By the award-winning and bestselling author of JOURNEY TO THE RIVER SEA, a novel that sings with characteristic Ibbotson warmth and wit
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'An uplifting tale of romance - and Sian Thomas's Russian accent is irresistible.'
--The Observer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--The Observer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Anna, a young countess, has lived in the glittering city of St Petersburg all her life in an ice-blue palace overlooking the River Neva. But when revolution tears Russia apart, her now-penniless family is forced to flee to England. Armed with an out-of-date book on housekeeping, Anna determines to become a housemaid and she finds work at the Earl of Westerholme’s crumbling but magnificent mansion. The staff and the family are sure there is something not quite right about their new maid – but she soon wins them over with her warmth and dedication. Then the young Earl returns home from the war – and Anna falls hopelessly in love. But they can never be together: Rupert is engaged to the snobbish and awful Muriel – and anyway, Anna is only a servant. Or so everybody thinks . . .
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Suspend your disbelief for this glamourous, romantic, fairy tale-like book about goodness and how it always wins against shallowness or selfishness.
If you want a realistic, gritty book about the Russian revolution, don't read this. Eva Ibbotson, although she does have some sadness in the book, is writing a cheerful book that will have you chuckiling to yourself days after you've turned the final page.
Even though it is a children's book, I think that a lot of adults will enjoy it too (my mum does). This is tribute to the author's quirky style, and the way that she doesn't dumb down like many kids' books. Instead, she gives us a glimpse into a lost world of glamour, nice food and lots of gorgeous dresses.
There is a huge range of fun characters, who all have tons of life and personality. In particular, the selfish, spiteful Muriel Hardwicke, the stubbon and perserviring Olive and Dr Lightbody, Muriel's self-satisfied and narrow minded friend.
Although it touches on some darker themes, overall it is an enthusiastic, joyful book that will light up any rainy day.
Buy it, and you definitely won't regret it!
If you want a realistic, gritty book about the Russian revolution, don't read this. Eva Ibbotson, although she does have some sadness in the book, is writing a cheerful book that will have you chuckiling to yourself days after you've turned the final page.
Even though it is a children's book, I think that a lot of adults will enjoy it too (my mum does). This is tribute to the author's quirky style, and the way that she doesn't dumb down like many kids' books. Instead, she gives us a glimpse into a lost world of glamour, nice food and lots of gorgeous dresses.
There is a huge range of fun characters, who all have tons of life and personality. In particular, the selfish, spiteful Muriel Hardwicke, the stubbon and perserviring Olive and Dr Lightbody, Muriel's self-satisfied and narrow minded friend.
Although it touches on some darker themes, overall it is an enthusiastic, joyful book that will light up any rainy day.
Buy it, and you definitely won't regret it!
39 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By Anne Moore
Format:Paperback
Once again a great book by Eva Ibbotson. Buyers beware this is the same book as 'A Countess Under Stairs' and if you buy the special offer of these two books together, you are buying 2 copies of the same book!!I guess you could give one away to a friend like I did!
However, if you love old fashion romance of the type that you can't put down than buy this (or 'A Countess Under Stairs'!!) I am looking forward to reading the other re issues of Ms Ibbotson's books
However, if you love old fashion romance of the type that you can't put down than buy this (or 'A Countess Under Stairs'!!) I am looking forward to reading the other re issues of Ms Ibbotson's books
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Sarah A. Brown
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Anna, the secret countess of the title, is an impoverished aristocrat whose family has fled to England following the Russian Revolution. She takes a position as a housemaid with an aristocratic English family, but wants to keep her birth a secret. The son of the family has just got back from the war and is engaged to a bossy young woman who takes a keen interest in eugenics. (Pleasingly, the fiancé has a number of friends who don't match up to her racial/physical benchmarks.) Another reviewer noted parallels with Jane Eyre, which sounds convincing, but I was more aware of possible links with The Sound of Music, Georgette Heyer's `The Grand Sophy' and Flambards. As with the other Ibbotson novel I read, I felt this was actually more likely to appeal to the mothers of its target audience than to teenage girls themselves. There is something very appealing about Ibbotson's stories, although I wish her social views weren't quite so conservative and her heroines were a bit more feisty and a bit less `Ewig-Weibliche'.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Got this as an audio book and enjoyed it so much
Absolutely loved this book, my Nan worked in a big country house, and I liked the realism of how tough domestic service was blended with a charming romance, I think all Downton... Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delicious read
You know those stories about people taking jobs in chocolate factories, who are allowed to eat as many chocolates as they like but get sick of it after a few days? Read more
Published 4 months ago by R. A. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful historical romance
This book was originally published as A Countess Below Stairs in 1981. But I didn't realise this book was written 30 years ago when I read it! Read more
Published 8 months ago by Gemma
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cosy, Romantic Fairytale
Winter is the perfect time for reading fairytales. In The Secret Countess, Anna Grazinsky, a Russian Countess, has to flee to England with her family after the Russian Revolution. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sam
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Secret Countess
This is my favourite out of the Eva Ibbotsons books that I've read. The main character (Anna) is extremely likeable and I couldn't help but be transprted to her fairy tale world of... Read more
Published 19 months ago by bookworm
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Secretly Good Novel
While this is not my favourite Eva Ibbotson novel, `The Secret Countess' is a pleasant and enjoyable read. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Little Miss Bookworm
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Secret Countess
I wasn't particually enthralled by this book. It had a mediocre story line and it was very predictable, i think the average teen would find the language used a bit heavy... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Skevingtons
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Enchanting Book By Eva Ibbotson
I had read Eva Ibbotson's Star of Kazan and Journey To The River Sea, before I read The Secret Countess. Read more
Published on 12 May 2011 by Jie-Jie
1.0 out of 5 stars
One of the reasons I no longer read modern teen literature.
Firstly, I should say this isn't a book I'd normally pick up, it was given to me by a friend so I felt I had to read it... Anyways... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2011 by H Spooner
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Secret Countess - Eva Ibbotson
Another gem of a book by this fairy tale author! As always, the plot is sneakily intertwined, weaving together a beautiful story of love, freedom and spirit. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2010 by Jess Matthews
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