A Countess Below Stairs
by Eva Ibbotson
by Eva Ibbotson
A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS by Eva Ibbotson
Category: Historical
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 5/10/07
Publisher: Speak
Reviewed by: Amber Gibson
Rating: 5 Stars
Anna Grazinsky is a member of the Russian aristocracy, or White Russians, during the Russian Revolution. Her family is
forced to flee from their comfortable life in Russia to England, where they are safe from the revolutionaries. But in
England, the Grazinskys are left with nothing. Anna has a very resilient spirit, and instead of moping around and wishing
for her old life, she is grateful for the safety of her family and secretly takes a job as a maid so that her little brother can still
attend school. With her take-charge attitude, Anna proves that not all rich girls are snobby brats, like modern heiresses
lead us to believe.
While many of the servants at the Westerholme residence are skeptical of the new foreign girl, Anna quickly charms her
way into their hearts. With her deep curtsies, bright smile, and cheerful demeanor, Anna is beloved by all. She does each
task assigned to her as best she can, never slacking on the job.
When the young and handsome Earl of Westerholme returns home from World War I, Anna is immediately drawn to him.
And it seems that he feels a similar attraction to her. But Anna's identity as a countess is still a secret, and she does not
have the social standing that she once held in Russia. Plus, the Earl is already engaged to the beautiful but vicious Muriel
Hardwicke. Muriel nursed Earl Rupert back to health when he was wounded in the war, and he proposed to her. But that
was before he met Anna.
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, Muriel begins to take over the Westerholme household, arbitrarily firing servants
that do not fit in with her vision for Westerholme. None of the servants or neighbors are fond of Muriel, and as the
wedding date approaches, all of Rupert's friends and family are leery of the impending marriage.
At the costume ball thrown prior to the wedding, Anna's true identity as a countess is revealed, and Anna and Rupert
dance the night away. Everyone can see that they are a perfect couple, but can Rupert and Anna come to terms with their
feelings for each other before his marriage to Muriel?
Although A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS has a very fairytale-like romantic plot, Anna is far from the typical princess.
She has a feisty spirit and genuinely fun personality that immediately draws you in. Eva Ibbotson does a great job in
breathing life into the generic fairytale plot. Anna's story is very similar to what much of the Russian aristocracy
experienced during the communist revolution, and Ibbotson shows that even though life is unpredictable and rarely kind, if
you embrace all opportunities and make the most of your situation, you will find happiness.
Category: Historical
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 5/10/07
Publisher: Speak
Reviewed by: Amber Gibson
Rating: 5 Stars
Anna Grazinsky is a member of the Russian aristocracy, or White Russians, during the Russian Revolution. Her family is
forced to flee from their comfortable life in Russia to England, where they are safe from the revolutionaries. But in
England, the Grazinskys are left with nothing. Anna has a very resilient spirit, and instead of moping around and wishing
for her old life, she is grateful for the safety of her family and secretly takes a job as a maid so that her little brother can still
attend school. With her take-charge attitude, Anna proves that not all rich girls are snobby brats, like modern heiresses
lead us to believe.
While many of the servants at the Westerholme residence are skeptical of the new foreign girl, Anna quickly charms her
way into their hearts. With her deep curtsies, bright smile, and cheerful demeanor, Anna is beloved by all. She does each
task assigned to her as best she can, never slacking on the job.
When the young and handsome Earl of Westerholme returns home from World War I, Anna is immediately drawn to him.
And it seems that he feels a similar attraction to her. But Anna's identity as a countess is still a secret, and she does not
have the social standing that she once held in Russia. Plus, the Earl is already engaged to the beautiful but vicious Muriel
Hardwicke. Muriel nursed Earl Rupert back to health when he was wounded in the war, and he proposed to her. But that
was before he met Anna.
In the weeks leading up to the wedding, Muriel begins to take over the Westerholme household, arbitrarily firing servants
that do not fit in with her vision for Westerholme. None of the servants or neighbors are fond of Muriel, and as the
wedding date approaches, all of Rupert's friends and family are leery of the impending marriage.
At the costume ball thrown prior to the wedding, Anna's true identity as a countess is revealed, and Anna and Rupert
dance the night away. Everyone can see that they are a perfect couple, but can Rupert and Anna come to terms with their
feelings for each other before his marriage to Muriel?
Although A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS has a very fairytale-like romantic plot, Anna is far from the typical princess.
She has a feisty spirit and genuinely fun personality that immediately draws you in. Eva Ibbotson does a great job in
breathing life into the generic fairytale plot. Anna's story is very similar to what much of the Russian aristocracy
experienced during the communist revolution, and Ibbotson shows that even though life is unpredictable and rarely kind, if
you embrace all opportunities and make the most of your situation, you will find happiness.