This book floated in and out of my feed for a while before I took the leap and decided to read it, and I'm so glad I did. The story of Andrew Carnegie and Clara is nothing short so spectacular. I'm not typically a history buff when it comes to books because they tend to be way to dry but this one isn't at all. It's captivating, intriguing and runs the border of trying to determine fact from fiction.

The cover is spectacular and I often found myself picturing a cross between Gone with the Wind and a history of industries.

Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read Carnegie's Maid early!

Carnegie's Maid, Marie Benedict

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Historical fiction

I like to read historical novels from time to time, usually with a romantic theme but not always. I saw this and it appealed, Marie has written a fictional account of what might have been....and it reads very true. 

The 1800's were a time of great poverty for so many, the divide between have and have not was vast, and whole families died of starvation, cold, illness for which they had little resistance. TBH for many at the top it was just considered part of Nature's Order, a weeding out of the weakest. That sounds awful doesn't it, but those who've never known poverty have no comprehension of what life is like that way.
Andrew Carnegie though has known poverty, but now as a man of wealth he's in danger of losing that feeling of empathy, or the desire to help those in need which so motivated him. 

I loved Andrew and Clara. She's fiercely intelligent, and so loyal to her family, putting their needs before here's always. she's a rarity, and educated woman and Andrew is fascinated by her grasp of business matters.
Slowly they come to mean more to each other, though the book hold true to the period, there is nothing more than glances, occasional fingertip touches, and meetings which skirt, but only just, convention so could be explained away.
 I loved the account of how Andrew grew his wealth, loved seeing how "new money" was still looked down upon by certain classes, that attitude still prevails in part here in UK!!
I loved how Andrew had the initial desire for wealth, to ensure his family were always secure but how he became seduced by it, wanting things he formerly scorned. Without Clara - or someone like her - what sort of man would he have become. 

The ending is sad, so sad, and I had tears. If only.....but its not classed as a romance, so the ending fits perfectly even if I did want a HEA. 
Its a lovely read, slow paced, so tragic in what we see of the families suffering, so difficult to get out of the trap of poverty.

Stars: 4.5, I really did want that HEA but the book is still a moving, interesting read despite that ;-) 
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Extremely well written story even though I do not entirely agree with the premise of the fictionalization of Andrew Carnegie's character. I found the fiction part of the story a little too far fetched and perhaps not as realistic as I'd like it to be considering the man I know Andrew Carnegie to be. Still an enjoyable read. I'd consider reading other works by Ms Benedict because her writing itself, and her storytelling is excellent.

Andrew Carnegie, originally an Scottish immigrant grew to be the most powerful and richest man in America. He was assuredly a self made man, one who grew to control the steel industry in America and later became a philanthropist and is given credit for the concept of a free library where all could educate themselves through the reading of books. Having little formal education, he grew up in a family where education through books was valued. Andrew carried this throughout his life and believed that "There is no use whatever trying to help people who do not help themselves. You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he be willing to climb himself."

The book [book:Carnegie's Maid|34931300], is a fictitious account of a maid, Clara Kelly, and Irish immigrant who was supposedly the impetus behind Carnegie's philanthropy and the finding of free lending libraries. Clara assumes the name of another traveler to America who perished on the journey and becomes the personal mail to Mrs Carnegie, Andrew's mother. Clara is a noble soul, happy for the position in the household while worrying about the conditions at home faced by her family. Andrew befriends her seeing a woman who is both brilliant and true, not knowing her secret identity. He and Clara fall in love and of course the social strata between them prohibits this relationship. Mrs Carnegie, forgetting from whence she has come, is full of herself. She looks down upon the help and when she senses something between Andrew and Clara, she takes it upon herself to investigate Clara with dire consequences for Clara.

Told through Clara's point of view, this story tells us of the struggles of immigrants and the rise of the wealthy class in America. It portrays this society as elitist and at the opposite end shows the struggles of those in both Ireland and America who are dirt poor. Thankfully, Mr Carnegie after amassing his wealth, did whatever his money and fame brought him to help those in need.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and my mother was a librarian at Carnegie Library's main branch and I spent endless Saturdays there so I was predisposed to like Carnegie's Maid before I even started it.

And I was not disappointed in at all Carnegie's Maid until the end of the book, which involved a very sudden plot twist and almost made no sense to me at all. The heroine; Clara, a young immigrant from Ireland lucks into a job as a ladies maid to Andrew Carnegie's mother and she and young Andrew eventually fall in love. But she has deceived the family as to her real identity. At the very end of the book, Andrew's mother finds out she is not who she said she was and throws her out. Just a few pages later Clara is a grandmother and a former nurse! Huh?

Up until that point the book was really interesting and completely held my interest but the ending was just ridiculous so I can't give this book 5 stars as I had hoped and expected to. Benedict did a very good job portraying Pittsburgh as it was during and after the Civil War and the way New York society treated anyone outside the "400". I'm not familiar with the Feinian history Benedict threw in so I can't speak to that but it was an interesting twist but there again, she just dropped the story line of Clara's family in Ireland and gives the reader no real inkling as to what happened to them as well and I would have liked to have learned more about them. Perhaps in a future novel?

I would definitely like to read more by Marie Benedict.

I liked the book, although the dialogue and description felt a little stilted at times. It was an interesting depiction of a historical moment and place that I hadn't read about before, with a level of historical detail that was informative but not distracting.

Carnegie's Maid follows the life of a regular Irish girl as she assumes the identity of a girl who dies in the crossing to the new world. How Clara adapts and the conditions of the time is most of the story line of the book. Unfortunately, the author includes a note at the beginning of the book, noting who is real and who is not, which alienates some care of characters in the story. A bit like telling the end of the book at the beginning, it made me care less about the main character as I already knew her fate and how it applied to the Carnegie's. Still, an excellent read!

Marie Benedict's novel deals with class and wealth. Clara Kelley is new to America and mistaken for a woman bearing her name. This incident leads her from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh where she is thrown into the position of lady's maid for Mrs. Carnegie, the imposing matriarch of the family. Clara uses her wits, precariously balancing a job she was not trained for. Despite the vast difference in wealth and station, the Carnegies beginnings are not much different from Clara's own. Mrs. Carnegie shows moments where she, like her maid, is playing a part, one she is not always sure of. The characters in Carnegies Maid are interesting. They draw you into to a world split by war and privilege. It's a great read!

CARNEGIE'S MAID offers an entertaining look at why the historical figure of Andrew Carnegie became philanthropic. The romance angle comes across nicely and the characters captivated me from the start. Let's talk pacing for a minute - it seems often historical fiction authors are given leeway to delve into minute details or drag on a bit. By contrast, I appreciate that this author keeps things moving at a nice pace. At times I felt a tiny bit bored at hearing about Clara's household tasks. However, this is a minor complaint and overall I enjoyed seeing the relationships develop and the book is a reasonable length - designed to keep the reader's interest.

First, Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Usually, I think that anything to do with American history is more on the boring side, but this book was different. Carnegie's maid is a story about an Irish immigrant who was sent to America to help her family during the potato famine in Ireland and ends up as a lady's maid in the Carnegie household. It was fascinating to go on a journey with Clara Kelley as she battles with pursuing what she wants, taking care of her family, and trying to break through the class barriers that she was born into that still very much existed in early America. This books highlights the different social classes, not only poor v. rich, but also the differences between American elite families. The character of Clara Kelly was well thought out and I enjoyed her character development.

It was also interesting to understand Andrew Carnegie's background and role in history and also, the author's take on this fictional relationship that shaped his worldview and made him one of America's first philanthropists.

Favorite quotes from book:

"Man must have an idol - the amassing of wealth is one of the worst species of idolatry - no idol more debasing than the worship of money."

"You stamped your mark upon me, and I will stamp your mark upon the world to prove your existance and remind myself to stay your course."

4 out of 5 stars to Carnegie's Maid, a historical fiction novel set to be published in January 2018 by Marie Benedict.

Why This Book
I saw this show up on NetGalley and wanted to read something about the Carnegie family. I've been on a hunt to read/learn more about all the "tycoons" of America, curious about all the connections between them. I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction, so I requested this one and was approved. I picked it up last month because of a trip to the Vanderbilt Estate, even though it's a different family. Wanted to immerse myself in the culture before the trip.

Plot, Characters & Setting
Andrew Carnegie, a leading member of one of America's tycoon families, has settled in Pittsburgh with his mother and brother. A woman who leaves Ireland to help earn money to send her family back home, learns that the lady's maid hired for Mrs. Carnegie has died during the Atlantic voyage. She takes her place and becomes Clara Kelly, despite not having all the knowledge a lady's maid should have. She learns quickly, befriends some of the other staff, even fights with a few. Over time, she convinces everyone she is a good maid, but there is much more to her than they realize; she's got strong business acumen and become a confidante of sorts to Mrs. Carnegie's son, Andrew. Their relationship grows and begins to cause a few folks to question what is going on in the Carnegie household. This is a story about the relationship between the Carnegie family and their staff, love between two unexpected souls and the vicious rules of society.

Approach & Style
I read the Kindle version on my iPad over 3 days. It is about 250 pages with short chapters, told from the perspective of Mrs. Carnegie's maid during the 1860s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, America.

Strengths
The story is simple and complex, quite beautifully told from the maid's perspective. Only she's so much more than a maid, and you can hear every bit of pain and love in her voice. Benedict does a fantastic job at transporting us to the setting of the story, which makes it a strong connection. It's a slow-build to see and feel the love, but quite believable.

I learned a bit about how Carnegie grew to fame and fortune. The book has made me curious to know how much of this story is true, hence why I am on the lookout for a biography on him and the family. A good author makes that happen... thanks, Ms. Benedict!

We only see a glimpse (less than ten years) of the life between these characters, then it jumps to when they are much older. I loved seeing a future glance rather than everything that happened over the years after Andrew and Clara met. Usually I don't like missing details, but in this story, it worked quite well.

Concerns
The writing is a little clunky at times; sometimes it's as it should be, given the story takes place 150 years ago. But on a few occasions, I thought simpler phrases or imagery would have helped with the complexity in the differences between the time period and today.

Author & Other Similar Books
This is the author's second book, as she has a debut titled 'The Other Einstein.' I don't know a lot about it, but I am curious to check out the description to see if it's something I'd want to read.

I read a bunch of historical fiction and have encountered books like this before; however, seeing it about a famous American family, and learning of a potential 'hidden' relationship, was different and exciting.

Final Thoughts
Good read. Quick. Informative. I liked the style. Characters well-drawn. Matches the style of the time period. Overall, better than average.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon @ http://mybook.to/WGS. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

Once again Marie Benedict has penned a magnificent book. Exquisite language usage, riveting story line and beautifully researched makes this a most satisfactory read.

Thank you to Sourcebooks, Landmark and NetGalley for a digital copy of this novel.

What is so interesting about this novel is that I liked the parts which were obviously the research informational portions so much more than the imagined character interactions. I enjoy reading non-fiction books and I'm now intrigued by the Andrew Carnegie story and want to find out more about him. The story of Clara Kelly, an Irish immigrant who came to America to try to earn money to relieve the desperate poverty of her family left behind, wasn't very well written and so did not engage me as much. The conversations are stilted and unnatural; the situations Clara and Andrew are in feel forced and uncomfortable. The author never made me feel this was a story which might actually have happened, it was obviously fake from the beginning.

For me this novel would have been much more enjoyable if I hadn't continuously gotten the feeling that it was two stories, the fact and the fiction. Frankly, I would have liked the factual alone much better.

Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Benedict, and Sourcebooks Landmark for the chance to read and review an ARC of Carnegie's Maid.

I am happy to say that this novel lived up to its hype. I couldn't put it down! Marie Benedict drew me into the worlds of industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and his mother's maid-with-a-secret Clara Kelley. Benedict's writing and research were meticulous, and she made me care about the outcome of her characters. This book was a great look into the rise of the Carnegies, the struggles of immigrants trying to provide for their families in America and Europe, and also the lengths that people will go to live a stable existence. After finishing this novel I spent a lot of time researching Andrew Carnegie, and then other philanthropists of his time.

Carnegie's Maid did what a good book always does: it made me feel; it made me think; it made me want more. After this lovely novel, I'll definitely be picking up The Other Einstein! 5/5 would recommend.

I adore a good love story, historical fiction style. This tale did not disappoint. I found it easy to believe Mr. Carnegie could have been moved to compassion by a strong, smart woman who matched his wit. The details of the novel are just right—I was transported to the 1860s and what life in Pittsburgh must have been like—for the upper echelon and impoverished steel mill and iron workers alike. The pace of the story is a bit slower, but if you are a romantic, you will be easily hooked. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hailing from Pittsburgh's East End, I was eager to read this book — overeager, after having loved the author's previous historical novel, "The Other Einstein."

The central theme is the same (the man's legacy is due to the woman), but the basis of the plot differs: the other stems from debate; this one is invented.

I would not have minded, if it were realistic, but it isn't. At the 78% mark, I was done suspending disbelief.

It took me several sittings just to get that far. After a strong start, (1) the narrative becomes as monotonous as Clara's job (I laughed when I thought to myself, <i>How many times must I read of her darning?!</i>, and then saw, "Sometimes I felt like needlework was all I did."), and (2) the author doesn't weave the historical facts into the story but rather tosses them in — often in conversations that one almost needs to chart as Clara does, in order to follow.

Perhaps it's my bad for anticipating the author would deliver another story revolving around historical figures, not one in which they serve to frame what's more the story of immigration (and slavery) during the Fenian era (at the end of the American Civil War) using made-up characters.

I am typically a big fan of historical fiction, and I enjoyed reading 'Carnegie's Maid'. One thing I generally love about this genre is that I learn something new about a time, place, or people I didn't know much about, and this book was no exception. I didn't know much about Andrew Carnegie's life, only a little about the legacy he left behind. I have been to Pittsburgh several times, and liked reading about some of its history. I did find that the story dragged at times, particularly when Clara was eavesdropping on a (typically rather dull) conversation. Overall though, an interesting time period and enjoyable read.

Clara Kelley has been sent to America by her family in impoverished Ireland. Their hope is that she will find work and be able to send money home to support the family, as they have recently lost their land source of income. When she arrives she finds herself being mistaken for a different Clara Kelley who already has a job waiting for her. Clara decides to become this other Clara Kelley and finds herself in Pittsburgh working on a trial basis as lady’s maid to Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Mrs. Carnegie is known to be a harsh mistress but Clara is determined to win her over. In the process she meets Andrew and the two instantly hit it off as friends. The story follows Clara through her years working in the Carnegie household and the influence she had on Andrew and his charitable work.

I loved this story. I have previously read another book by this author and was really excited about this one. It did not disappoint. The author masterfully created her characters with rich detail and her descriptions of the city of Pittsburgh in the time period are perfect. I was easily drawn into the both the affluent world of the Carnegies and the impoverished world of Clara’s cousins. This is another fabulous story from Marie Benedict and I highly recommend it.

The author pays homage to the Irish immigrants who labored to make this country great. She portrays Andrew Carnegie as a ruthless business man who later becomes the benefactor of the public library system. She deftly describes the social and economic conditions that were prevalent during the industrial revolution. The protagonist, lad's maid Clara Kelly is the moral center.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

1860's, Clara Kelley immigrates to America to work and help support her desperately poor family back in Ireland. She is employed as a lady's maid in the home of the prominent businessman Andrew Carnegie. As a relationship develops between Clara and Andrew, the glaring differences between their two classes eventually spur Andrew to become the philanthropic figure that we know.

As in "The Other Einstein", the author writes about a very strong female character who rises above adversity.

3☆