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The blurb
Above Stairs:
Lord Netherwood keeps his considerable fortune, and the upkeep of Netherwood Hall, ticking over with the profits from his three coal mines. The welfare of his employees isn't a pressing concern - more important is keeping his wife and daughters happy and ensuring the heir to the family wealth, the charming but feckless Tobias, stays out of trouble.
Below Stairs:
Eve Williams is the wife of one of Lord Netherwood's employees. When her life is brought crashing down, Eve must look to her own self-sufficiency and talent to provide for her three young children. And it's then that 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' collide in truly dramatic fashion......
Coal mining was big business in the early 1900's. It was a time of great changes socially and economically, but the class divide was still very apparent. The mine owners were uneasy about the new wave of mining unions fighting for better conditions for the miners.
In this fabulous novel, the author explores those changes with a fast paced and action packed story that does not favour either of the classes. The author has a real talent for scene setting and describing every last detail, whether it be the dressing of the ladies at the Hall or the working conditions down the mines. I soaked up every line of the exciting and emotional read.
I read the author's acknowledgements first and was confident that the research aids she had used, including a book about the Fitzwilliam family, was going to make for a great read. I was not disappointed. These two books compliment each other. I am glad I have read both.
A magnificent debut novel from Jane Sanderson. When is the sequel due?
My first 5 star read for 2012.
Thank you to Sphere for a review copy
Thank you to Sphere for a review copy
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