parties thrown for royalty and trips across the
globe, to the air raids during World War II, Rose was by Lady Astor's side and
behind the scenes, keeping everything running smoothly. In charge of
everything from the clothes and furs to the baggage to the priceless
diamond "sparklers," Rose was closer to Lady Astor than anyone else. In
her decades of service she received one 5-pound raise, but she traveled the
world in style and retired with a lifetime's worth of stories. Like
Gosford Park and Downton Abbey, Rose is not only a captivating insight into the
great wealth 'upstairs' and the endless work 'downstairs'; it is
also the story of an unlikely decades-long friendship that grew between
Her Ladyship and her spirited Yorkshire maid.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"An extraordinary document, realistic, candid, and a rare look from the vantage point below stairs at a nostalgically romanticized world." — Los Angeles Times

 “A delectable assortment of tales and details about the habits of overprivileged Britishers and the people who served them…. Rosina is a feisty, keen-eyed, no-nonsense observer of caste, class, and character.  And when she matches wills and wits with Lady Astor—a Virginia Belle by birth, a Member of Parliament, and mistress of a dazzling fortune, and of Cliveden, one of England’s most stately homes—the result is not only a crackling comedy of manners, but a sense of the way it was, firsthand.” — Newsweek

"Lady Astor's personal maid reveals her 'upstairs, downstairs' relationships with England's grandest family...Fascinating and deliciously readable!" 

— The New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"Lady Astor's personal maid reveals her 'upstairs, downstairs' relationships with England's grandest family. . . . Fascinating and deliciously readable!" —The New York Times Book Review

The New York Times Book Review

"Lady Astor's personal maid reveals her 'upstairs, downstairs' relationships with England's grandest family...Fascinating and deliciously readable!" 

Newsweek

 “A delectable assortment of tales and details about the habits of overprivileged Britishers and the people who served them…. Rosina is a feisty, keen-eyed, no-nonsense observer of caste, class, and character.  And when she matches wills and wits with Lady Astor—a Virginia Belle by birth, a Member of Parliament, and mistress of a dazzling fortune, and of Cliveden, one of England’s most stately homes—the result is not only a crackling comedy of manners, but a sense of the way it was, firsthand.

Los Angeles Times

 "An extraordinary document, realistic, candid, and a rare look from the vantage point below stairs at a nostalgically romanticized world."

Library Journal - Audio

Harrison grew up poor in Yorkshire in the early 20th century. Though she wanted to see the world, she had few opportunities to do so. So she went into service, working for the American-born Lady Nancy Astor, the first woman to sit as a Member of Parliament. Harrison worked as Lady Astor's personal maid for 35 years, traveling in style throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. Originally published in 1976, this memoir has been reintroduced to take advantage of Downton Abbey's popularity and features vivid descriptions of life among the rich and famous, including the detail that Lord Astor traveled with a cow to provide him with fresh milk. However, while Harrison's clever, humorous accounts of Lady Astor's clothing, social activities, and tantrums provide interesting listening, modern readers may have difficulty understanding Harrison's pride in such a restrictive life. Narrator Wanda McCaddon captures perfectly the accents and personalities of these individuals. VERDICT Recommended for memoir lovers and Anglophiles fascinated by life in the grand houses of the past.—Nancy R. Ives, SUNY Geneseo

MAY 2013 - AudioFile

Listeners are in for a treat with this audiobook of Rosina Harrison’s life in service to Lady Nancy Astor, wife of Waldorf Astor. As a lady’s maid, Rose’s life was one of service and splendor. She traveled the world with Lady Astor and enjoyed every minute of it. The superb Wanda McCaddon takes the listener through a time warp and plants us in the early twentieth century, when ocean liners are the chief means of transportation and being a lady’s maid is a desirable profession. With élan McCaddon transitions from Rose’s Yorkshire accent to Lady Astor’s witty outspoken cadence—as well as to the voices of the many other staff as they recount their anecdotes. It’s a delight for the ears and a feast for the imagination. E.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170493302
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	12/10/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	946,694

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