Now I know I have been horribly negligent. This is the second book I've realized I should have reviewed a long time ago. Why? Because Julie Klassen is one of my favorite contemporary authors. I do not say that lightly. And this book, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall has been out for three quarters of the year and here am I just telling you about it.
In London, in 1815, Margaret Macy is a spoiled young woman waiting for her twenty-fifth birthday so she can inherit the fortune left to her by a great aunt. Knowing this inheritance is coming, Margaret has been determined not to rush into marriage but to wait as long as it may take and marry for love or not at all. In fact, she already refused one man in hopes of attracting his brother.
Her stepfather makes life uncomfortable for her by dismissing her personal maid, having her followed by the butler whenever she goes out, stopping her allowance, refusing her access to family jewels, and bringing his nephew to live in the house. All this she bears while dreaming of better days after she has her inheritance. This all changes the night she overhears her stepfather and his nephew talking over their scheme to get her to marry the nephew. The stepfather encourages the nephew to secure her quickly and she hears him say, "Woo her, flatter her, make love to her. And if all else fails . . . compromise."
Terrified, she rushes to her room to think. Her mother is away and she has no one in the house to turn to for help or advice. She decides to do what Joseph did when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. She decides to flee.
Through a number of unexpected events Margaret finds herself in a "hiring fair", which reminds her of slave markets she has read about, hoping to be hired for a position in a house nearby. Before the end of the day she finds herself hired as a housemaid in the home of the two brothers. In order to hide from her stepfather she has disguised herself; she wears a wig, eyeglasses, and changes her voice and speech. Still, she is concerned that someone will recognize her. She has never been inside the house where she will work but she has socialized with the family. She is nervous about being recognized. She is also concerned about her position: what will other servants think of why she was hired for a position for which she is clearly untrained? and, how will she ever learn to do and survive the hard work of a housemaid?
Well, I think that is enough of the story line. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall is an excellently written story with believable characters and an intriguing plot. These help to account for my enjoyment of Julie Klassen's books. Julie adds tantalizing quotes on the first page of each chapter. One example from The Maid of Fairbourne Hall: "Chamber maid wanted who can dress hair, clear starch, read & write, bear moderate confinement, work well at her needle, dress a young lady, is sober & honest & well behaved. Apply Mrs. Lambe, Stall St. ---Bath Chronicle, 1793" These little tidbits from various sources open windows into life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Additionally, I enjoy every tiny illusion to and quote from Jane Austen's books. Oh, not direct quotes, exactly, but a word here and there. If you like Jane Austen you will love Julie Klassen's books; no doubt about it. Even if you haven't read Jane Austen, Julie's books are well worth reading. Every one of them.
I'm not the only one who thinks so. Julie Klassen recently won the Christy Award in the Historical Romance Category for The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. This is not her first Christy Award.
Happy Reading :-)
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