Friday Spines Book Review:
This is one of my favorite of Eva Ibbotson's YA novels. Set just after the Russian Revolution, the novel opens as young Russian countess Anna Grazinsky flees to England. Separated her endearing younger brother and charming, handsome older brother, Anna acquires a housekeeping manual and goes to work as a maid in an English manor rather than depend on her old nursemaid's charity. What we, as readers, come to understand about Anna is that she's purely good, and has an effortless way of seeing good in everyone and everything else. She charms both the staff and residents of the Westerholme household, and puts everything to rights even as her manners--fresh from her outdated manual--leave them all in merriment and perplexity.
Anna is hired to help prepare the house for the wedding of Rupert, the dashing Earl of Westerholme, and (of course) can't help but fall in love with him. He's attracted to her unsquashable beauty and elegance, but being a man of honor with no character flaws, keeps to himself and lets the wedding draw nearer. When his fiancée, a very rich woman named Muriel, moves in at the Westerholme estate, the contrast between the countess in disguise and the bride-to-be becomes even clearer. With the finances of his estate in shambles and his engagement unbreakable, Rupert is in understandable anguish over Anna.
(not very) SPOILER ALERT:
A last-minute plot between Rupert and Anna drives Muriel to leave the handsome Earl, just as Anna's fortune is restored along with her true identity, enabling the two meant-to-be-together main characters to marry.
While the plot could be condemned as predictable (which it is) and overused (agreed), the author has a superb writing style that manages to be both light and suspenseful; her elegant ramblings in both the narration and the voices of her characters draw us into the story unconsciously. Her characters are vivid and fresh, the descriptions glittering, and the rotating third-person writing is flowery but completely understandable.
This book is perfect for ages 10-13; although older audiences will fall in love with Anna alongside younger ones, they should expect a slightly fluffier experience. While the essence of the book isn't particularly feminist, Anna's power goes beyond cliche "spunk"--she's cast out of her homeland and sacrifices her comfort and safety not for her husband or lover, but the tattered remains of her family. No violence, alcohol, or other worries are included. The only disrespectful or mean characters see natural consequences, and everything "turns out right" in the end.
Other things I liked about this book:
- The recurring hilarity caused by Anna's servant manual is quite enjoyable, and not easily forgotten.
- Even minor characters, the cook, Honorable Olive (daughter of a family friend, and would-be bridesmaid), and Mr. Proom (the butler) are portrayed incredibly vividly and memorably without overshadowing the main characters or plot.
- The lush cover (of my edition, pictured) draws readers in before they open the book, and captures the luminosity and brilliance of the story admirably.
- The recurring theme of music--songs played in Anna's childhood, the beloved records of the Westerholme house, and the music played at dances--lends another beautiful dimension to the wonderful story.
You might also like: A Company of Swans, and other books by Eva Ibbotson; The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen; and The Season, by Sarah Maclean.
Happy reading!
M. Gabrielle
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