The Secret Countess

Written by Eva Ibbotson

Narrated by Davina Porter

Anna, a young countess, has lived in the glittering city of St Petersburg all her life. But when revolution tears Russia apart, her 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 Armed with an out-of-date book on housekeeping, Anna determines to become a housemaid and she finds work at the Earl of Westerholme's crumbling but magnificent mansion.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...

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Audio
• Release date: Jan 2, 2008
• ISBN: 9781407416250

Eva Ibbotson

Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna in 1925 and moved to England with her father when the Nazis came into power. Ibbotson wrote more than twenty books for children and young adults, many of which garnered nominations for major awards for children's literature in the UK, including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the Whitbread Prize. Eva's critically acclaimed Journey to the River Sea won the Smarties Gold Medal in 2001. Set in the Amazon, it was written in honour of her deceased husband Alan, a former naturalist. Imaginative and humorous, Eva's books often convey her love of nature, in particular the Austrian countryside, which is evident in works such as The Star Of Kazan and A Song For Summer. Eva passed away at her home in Newcastle on October 20th 2010. Her final book, One Dog and His Boy, was published in May 2011.

Reviews for The Secret Countess

[sriddell_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first this book seemed too sugary-sweet, with Anna the main character too good to be true. Then we meet her foil, the too bad to be believed Muriel.

From this point on it's a battle of nice vs mean, and I found myself enjoying the rest of the book, along with Muriel's ultimate come-upance, largely as a result of her own snobbery.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh, it's fluff, alright, but such marvellous, hilarious, seductive fluff. What I love about Ibbotson's heroines is that they are rarely considered to be great beauties in their person, and they are utterly bewitching in their personalities. Anna is enchanting -- in her earnestness, in her odd pragmatism and in her wonderful kindness.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow. A very rich, complex...well, OK, it's a romance. But fun, and excellent characters. Want to read more by her now.

[beckyhaase · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS by Eva IbbotsonIf 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

[cindywho-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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...

[emsue88 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A sweet and simple romance with interesting characters.

[smooody106 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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.

[mom2lnb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Countess Below Stairs is a delightful romantic tale that's reminiscent of fairy tales like Cinderella or Anastasia. I thought it was a unique twist to read a story that's set in an English country manor house but told partly from the perspective of the servants below stairs. It gives the book kind of an Upstairs, Downstairs or Downton Abbey vibe. It takes place in approximately the same time period too, immediately following the first World War, which is another unique element. I haven't really read any other stories, romantic or otherwise, that are set in that time. It's also rather rare to find Russian main characters in romance too. It all made for a very enjoyable and lively narrative that was a lot of fun to read.In her native Russia, Anna was practically royalty. She lived a very privileged life growing up, but when the Russian revolution came about and the tsar was overthrown, the aristocracy had to run for their lives. Anna's old nursemaid was sent ahead with the family jewels, but she never made the rendezvous with the family, leaving them to assume that she'd betrayed them. It also made them penniless refugees in their new country of England. Knowing they desperately need money, Anna decides to take a position as a housemaid, against her mother's and former governess's wishes. I really love and admire Anna. She's a truly lovely person who her father nicknamed ?Little Candle? or ?Little Star,? because of the bright vibrant quality to her personality. She's a very positive person who spreads joy and happiness wherever she goes, and this carries over to her new life as a servant. She's completely unpretentious. I don't know a lot about Russian culture, so whether this was a product of her heritage or simply a part of who she was, I couldn't say, although her cousin also embodied that quality. In any case, despite her lavish upbringing, Anna is very humble, never complains, and isn't afraid of hard work. Everyone seems to love her, and she always knows how to put each person at ease and make them feel special, because she takes the time to get to know and understand them. I enjoyed the exploration in contrasts between Anna and Muriel (the villainess). Both ladies were brought up in similar circumstances, as the daughters of wealthy parents, and yet they have polar opposite attitudes toward those less fortunate.Rupert, our romantic hero, has just returned from fighting in WWI, where he piloted an airplane and was hailed as a war hero. As a second son, he never expected to become the earl, but he inherited when his older brother was killed in the war. Rupert made a promise to his brother to take care of Mersham, the family estate, if anything ever happened to him, and now feels honor-bound to keep that promise even though he's also inherited a mountain of debt along with the property. While in the hospital recovering from severe injuries sustained when his plane crashed, Rupert fell for his beautiful nurse and before he knew it they were engaged. With little to offer her financially, he probably never would have proposed except that she wormed her way into his life while he an invalid and she's more than sufficiently wealthy to save the family's estate. Unfortunately, he doesn't find out exactly what kind of person she is until she comes to stay at Mersham in the weeks leading up to the wedding, when she's far worse than a bridezilla. I felt really sorry for Rupert. Much like Anna he's a very kind and unpretentious person. I don't know that we get to know Rupert quite as well as Anna, but the one thing about him that really stands out is that he's a true gentleman whose word is his honor. He would never think of breaking it even though it means marrying a woman whom he's come to realize is going to make his life a living hell.The secondary cast is a colorful and lively bunch. Rupert has very little close family left, but his mother and uncle live at Mersham with him, along with his adorable, snobbish dog who never goes below stairs. There's also, of course, the entire staff of the estate, and I loved every one of them. I felt like I got to know each of them and their circumstances in a way that made me really care about them. Without their care, concern, and meddling, Rupert would have been doomed to a horrible marriage. Then there are Rupert's friends and neighbors who are an eclectic mix of aristocracy and new money. Lastly, was Rupert's fianc?e, Muriel, and her mentor, Dr. Lightbody, a leader in the New Eugenics movement, a belief system that was also later espoused by Hitler and the Nazis. Rarely have I ever felt such loathing for a character, villain or otherwise, as I did for Muriel. She's prejudicial in the extreme and carries out her plans for perfection in her new home with a subtle kind of glee that's utterly reprehensible. Each time she does something terrible, I didn't think she could possibly stoop any lower, but then she does something else even worse. I almost wanted her to get an even better comeuppance than what she did, but the trick the butler, Mr. Proom, pulled to get rid of her once and for all was still brilliant and had me grinning from ear to ear.Most book websites have A Countess Below Stairs categorized as young adult fiction. I'm not entirely sure why this is, except for that fairy tale feel it has. I just read that Eva Ibbotson was surprised by this book and some of her others being repackaged for young adults, because she intended them for an adult audience. To be honest, it's probably more aptly categorized as new adult fiction, because of the ages of the main characters. They aren't star-crossed teenagers. Anna is twenty and although I don't recall Rupert's age ever being mentioned, he seems like he's probably in his early to mid-twenties. In all fairness, though, new adult is a relatively new genre classification that didn't exist back in 1981 when this book was first published, so maybe the YA classification was the closest the publisher could come. In any case, it's perfectly suitable for a YA audience. I only found one bad word in the entire book. There's no violence to speak of, and there's no sex, only chaste kisses. However, there is a little bit of sexual tension, including one scene where Rupert comes upon Anna naked, bathing in a lake, and some tastefully worded references to the sex act in the context of discussion rather than anyone actually doing it. Therefore, IMHO the book would be fine not only for teens but for more sensitive adult readers as well.I very much enjoyed the ethnic and cultural diversity that's represented in the story. I felt like I learned a little something about pre-revolution Russian culture, which was interesting. Not only do we have Anna and her family from Russia, but one of Mersham's prominent neighbors is a Jewish family. Their daughter has a romance going on in the background with Rupert's best friend, Tom, while Tom's stepmother is an American married to a English aristocrat. I really like how these cultures come together and everyone accepts one another and are friends with everyone else. That is until Muriel upsets the apple cart. Then we get a great lesson in how prejudice can affect people from many different walks of life. Not only does Muriel snub those of other races and cultures, but she also discriminates against the physically disabled, the mentally disabled, and the elderly. Even the muscular, capable, long-time footman at Mersham isn't good enough, because he isn't tall enough to suit her. Basically anyone who doesn't fit her picture of perfection gets left out in the cold. It's a little like a small-scale preview of Nazi Germany a few years down the road.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed A Countess Below Stairs, and in some ways, it's kind of odd that I did. This was my first book by Eva Ibbotson, and I quickly discovered that her writing style is very different than most authors I've read. She tends to tell the story from a distance, almost as an omniscient narrator. She doesn't really engage in the deep POV that I typically prefer in my romances, yet I still felt like I knew all the characters fairly well. She more or less skips around to different character's perspectives, which is something that usually drives me crazy, but here I found it charming. Maybe it's because she really has a way with a turn of phrase and her descriptive prose drew me into her setting so that I could see it in my mind's eye. Maybe it was her wonderful cast of characters that was rather large, yet somehow she made me care about each and every one of them. Whatever the reasons, A Countess Below Stairs was an enchanting, feel-good story that engaged my attention and invited me into another world for a little while, one that I'd gladly inhabit if given the chance. I was very impressed by this first foray into Ms. Ibbotson's work and look forward to trying more of her books soon.

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This has to be my favorite Eva Ibbotson book. Like all her heroines, Anna is incredibly lovable and my favorite kind of it, spreading joy and love everywhere. But aside from this, the whole world of Mersham is wonderful. Mr. Proom is one of my all-time favorite characters in literature. Of all-time. I love him. I love Mrs. Park and Win and James and the dowager and Mrs. Proom and Ollie and Tom and Susie (ooooh Tom and Susie). The Herrings are even pretty rad.Muriel is also a very good villain, because I hate her. I hate her so much. She makes me shudder. She's just pure evil incarnate. She's like a young version of Umbridge. Umbridge, the early years.This book just makes me so happy.

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read a couple other Ibbotson books before this one. I really loved “A Company of Swans” but didn’t enjoy “The Morning Gift”. This was a quick historical fiction read that I enjoyed. There is quite a bit of romance in here but it felt a bit unfinished. This is a feel good story that is set in Russia and Europe right after/during WWII. It was a well done story but the writing was a bit simplistic. The main heroine, Anna, is almost too good to be true. Her absolute goodness in the face of everything was inspiring but also unbelievable.I enjoyed the historical setting but throught the story was a bit contrived. Additionally the ending was abrupt and felt unfinished.Overall this was engaging and easy to read but not great. It was an overly sweet story that was so happy throughout it felt contrived. I liked it better than The Morning Gift but not as much as A Company of Swans. Would recommend to those who enjoy light historical romance reads.

[carlyrose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book overall, with its sweet and quirky ensemble cast. Loved the scene with Tom and Susie that other reviewers have quoted. Loved Anna's little brother championing Ollie.Things I didn't like: the cover of my copy was too, well smarmy.The nasty fiancee, Muriel. I kind of felt manipulated by the eugenics obsession: "See, this is a horrible villainess, because she's a eugenics devotee." On the one hand,it is part of the cause of her awful behavior, although she could have just been obsessed with perfection in general. Which leads to the other thing I didn't like--why on earth did everyone let her get away with it for so long? I guess it was different then, but I have a hard time believing that everyone just held their tongues about all the nasty things she did. And I was pretty disappointed that Rupert didn't speak up at the wedding and put his foot down about Ollie. The way things ended up was funny, but I felt really let down by Rupert.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've long been a fan of Eva Ibbotson's novels for younger, middle-grade readers, from the marvelous eco-fantasy, Island of the Aunts (originally published as Monster Island in Britain), to the humorous ghost-story, Dial-a-Ghost, and have been wanting to try one of her more romantic stories for young adults, so I was especially pleased that A Countess Below Stairs was chosen as the November selection, over in the Children's Fiction Club to which I belong. The story of Countess Anna Petrovna Grazinsky, a Russian aristocrat who, along with her family, loses everything to the revolution, and, having fled to England, takes a position as a maid in the home of Rupert Frayne, the Earl of Westerholme, it is a delightful book: romantic without being overwhelmed by its romance, full of characters that you either love, or love to hate, and involving enough that the reader will find herself putting off other tasks (I skipped swimming, this past Friday!) in order to finish it.It has some flaws, of course, already ably set out by other reviewers: the characters are a little one-dimensional, when it comes to virtue and vice, being either very good or very bad; and there are some unexamined prejudices here, from the classism evident in the fact that Uncle Sebastian's groping ways are seen as "harmless" (by the characters that matter), to the depiction of the two overweight Herring children, whose obesity is treated as part of their family's general moral failure. I was definitely aware of these problems, but somehow, the pleasure of reading the story, my affection for the characters, carried me along (hence the four stars, rather than three), and I came away with a desire to read more of Ibbotson's work in this genre. Definitely a winner!

[foggidawn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An impoverished Russian countess, displaced due to the Russian revolution, takes a position as a housemaid in a grand English country home. She is soon beloved by everyone there, upstairs and down -- and even Rupert, the new Earl of Westerholme, is not completely unaware of her charms. However, the arrival of Rupert's fiancee Muriel brings many unwelcome changes to the estate. . . .This book is delightfully funny and sweet. All of the characters are wonderful, but Anna is the one that really makes the book. She's one of those fictional characters that I really wish I could meet in person -- since I can't, I'm sure I'll be dropping by her book for many more visits in the future!

[annesanse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So this book was rather predictable. However, there were moments between Anna and Rupert that just literally took my breath away. That doesn't happen to me very often especially while reading YA fiction. Anna was a totally lovable character who you just had to root for. I loved her whole family. And I loved the entire staff of Mersham. I love when a book actually makes you long to be a part of it's world. The dialogue was smart and funny.

[grnpickle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Eva Ibbotson. This book was superb! It was a very fast read and the characters were laugh out loud funny. I especially love the mom with the appendix in the jar. My only complaint came when the characters spoke in French or Russian and I had little idea what they were talking about. I would have loved the translation thrown in there and not just alluding to the gist of the meaning. Otherwise, a fabulous book.

[yabookscentral5com · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful writing. I would've wished for a bit more character development as the reader doesn't really get a glimpse into the character's head, motivating factors and what really makes her keep her profession secret from her brother. Other than that, the description is beautifully done. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the likes of I Capture the Castle.

[redheadheroines_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Summary:Anna Grazinsky is not your typical Countess. Despite the palaces, royal relatives, and the finest jewels in all of Russia, Anna manages to remain unscathed by snobbery, entitlement or general unpleasantness. She is charming, happy, carefree and honest.Then, when the political situation in Russia becomes unstable and later leads to outright revolution, Anna and her family are forced to free their land, their nation and their social status for England, where Anna takes up a position in the household of the Earl of Westerholme, to much opposition by her mother. Upon arrival at Mersham, it is clear to the head housemaid and butler of the home that Anna is of regal upbringing, yet after much begging and pleading by the Countess, they reluctantly take her on.Although the staff at Mersham is completely set on hating the new Russian maid, they are victims of Anna's charisma, including her ridiculous reliance on a horribly out-of-date guide to housekeeping and her over-the-top curtsies. It is clear that no one is immune to Anna's charms, not even the Earl himself, despite his imminent marriage to the beautiful but horrible Muriel.My Thoughts:I was blown away by A Countess Below Stairs! Eva Ibbotson is clearly a master storyteller, as evident in her ability to make a book with very little action extremely exciting, to make a character like Anna gleam with happiness without becoming cliche, and to make this charming book a lasting fairy tale that I know I will read again and again.I must reiterate how expertly Ibbotson crafted her characters, in that by the middle of the novel, you felt you knew each one as if they were your most intimate friends or enemies, and you loved the good ones, hated the bad ones, and sympathized with the more complex ones. I was truly amazed at how invested I felt in Anna's story only 30 pages into the book and I will again attribute this to Ibbotson's style and not to the story itself, for although the story is very very good, it would have become something trite and cheesy under a less expert author.Overall Grade: A+Would I read it again? Yes... oh my yes!Would I recommend it to others? Yes!

[lyzzybee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Acquired via BookCrossing Nov 2010 - from donation bag from a friendI'd previously read and loved Ibbotson's children's book "Journey to the River Sea" so was excited to find a pile of her books for slightly older teens in a donation bag via a friend's mum. I don't think they are a series, but I put them in date order just in case.This is the absorbing story of Anna, exiled from Russia and having to turn her hand to domestic service in order to survive. With the classic Big House setting and possible romance with the son of the house, this is a much better version of what Kate thingy who wrote House at Riverton tries to do. Even though there were some outstandingly bad copy-editing errors, and even though you could tell what was going to happen in the end, this was a riveting and absorbing read that I couldn't put down.

[carpe_librum · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of Anna, a Countess in Russia whose family has lost everything after the Revolution. Moving to London in 1919, Anna takes work as a servant at Mersham to support her family but the other servants and the Earl himself suspect there is more to Anna than a mere housemaid. Anna is enchanting and captivates every character she comes into contact with. I found the inclusion of Eugenics quite an interesting topic and a perfect backdrop to paint the character of Muriel, the antithesis of Anna.I enjoyed this 'easy to read' novel, and it came complete with the fairytale ending one would expect from Young Adult fiction. This book is perfect for young teenage girls.

[phh333 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thoroughly enjoyed this light romance and Ibbotson's funny, spunky female character Anna. Anna, a Russian countess, must make her way in the world as a servant after the family looses its fortune during the Russian revolution. Things get complicated when the Earl falls in love with her.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This delightful YA read totally captivated me. It’s a very light, romantic story, but one with a lot of heart. Peopled with fairy tale characters such as the penniless countess forced to work as a maid to support herself and her family, the handsome, slightly brooding Earl who always tries to do the right thing, and my personal favorite, the icily beautiful yet wicked woman who stands between them. These along with many more fabulous characters help to propel this book along to it’s inevitable conclusion.If you are in the mood for sheer escapism, a light, frothy read to curl up with, this could the book for you. Eva Ibbotson really knows how to deliver a sweet romantic story with humor and heart.

[joririchardson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is pretty dry at first, but it does pick up. The heroine of the story is charming, and the way it is written is eloquent and beautiful. This book is never amazing, but it definitely isn't a bad story, either. A bit hard to believe, yes, but that in itself enhances the fairy-tale feel to the story. If you like Gail Carson Levine or are looking for an easy-to-read Jane Austen style book, this one is perfect.

[mmillet_7 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A sweet love story about a displaced Russian Countess, Anna and an English Earl set on marrying a (horrid) heiress to save his family seat. I am a sucker for all things Russian so I loved Anna and her efforts to become an able housemaid. As usual, Ibbotson has created a set of unusual and extremely interesting cast of secondary characters that I would love to hear more about. I mean a body-building footman?! Who wouldn't want to hear his story? I think I could read her books if only for those who are only glimpsed.This was a cute story but I think "A Song for Summer" is still my favorite -- but maybe it's because all her stories are a little formulaic and that's the one I read first. But no, it has Austria and who doesn't love Austria?

[jjameli_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Countess Below Stairs is the first book I've read by Eva Ibbotson, and it won't be my last. This book was a lovely written romance, and I can't wait to read more from this author. After having to flee from Russia Anna, the Countess and her family find themselves with no money. Willing to do anything to help her family, Anna finds a job working for Rupert, the Earl. Quickly Anna is loved by all there, from the other help, to the dowager, and most important Rupert. Of course, no good romance to go without a mean, and spiteful wrench. Rupert is engaged to Muriel, and just as quickly all can tell Anna is a kind person, they can tell Rupert's fiance is not a nice women.The Countess Below Stairs was a thick book with close to 400 pages, but I read it as if it was 100. I couldn't stop reading it. It wasn't cheesy, and most importantly I liked the main characters. Anna wasn't dependent on a man, and she certainly wasn't whiny, and Rupert also was a great strong character. My biggest complaint with romances is they can be cheesy. I'm one that rolls there eyes at jewelry commericals (have you seen those lately..uugh). The Countess Below Stairs has just the right amount of romance. The only problem I had with this book was I wish Rupert and Anna had more interaction. I get that back then people fell in love quickly, but a couple of more moments between them would have felt more believable to today's readers. Regardless, I knew they cared for each other, so it wasn't all that important.

[aconnx3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anna is a countess fleeing from Russia during the revolution whose family looses all their greatest treasures. She is forced to work "below stairs" in order to support her dwindling family. Anna is a beguiling character who intrigues all those she comes in contact with, including Rupert, the Earl of Westerholme. The historical fiction novel is almost a fairy tale. The whirl wind romance is not allowed because of society and, not to mention, the Earl's fiance. Eva Ibbotson's book is romantic and poetic, leaving the reader hoping for a life half as perfect as Anna's.

[mrsdwilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After the Russian Revolution, a young countess named Anna is forced to leave her home behind in order to seek safety in England. She hides her true identity and takes a job as a maid in the home of the Earl of Westerholme.Rupert, the kind and handsome Earl, returns home after WWI and brings with him the beautiful nurse who helped heal his wounds. Rupert's fiancee, though lovely on the outside, is greedy, mean, and self-centered.Anna and Rupert feel an immediate and strong connection, but Rupert's honor keeps him from dumping Muriel, even as her true nature is gradually revealed. This sweet, well-researched, and often funny story will appeal to readers who like their historical fiction with a bit of romance.

[lalawe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Charming and sweet, just like the main character, Anna. The fairy tale qualities of the story keep Anna from seeming *too* perfect, and make it easier to accept some of the less believable elements of the story.

[knielsen83 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I just couldn't get into this book - 50 pages into it, I was sick of the uninteresting main character, not looking forward to what the book may hold and ended up flipping through it. Basically, it just had nothing that appealed to me. So I gave up on it - it's been a long time since I gave up on a book.

[dotholden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson was initially published as A Countess Below Stairs, which after reading it I think would be a better title. Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna, Austria in 1925 but when the Nazis came to power, her family escaped to Britain. Many of her books allude to the struggles and loss experienced by people during the war and obviously she had first-hand experience of this.The Secret Countess is the story of Anna Grazinsky, a Russian Countess who has to flee to Britain after World War I. Anna has come from a life of wealth and privilege, she was doted on by her father and had everything that she could ever have wished for. Her father is killed fighting and she and her mother make their way to Britain with Miss Pinfold, her governess. Anna's family has lost everything and she is too proud to live off the charity of Miss Pinfold and so she seeks a position as a housemaid at Mersham; family seat of the Westerholmes. Here she tries to fit in and works hard but it is clear to all that she has come from greater things. Ibbotson describes Merhsam in a very detailed way and the house is very much part of the story. Anna soon meets Rupert, the new Earl and he is totally mesmerised by her. However, Rupert has agreed to marry Muriel Hardwicke, an orphaned heiress who will provide the finances to secure Mersham's future. Hardwicke is the opposite of Anna; she is a snob and totally obsessed with Eugenics and the staff and Westeholme family members do not take kindly to her ways.Rupert eventually finds out Anna's true identity and he is already in love with her, the situation seems hopeless with his impending nuptials fast approaching. However, the others surrounding Anna and Rupert devise a plan to save the future of both of them and also the house. The story is very reminiscent of Jane Eye except that Rupert has a much more affable character than Mr Rochester! I am so pleased that I have discovered Eva Ibbotson, her books have this fantastic romantic, fairytale quality to them but still have a lot of substance.

[aviddiva_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This delightful book tells story of a young Russian Countess who is force to flee Russia after the revolution and ends up taking a job as a maid in an English country home. Essentially a charming Cinderella story, A Countess Below Stairs contains such beautiful and unexpected descriptions, well drawn characters and true emotions that it rises well above the standard fairy tale romance. It made me weep, it made me smile, and it was a nice change to read a story like this told about Russian emigres, who really did end up in jobs like Anna's and Sergei's. I highly recommend it.