Jaclyn’s Review: Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict

Carnegie’s Maid
written by Marie Benedict
published by Sourcebooks Landmark, 2018

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo, Target, Walmart, Book Depository, Goodreads

Did I enjoy this book? I really liked this book! I actually had to stop reading the book partway through and google the story to see if this was actually true.  (Spoiler: it is not.) This was a fantastically written view of the world Andrew Carnegie lived in. The story is told through the eyes of an Irish immigrant who “accidentally” becomes the lady’s maid for Andrew Carnegie’s mother. This grants us a different view of his life and a theory as to why he gave so much to charity during his lifetime.

 

 

Would I recommend it? I would absolutely recommend this book. I struggled with the book at the beginning because I didn’t feel like there was an actual plot. It seemed that the author simply had us wandering through the lives of these people with no real goal in sight. The writing was very compelling, so I wanted to read the book anyway. The plot/drama did eventually develop, so the book was not all aimless wandering. My only complaint is that the ending seemed to short and too neat. I wanted it to be a little longer and a little more fulfilling. It was still a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it.
 

 

About the book – from Goodreads: From the author of The Other Einstein comes the mesmerizing story of love, power, and the woman who inspired an American dynasty

In the industrial 1860s at the dawn of the Carnegie empire, Irish immigrant Clara Kelly finds herself in desperate circumstances. Looking for a way out, she seeks employment as a lady’s maid in the home of the prominent businessman Andrew Carnegie. Soon, the bond between Clara and her employer deepens into love. But when Clara goes missing, Carnegie’s search for her unearths secrets and revelations that lay the foundation for his lasting legacy. With captivating insight and stunning heart, Carnegie’s Maid tells the story of one lost woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie’s transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world’s first true philanthropist.

 

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** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on November 23, 2018.