- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Serpent's Tail (9 July 2009)
- ISBN-10: 1846687098
- ISBN-13: 978-1846687099
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 386,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Mistress Of Nothing
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Review
`A lush and compelling tale of two very different women discovering a whole new world' --The Gloss
`A subtle debunking of a literary mistress through the eyes of the maidservant... Deft and unfussily written' --Elizabeth Buchan, Sunday Times
`Intriguing... unusual and very absorbing' -- Saga
`Pullinger's narrative flows as smoothly as the Nile whose density and odour she so seductively evokes' --Nicholas Murray, Independent
`A fascinating story... there is much to admire in this unusual love story' --Independent on Sunday
`A subtle debunking of a literary mistress through the eyes of the maidservant... Deft and unfussily written' --Elizabeth Buchan, Sunday Times
`Intriguing... unusual and very absorbing' -- Saga
`Pullinger's narrative flows as smoothly as the Nile whose density and odour she so seductively evokes' --Nicholas Murray, Independent
`A fascinating story... there is much to admire in this unusual love story' --Independent on Sunday
Review
`This is a fascinating, intelligent novel, exploring the snobbery upon which the sun never set' The Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Certain imprints have a certain style: Serpent's Tail, for instance, I always think of as 'a bit edgy'. They tend to be based in the present (or recent past) about difficult issues - and are challenging and thought-provoking reads.
At first 'The Mistress of Nothing' by Kate Pullinger seems to be different. It is an historical novel. The sexual coupling is not explicit. The first half of the book seems rooted in the well-written conventional setting of 'the Empire'. It is thoroughly enjoyable but not, apparently, Serpent's Tail fare. The maid is loyal in the devoted nineteenth century way. The mistress has tuberculosis and the two go down the Nile in search of hot air and a cure. There is a scene involving wet cupping that is graphic but it soon passes - most of the time we are on the river with Sally languidly wishing our clothes were a little less constraining and we could bare a hand or a leg and dangle them in the water.
Eventually, of course, something happens to change all this. No one can resist the eroticism of Egypt for long. Bodies sweat, become curious, then wake despite themselves. It is then that the expertise of the writer becomes apparent. The desultory and arid setting of the Nile becomes the necessary background for the rest of the book. Like all of us, Sally is capable of misinterpreting people. Her mistress, Lady Lucie Duff Gordon (a historical figure) is courageous and has always helped people in distress, and so when she says: 'I'm not surprised Sally Naldrett, to find you capable of this.' Sally believes it is clearly an indication of her admiration of her loyal maid.
What happens next is shocking, sad and believable. People are not consistent; Lady Duff Gordon shows herself to be modern in that she is liberated, fearless and charitable - but only to those who suit her self-image. As Madonna 'rescues' a child from an orphanage in Milawi with a great fanfare ... into the arms of a nanny, so Lady Duff Gordon treats the poor villagers around her, while in her quieter private life she is less valiant. And it becomes apparent that 'The Mistress of Nothing' is a Serpent's Tail book after all - just as edgy and thought-provoking - but a more subtle, nineteenth century version.
At first 'The Mistress of Nothing' by Kate Pullinger seems to be different. It is an historical novel. The sexual coupling is not explicit. The first half of the book seems rooted in the well-written conventional setting of 'the Empire'. It is thoroughly enjoyable but not, apparently, Serpent's Tail fare. The maid is loyal in the devoted nineteenth century way. The mistress has tuberculosis and the two go down the Nile in search of hot air and a cure. There is a scene involving wet cupping that is graphic but it soon passes - most of the time we are on the river with Sally languidly wishing our clothes were a little less constraining and we could bare a hand or a leg and dangle them in the water.
Eventually, of course, something happens to change all this. No one can resist the eroticism of Egypt for long. Bodies sweat, become curious, then wake despite themselves. It is then that the expertise of the writer becomes apparent. The desultory and arid setting of the Nile becomes the necessary background for the rest of the book. Like all of us, Sally is capable of misinterpreting people. Her mistress, Lady Lucie Duff Gordon (a historical figure) is courageous and has always helped people in distress, and so when she says: 'I'm not surprised Sally Naldrett, to find you capable of this.' Sally believes it is clearly an indication of her admiration of her loyal maid.
What happens next is shocking, sad and believable. People are not consistent; Lady Duff Gordon shows herself to be modern in that she is liberated, fearless and charitable - but only to those who suit her self-image. As Madonna 'rescues' a child from an orphanage in Milawi with a great fanfare ... into the arms of a nanny, so Lady Duff Gordon treats the poor villagers around her, while in her quieter private life she is less valiant. And it becomes apparent that 'The Mistress of Nothing' is a Serpent's Tail book after all - just as edgy and thought-provoking - but a more subtle, nineteenth century version.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
So many novels start promisingly and then fizzle out, as if the author ran out of ideas. The Mistress of Nothing, though, starts languorously and suddenly changes gear about half way through, when both the personal lives of the characters and the political situation in Egypt seem about to explode in turmoil. Until then, the book had seemed in danger of drifting aimlessly so for me at least, the shocking changes came just in time.
The central protagonist and narrator of the story, Sally Naldrett, was the loyal and devoted lady's maid to Lucie Duff Gordon but little else is known about her. The story, therefore, although based on fact surrounding Lady Duff Gordon's sojourn in Egypt to alleviate the inexorable march of TB, is almost entirely fictional.
This is at first a gentle tale that makes you feel as if you are drifting down the Nile in the heat of the Egyptian sun with Omar, employed to negotiate with the locals and take care of their provisions etc. The descriptions of Egypt and the Nile are magical, if at times somewhat laboured, as if the author is trying just a little too hard - it's a fascinating country, but sometimes it seemed as if she was determined to make her readers as dazzled by it as she was. I sensed the same feeling of overkill after the dramatic turn of events in the middle of the story, when, in shock and disbelief, Sally was trying to rationalise her employer's reactions. (To be more explicit would give away too much about what happens and hence spoil the story for others.
Although I enjoyed the book, I felt it fell short of five stars. I'd have given it 7 out of 10 if that had been an option. My main criticism is that I never really felt I got to know Sally Naldrett on anything other than a superficial level. She told her story and, at various stages of the book, described her feelings. But I was always the outsider listening to and watching what was happening without ever being drawn into the passions and disappointments that were laid out on the page. The ending too was, I felt, weaker than I'd have hoped. A shame because in many ways this is an excellent book with a compelling and unusual central theme. It is certainly worth a read and, despite my reservations, I would recommend it.
The central protagonist and narrator of the story, Sally Naldrett, was the loyal and devoted lady's maid to Lucie Duff Gordon but little else is known about her. The story, therefore, although based on fact surrounding Lady Duff Gordon's sojourn in Egypt to alleviate the inexorable march of TB, is almost entirely fictional.
This is at first a gentle tale that makes you feel as if you are drifting down the Nile in the heat of the Egyptian sun with Omar, employed to negotiate with the locals and take care of their provisions etc. The descriptions of Egypt and the Nile are magical, if at times somewhat laboured, as if the author is trying just a little too hard - it's a fascinating country, but sometimes it seemed as if she was determined to make her readers as dazzled by it as she was. I sensed the same feeling of overkill after the dramatic turn of events in the middle of the story, when, in shock and disbelief, Sally was trying to rationalise her employer's reactions. (To be more explicit would give away too much about what happens and hence spoil the story for others.
Although I enjoyed the book, I felt it fell short of five stars. I'd have given it 7 out of 10 if that had been an option. My main criticism is that I never really felt I got to know Sally Naldrett on anything other than a superficial level. She told her story and, at various stages of the book, described her feelings. But I was always the outsider listening to and watching what was happening without ever being drawn into the passions and disappointments that were laid out on the page. The ending too was, I felt, weaker than I'd have hoped. A shame because in many ways this is an excellent book with a compelling and unusual central theme. It is certainly worth a read and, despite my reservations, I would recommend it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I accidentally came across the book. I read it days after ending a nice, but rather plastic holiday in Egypt... and The Mistress of Nothing restored some of the magic to the land. I loved the way the three main characters were created. I loved Sally with all her mistakes and loved the humane ending Kate Pullinger gave to the story. It almost feels like I would like to read a sequel -just to find out how things turned out for her little boy, for her.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
enthraled!
loved reading this! beautiful language and such down to earth enjoyment of the country! I might be interested to read the real (printed) lettres of the lady now.
Published 10 months ago by K. Uytterschaut
Float along the NILE
I enjoyed The Mistress Of Nothing. Its about a maid and her employer. Because of her Mistresses long term illness,she leaves the cold climate of England for the warmth of Egypt,... Read more
Published 11 months ago by kendra
very good read
A little bit doubtful at the start, but carried on and don`t regret it. Just a few pages left to read and I don`t want it to end. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2009 by Mrs. Jm Grafton
Mistress of Nothing
Iloved this book, it was so descriptive. The topic was very interesting and well researched.I am inspired to access a copy of the book of letters the story derived from as I... Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by Mrs. L. A. Henderson
Evocative with a bitter undertone
Having been to Egypt countless times and each time entranced by the country and its people, I picked up this book to while away a train journey. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2009 by Rosie
Madam and Mistress
HAVING READ ALL THE BOOKS I COULD FIND REGARDING LADY DUFF GORDON I WAS DELIGHTED WHEN I FOUND THIS NEW BOOK REGARDING SALLY AND WAS INTERESTED TO READ OF HER DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON... Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by Mrs. C. Beavers
Evocative and powerful
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, based on the real-life, Egyptian retreat of Lady Lucie Duff Gordon at the end of her life, when she was suffering from rampant TB. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2009 by Sara Sheridan
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