It is no secret that Austenesque authors must do their research carefully because their readers are usually exceedingly well-versed in the era. That is difficult enough when the story revolves around the upper classes- you know, the ones who wrote all of the material we have available. It is mind-boggling when the story delves below stairs, into a world few bothered to record. Nicole Clarkston, author of These Dreams
Love Blooms For All! There are two sides to every great story. The tale of how General Sir Richard Fitzwilliam, Baron St. Jean, fell in love with a governess, Kitty Bennet, after she was terribly injured while protecting the Cecil heiress is well known. Now discover how an unbreakable bond between a footman and a maid grew in the face of that same tragedy and a developing international intrigue.
The Maid and The Footman explores the increasing affection between a young lady's maid and a retired Army sergeant which was as great as any love written about by the immortals. In the Jane Austen universe, the celebrated novels are written from the point-of-view of the landed gentry. Servants are rarely seen except to open doors, serve dinner or fetch smelling salts.
The Maid and The Footman asserts that class is an imaginary distinction conferring no better manners on the "haves" and no lesser nobility on the "have-nots" and that the deepest human emotions are universal. The novel also reveals how Annie Reynolds and Henry Wilson teamed up with General Fitzwilliam to fight the plot that had penetrated the heart of the British government after Napoleon's fall. The hidden motive behind the attack on Kitty Bennet in Hyde Park is gradually revealed.
Through it all, Annie and Henry circle around one another finding remarkable depths of love in spite of the great forces tossing them about. The Maid and The Footman is a companion and simultaneous novel to the popular novella
Of Fortune's Reversal. Readers may find that revisiting
Of Fortune's Reversal will make for a broader and more rewarding experience.The Maid and The Footman is a 59,000-word short novel.
Readers find
The Maid and the Footman rich and thought-provoking.
Carole in Canada says:
How can a maid and a footman have their own story? Why would this be of interest? First, the aristocracy would be lost without them and second, they have honour, integrity and character! This is a tale of the bonds of love and friendship being crossed and strengthened through respect, honesty and dignity. This is a deeply satisfying read.
Debbie adds:
The romance is nicely done. We get to know Annie and Henry very well and can't help but root for them to eventually end up together. Their declaration to each other comes at a critical moment in the story, followed by a shocking development that will make your heart just stop as you continue reading. I believe this is Mr. Jacobson's best book to date. While the novelty of highlighting the servants is a factor, this is certainly a well-written, well-constructed historical romance (emphasis on "historical") with a touch of intrigue.
