The Secret Countess
Escape to the Past with this Classic Romance
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4.4 • 46 Ratings
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
'A fairy tale for grown-ups. It's unapologetically romantic but it's also extremely funny, wry, dry and witty - and hugely uplifting.' – Marian Keyes, Daily Mail
As WWI draws to a close, a love affair that stretches across countries, families and class begins, in master storyteller Eva Ibbotson's classic historical romance The Secret Countess, with an introduction from Amanda Craig.
Anna Grazinsky, a young Russian countess, has lived in the glittering city of St Petersburg all her life in an ice-blue palace overlooking the River Neva. But when revolution tears Russia apart, her now-penniless family is forced to flee to England. Armed with an out-of-date book on housekeeping, Anna determines to help her family in any way possible, and she is soon hired as a housemaid at the Earl of Westerholme's crumbling but magnificent mansion.
Then Rupert, the young Earl, returns home from the war and is fascinated by his new housemaid, and the more time they spend together the more they feel inexplicably drawn together. But they can never be together; Rupert is already engaged and Anna is only a servant . . .
'I have binged on Eva Ibbotson . . . her elegantly written, witty and well-observed fables' – Nigella Lawson, The Times
Rediscover Eva Ibbotson, award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, in her sweeping historical romances, including The Morning Gift, A Song For Summer and The Secret Countess, originally published as A Countess Below Stairs.
Customer Reviews
great
it's a great cute read with a happy fairytale ending that will make you smile.
Amazing
I have read this book five times over and absolutely loved the story line and the characters. After all these times i have never found myself finding the text monotonous or simply boring, from the first chapter the whole plot is clear. I would recommend this book to anyone as i think it suites most tastes. It is definitely worth reading and exceedingly memorable.
Awe inspiring
I first read this book when I found it in the library previously having read some of Eva Ibbotson's books. Picking this book up I expected it to be fun, sweet and enjoyable but not great, so I borrowed it out and started reading it, within the first few pages I was hooked and became entangled in the world of Mersham and all the different intricacies. From Muriel Hardwicke to Ollie Byrne this books plot and characters will have you hanging on the edge of your seat. It took me about two days to finish this book and although it was an absoulety brilliant ending I just wanted to read on and on. Unfortunately since Eva Ibbotson's death no sequel can be made but I still enjoyed it. But I had to bring the book back to the library, so when I saw this on my iPhone 4 iBooks and I released I had £10.40 left in my account I decided to go for it. I was worried at first whether this time I wouldn't enjoy it as much but I've got to say I was throughly wrong i enjoyed it just as much as the first time and if possible even more. I read it in an even shorter time and I'm glad I brought it even through it's £6.99 it is thoroughly worth it buy it.