Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: Carnegie's Maid

Top positive review

Well researched historical fiction

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 4, 2021

Although the character is purely fictional, the author's mastery of the period lends credence to something that one would hope would happen in real life at the time.

2 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Tex1954

Cannot recommend!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 20, 2018

What a disappointment. Was absolutely thrilled with the Large Type. Wonderful for these old eyes. Sadly the book reads like a trumped up Harlequin romance. A silly waste of time & money.

One person found this helpful

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6,246 total ratings, 186 with reviews

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From Canada

Amazon Customer

Well researched historical fiction

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 4, 2021

Verified Purchase

Although the character is purely fictional, the author's mastery of the period lends credence to something that one would hope would happen in real life at the time.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Rose Smith

Great book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. It is written so well I felt I was right there with the characters in the book.

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Kathryn Brookfield

Romdrama with a twist

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great historical fiction opening one’s eyes to the plight of Irish immigrants to late nineteenth century eastern America. Fast read.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Lynne Frappier

An escape from the every day

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 16, 2018

4.5 star read.

I am a fan.

This was my first Marie Benedict book, but I am now anxious to read The Other Einstein since I enjoyed this book so much.

"Carnegie's Maid" is historical fiction at its best. It interweaves Clara Kelly's fictional story to that of "Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist."

The focus of this story is really Clara's life - she was shipped from Galway, Ireland to America, in hope of finding a job in service or in a factory; allowing her to send her earnings back home to help support her family who are still suffering the effects of the Irish potato famine. Instead, she lands a job in the Carnegie household, an error in identity providing her with a way out of poverty.

What follows are "journal type" entries (not a formal journal, but all in the first person narrative and dated) of her life with the Carnegies. We get a glimpse into what shaped Andrew Carnegie's work-ethic, his relationship with his mother and brother Tom, and we also get a sense of his belief that all people are created equal and deserve the chance to a better life. Clara's relationship with Andrew is that of not only romantic interest (all very proper), but also an intellectual one. In her, he finds a sounding board to his ideas, and was challenged by her own ideas.

Clara was a well developed character. Perhaps it was a little far-fetched to believe that Andrew Carnegie would have sought out the opinion and advice of his mother's lady's maid, but their relationship was lovely to watch unfold.

This is not a book that is full of tension, nor does it have a "mysterious twist". This is simply a well written story of what "might have been"/ "could have been". The entire thing was written in a way that transported the reader to Pittsburgh during the American Civil War, and brought to light what was happening in Ireland at the same time.

Well written, highly enjoyable. A book in which you can simply escape the reality of the every day.

Recommended.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Good story

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 15, 2020

This book gave a look into the life of Irish immigrants who came to America for a better life. I would recommend this book

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From other countries

Good history

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

At first, the book was as warm and welcoming as a grocery list. I stuck with it and the story evolved and became more interesting as the characters were introduced and interacted with each other. The story further interested me as it’s setting was my hometown.

One person found this helpful

Leaaa

interesting & good book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

I liked the book, it was an easy & interesting read. I liked learning what a lady’s maid did & other historical details.

I didn’t like the whiny letters that she received from her sister & then at the end, nothing was said about her bringing her family over or what happened to them, etc. so why bother putting these letters in or introducing the characters? Also it seems the heroine had a modern mindset & not one that a woman in the 1860s would normally have. About halfway through the book all of a sudden she started saying how one of her employers dresses could feed immigrant families & stuff (comments along those lines). Well the cost of Kim Kardashian’s lavish weddings could feed a lot of homeless people too. But it’s her right to spend her money on what she wants to & I don’t obsess about what she does or doesn’t do. So, I started out liking the heroine but these little things turned me off.

19 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Great Book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 13, 2023

Verified Purchase

Fabulous story. Read quickly. Love, secrets, passion, and heartbreak. Ending was not what I was hoping for but would recommend the read!

One person found this helpful

Carol from Santa Rosa

I liked it

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 21, 2023

Verified Purchase

Good. Very good. Almost 5 stars worthy for me, it somehow lacked something I can’t put my finger on. It successfully weaves several important themes together a cohesive way and honestly reveals historical events and persons in a warm and inviting way.

6 people found this helpful

M Ferguson

education, love of learning plus curiosity changes lives

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 25, 2022

Verified Purchase

Well written and researched of how a young immigrant woman who moves to America. From penniless destitution to self supporting nurse, her story is an example of how receiving an education from her father and good fortune to become a ladies maid to Mrs. Carnegie enables her to move her family from poverty in Ireland to the new world.

6 people found this helpful

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5 star		53%
4 star		32%
3 star		11%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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