Name: Melanie Knight's review of The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson
Item: The Secret Countess
Rating: 5
Author: Melanie Knight

Eva Ibbotson

By the award-winning and bestselling author of Journey to the River Sea, a novel that sings with characteristic Ibbotson warmth and wit, now with a beautiful new cover look 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 Armed with an out-of-date book on housekeeping, Anna determines to become a housemaid and she finds work at the Earl of Westerholme's crumbling but magnificent mansion.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 . . .

The Secret Countess

Alanna Hammond

As WWI draws to a close, a love affair that stretches across countries, families and class begins, in master storyteller Eva Ibbotson's classic historical romance, with an introduction from Amanda Craig. Anna Grazinsky, a young Russian 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 Armed with an out-of-date book on housekeeping, Anna determines to help her family in any way possible, and she is soon hired as a housemaid at the Earl of Westerholme's crumbling but magnificent mansion. Then Rupert, the young Earl, returns home from the war and is fascinated by his new housemaid, and the more time they spend together the more they feel inexplicably drawn together. But they can never be together; Rupert is already engaged and Anna is only a servant . . . 'I have binged on Eva Ibbotson . . . her elegantly written, witty and well-observed fables' Nigella Lawson, The Times Rediscover Eva Ibbotson, award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, in her sweeping historical romances, including The Morning Gift, A Song For Summer and The Secret Countess, originally published as A Countess Below Stairs.

Escape to the Past with this Classic Romance

Melanie Knight

I loved this book! It's like a more grown-up version of A Little Princess.

Stephanie

I've only read it once cause I currently don't own it but I would give anything to read it again. Just a really really good book.

By the award-winning and bestselling author of JOURNEY TO THE RIVER SEA, a novel that sings with characteristic Ibbotson warmth and wit 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 Westerholmes crumbling but magnificent mansion. The staff and the family are sure there is something not quite right about their new maidbut she soon wins them over with her warmth and dedication. Then the young Earl returns home from the warand Anna falls hopelessly in love. But they can never be together: Rupert is engaged to the snobbish and awful Murieland anyway, Anna is only a servant. Or so everybody thinks .

Alanna Hammond &
The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson

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Alanna Hammond &The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson

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Alanna Hammond &
The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson