Lady's Maid
by Margaret Forster
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In Forster's historically authentic novel, Elizabeth Wilson, Elizabeth Barrett's maid and confidante, describes her daily experiences, her impressions of the large household and, especially, her sickly but charismatic mistress's relationship with Mr. Browning.

I am glad that Suzanne selected this book - I read it two summers ago and really enjoyed it. Although the situation that Wilson is in is definately unique, aspects of her relationships can be applied to a contemporary woman's professional dilemmmas.

I also loved how she brought EBB to life along with detailed descriptions of the setting of the invalid's bedroom and later other dwellings.

Here I go again singing the same old refrain - I would prefer to read a bio of the poet rather than a novel based on her life - having gone to my library website found that selfsame bio written by this same author way back in 1987 I believe it was -

This book not available at my library - so may check out the bio which got good reviews and sounds like she may have used some of the info from that book for this present one -

I believe the biography would be in the nonfiction bookclub, there have been a few there. I would expect fiction in the fiction book club.

I think I'm going to like this one. It's held my attention so far. I would have liked to read more today.

I read this book many years ago. I was eager to find out more details about the Barretts' love story, having enjoyed the old movie version of it many times. Still, I do prefer a biography to a novel based on truth. However, as someone pointed out, this is a fiction book club.

As I noted in a previous post, I definitely prefer biographies to fictionalized accounts. Now I see that this author also wrote an actual biography of EBB? That is what I need to read, then. So I'm grateful that this book club has led me to a more valuable (to me) selecton!

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/elizabeth_barrett_browning

If you are interested in brief bio, picture, poems - even one she wrote to her dog (can't remember his name but same as in book) - go to the above website - a real treat -

I have really enjoyed the selection this week. I'm just a bit to curious about Wilson and Elizabeth not to finish this book. I will check out my local library. Using the library is a new thing for me ( I usually just buy the book, then I can read at my pace.) In these days of high gas prices and $5.00 gallons of milk..the library is more, and more appealing. Wouldn't it be great if the soaring gas and grocery prices gave our libraries a renewed popularity. Imagine, something good for a a change. It is good to read with friends, and for free.

I hope your library has this book for you - I use my library all the time and am so fortunate to have one with a website so I can check from home to see if they have available and if a book is out, can even place a hold on it from my computer -

Good luck to you in your search - Doris -

I did go to the library yesterday and got Margaret Forster's biography of EBB. I'm looking forward to reading it!

I was just curious if you did read the book? I did find it at our local library. It has been a very good book. I'm about 3/4 of the way finished. I'm very attached to Wilson and my heart goes out to her. I love this book. Its interesting reading about how the rich and famous lived in the 19th century England/Europe.

Whats funny is I assumed it was written in the 19 century, but to my surprise the author was born in 1938.

Yes, the rising prices on milk and gas makes you think about ways of saving money on other things, like using libraries instead of purchasing books.