From the author of The Other Einstein, the mesmerizing tale of what kind of woman could have inspired an American dynasty.Clara Kelley is not who they think she is. She’s not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh’s grandest households. She’s a poor farmer’s daughter with nowhere to go and nothing in her pockets. But the other woman with the same name has vanished, … name has vanished, and pretending to be her just might get Clara some money to send back home.
If she can keep up the ruse, that is. Serving as a lady’s maid in the household of Andrew Carnegie requires skills he doesn’t have, answering to an icy mistress who rules her sons and her domain with an iron fist. What Clara does have is a resolve as strong as the steel Pittsburgh is becoming famous for, coupled with an uncanny understanding of business, and Andrew begins to rely on her. But Clara can’t let her guard down, not even when Andrew becomes something more than an employer. Revealing her past might ruin her future — and her family’s.
With captivating insight and heart, Carnegie’s Maid tells the story of one brilliant woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie’s transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world’s first true philanthropist..
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This is a “what would it be like if…” novel. It was interesting and plausible for two intelligent young people to call in love, but neither can overcome prejudice .
What a lovely book. So different from anything else. I absolutely loved it and didn’t want it to end
A quick read and engaging.
Very good job blending history and fiction. Liked it much better than i thought i would! Go women! We are strong!
this book gave me insight regarding the plight of the Irish, and how success can be ruined with “greed”. Forgetting your roots, and trodding on your fellows. Thoroughly enjoyed the entire premise, and have a new appreciation for Carniege llibraries.
Enjoyed reading a good story that gave me insight into Andrew Carnegie’s life, family, and place in history. It was very entertaining and informative.
A glimpse into the world of servants. The desperation that would make a person give themselves up for the money that would help sustain those they love.
I could not get into it. I tried.
Having read Einstein’ Wife, I looked forward to reading this book. Whereas it gave the reader an idea of the era of the “Lumber Barons” and the differences with which the tycoons’ ways of life and that of their servants and even more of the common laborer, the reader sees the reasons for reforms and unions that came to pass. In terms of the relationship between Carnegie and Clara, his mother’s maid was far less believable. I was totally sold with Einstein’s wife.
Interesting historical take on Carnegie’ s generosity.
Interesting historical perspective if facts aree true. Even so, i was interesting
interesting book. Entertaining – but wa tiis true?
Sounded like my Grandmothers story. Real Pittsburgh history. I really enjoyed it
I enjoyed learning about Andrew Carnegie through this historical fiction. Plan to read more of this author.
Clara Kelley leaves her Irish home and sails to America. Her goal is to find work and save enough money for passage to Pittsburgh to live with distant family. Once she arrives, someone she doesn’t know calls her name to board a carriage to Pittsburgh. With no other options, Clara climbs aboard and begins her life in America.
Once Clara arrives in Pittsburgh, she is sent to Mrs. Seeley. Mrs. Seeley’s job is to find domestic positions for the wealthy families in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, everyone believes Clara Kelley is another girl by the same name, a young woman who died on the passage to America. Our Clara becomes the dead girl and finds herself a lady’s maid to Mrs. Carnegie.
Clara is swept into the world of the Pittsburgh wealthy. She attends to her mistress’s needs and accompanies her on all outings. Clara learns the business of the Carnegie’s, immigrants themselves who started in the poor lower class and made their way into the upper class. She charts the businesses and tries to learn all she can while supporting her family in Ireland.
When Mr. Carnegie stumbles upon Clara’s studies in the library, he sees she has a wonderful mind and has made business connects he never thought of before. Together, they invest in business ventures and begin to develop a relationship. But this relationship becomes difficult, as it is between people of two separate worlds. And Clara still has a duty to help her family.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Clara as a narrator and her struggle to learn how to be a lady’s maid under false pretenses. It really brought light to the struggle of immigrants to the States (my own family were immigrants during WWII). Clara sees the struggle of her relatives both in Pittsburgh and in Ireland, she also sees the extravagant living of the wealthy. She just got lucky.
I love the business mind of Clara as she tries to do what Andrew Carnegie did, to invest and make money. Her objective is to support her family back home, stripped of their land. She is bright and understanding.
The blossoming romance between Andrew and Clara is interesting. Of course, it was inappropriate as servant and master. But they both helped and changed each other for the good.
An excellently crafted novel derived from historical fact, it nevertheless reads as a page turning story.
It is rich in details of the time period when it took place. The Industrial Revolution was a time of greart change for the people living and loving during. this time period. Yet human nature remains the same with new challanges according to the era lived.
This is a story of opportunity, lack of opportunity, sacrifice, luxury, poverty, but most of all how Love directs one’s choices: The strength of familial love, love of people in our lives, romantic love and the love of improving mankind’s conditions remains with us. The sacrifices of love are put to the test in this book.
It was impossible to stop reading this book. Then it had to be put aside to absorb, ruminate the intricacies, challenge all that had bee presented. Picked up after two days, reading was completed in one sitting.
This is a book I believe will remain in my mind, particularly about the choices made. The results and repercussions can never be known!
I loved this new book…historical. Informative.easy reading, realistic for the times. Takes place in Pittsburgh in the late 1860’s. A young Irish girl comes to America to find work, in order to send money back to her family. She ends up working as a lady’s maid in the Carnegie home. I really enjoy learning more about the lives of people who have been instrumental in our country, and the ones not as fortunate to come as immigrants and struggle. There’s always much to be learned historically. Highly recommend.
I never knew that you had to pay years ago to use the Library till I
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