The story is told with a quick and vivid narrative style from the perspective of Clara Kelley, an Irish immigrant. The author’s writing really brings her characters to life, and both Clara Kelley and Andrew Carnegie became interesting characters to follow and root for. This book is a work of fiction, Clara never existed but historians have theorized that Andrew Carnegie’s impetus for philanthropy was caused by a personal relationship. The author has created Clara, the woman who becomes a catalyst in the life of the business tycoon. There is a lot to like about this book, as it is a real page tuner.

The portrayal of America during this historical period seemed relevant, in regards to the the cultural and societal restraints placed upon the characters. Clara Kelley is an Irish immigrant sent to America to save her family. Clara is determined to take her destiny in her own hands but her choices are limited, her family’s survival depends upon her, the wages she sends over to Ireland are their lifeline.

After a case of mistaken identity, Clara gets the opportunity to start working as the Lady’s maid of Mrs. Carnegie, Andrew’s mother. The Carnegie family brings the American dream to fruition. They were destitute when they immigrated to America, but thanks to Andrew’s business savvy, drive and ambition, they are on the verge of becoming major players in the industry. Andrew is the definition of a self-made man and has educated himself about the way of the American business world. Education and research are key to his success.

Clara and Andrew are attracted to one another, they are like-minded and they both have a strong sense of duty to their families. But their relationship is considered inappropriate. Their dilemma was heartbreaking, yet I felt that the author did not convey enough emotion in this part of the story.

This kind of story is the reason why I love well-written and well-researched historical fiction. It was absorbing and captivating. Even if you don’t get all the minute details, you get a general understanding of Carnegie’s character and motivations, and then you can dive into the non-fiction resources with a greater sense of passion.

Loved this book! Full review to come for Blog Tour.

I am bit torn about giving my opinion of this book.
There were parts I enjoyed, like the way author describes and presents America in the 1860s: the historical and social details were bang on and it is clear that a lot of research went into it.
What I was not much impressed with was the fictional part. No matter how hard Marie Benedict tried to wove the fiction into the factual, for me she did not succeed. They were like water and oil: they did not mix well.
I also couldn't buy the idea of "the mysterious woman" who influences Carnegie from the depths of obscurity, probably because I just could not connect the MC, Clara. I found her distant and unrelatable.

Still, I recommend this book to readers of historical fiction.

Based on my rating, you might think I didn't like Carnegie's Maid. That is not true. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Clara Kelley, a poor Irish immigrant sent to the US by her family to make some money to help her family back home in Ireland who were still suffering the aftereffects of the famine.

However, parts of the story did seem slightly fantastical and unbelievable, and more than once the dialogue seemed stilted and very "tell-y" (example: Mrs. Carnegie is often charged with describing the elder Mr. Carnegie's business endeavours as though it was part of a fact-dump, not dialogue.

There were a number of little things that bothered me while reading the book, but ultimately, being on the other side, I enjoyed it.

“To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” ― J.K. Rowling
Andrew Carnegie was a Businessman and a Philanthropist, also the richest man during his time. He is known to have contributed immensely is spreading knowledge and helping the ones in need in terms of charity, health care, and education. But before being this man Andrew Carnegie, or Andra, as his mother used to like calling him, was a person madly in love with a woman. A strong, determined woman, with powerful views, Clara Kelly, was his mother’s maid.

The truth behind the story remains unknown, but Marie Benedict has weaved a story around these characters, tying them together with thoughts those could have a tremendous effect on the poor and needy.

Set around the time of Lincon’s death, Clara Kelley arrives in Pittsburgh to look for a job and finds herself stealing another girls job because times are desperate and she is her family’s only hope. That’s how she becomes Mrs. Carnegie’s maid. As the story progresses, Clara and Andrew cross paths and are immediately attracted to each other. Now Clara might seem like a stupid girl, but she is smart and calculative, someone who knows what she is doing. Andrew and Clara find solace with each other not only as two people in love do, but also as friends who have the same thought process, who believe in the same ideologies, and as a teacher who is willing to teach her everything she needs to know about business and making a life for herself, being equals and yet helping the world.

Over time Andrew becomes more and more dependent on Clara but will this relationship succeed? With that question, we dive into the reasons and possibilities behind the drastic change in Andrew’s character, from money maker to actually making a difference in the world, from thinking about personal gains to thinking about immigrants and equal rights.

A book that captured my attention because of the name, because Andrew Carnegie was a hot-shot. There’s a subtle romance going on throughout the book, but the central theme stays the same- ideologies and equal rights, wars and consequences. And the author has done an amazing job to maintain it that way, never deviating from the central topic. And yet, there is also a glimpse on the life of the elites, with the tiniest of details. It looks glorious with their tea-parties and gossips, clothing and hair-styles, which created and very picturesque background for the plot to develop.

A minimalistic take on the personal life of Andrew Carnegie, with a brilliant and vivid description of life in that era, overall, this was an almost realistic take on what could have possibly happened which resulted in the rise of a simple man to the first true philanthropist and the richest man of his times.

4.5 star read.

I am a fan.

This was my first Marie Benedict book, but I am now anxious to read The Other Einstein since I enjoyed this book so much.

"Carnegie's Maid" is historical fiction at its best. It interweaves Clara Kelly's fictional story to that of "Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist."

The focus of this story is really Clara's life - she was shipped from Galway, Ireland to America, in hope of finding a job in service or in a factory; allowing her to send her earnings back home to help support her family who are still suffering the effects of the Irish potato famine. Instead, she lands a job in the Carnegie household, an error in identity providing her with a way out of poverty.

What follows are "journal type" entries (not a formal journal, but all in the first person narrative and dated) of her life with the Carnegies. We get a glimpse into what shaped Andrew Carnegie's work-ethic, his relationship with his mother and brother Tom, and we also get a sense of his belief that all people are created equal and deserve the chance to a better life. Clara's relationship with Andrew is that of not only romantic interest (all very proper), but also an intellectual one. In her, he finds a sounding board to his ideas, and was challenged by her own ideas.

Clara was a well developed character. Perhaps it was a little far-fetched to believe that Andrew Carnegie would have sought out the opinion and advice of his mother's lady's maid, but their relationship was lovely to watch unfold.

This is not a book that is full of tension, nor does it have a "mysterious twist". This is simply a well written story of what "might have been"/ "could have been". The entire thing was written in a way that transported the reader to Pittsburgh during the American Civil War, and brought to light what was happening in Ireland at the same time.

Well written, highly enjoyable. A book in which you can simply escape the reality of the every day.

Recommended.

Clara Kelley arrives in the U.S. set on finding work that will help support the family she left behind in famine-ravaged Ireland. Through a weird twist of fate, she lands a job as a lady’s maid in the prestigious Carnegie home but she has to keep who she really is, a lowly Irish Catholic farmer’s daughter, a secret. Can she keep that secret when she and Mr. Andrew Carnegie start a secret friendship that could potentially lead to more?

Throughout the novel, you see a few different experiences of Irish immigrants in the U.S. Many crossed the Atlantic for better economic opportunities because of the potato famine. For the lower classes, this means living in Slab Town in shanty. For the upper classes, they can enter service where their influence is respected. The differences are shown in the book and they are striking. Even when they got to the U.S., there was a class system waiting for them.

There's a quote on the cover that says this book is perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and it's is 100% correct. It's an easy-paced read with interesting historical context. This is one of my favorite kinds of historical fiction - not too lovey-dovey with plenty to learn. It's not extremely exciting but very engaging.

Carnegie’s Maid

by Marie Benedict

Carnegie’s Maid, a work of historical fiction, attempts to explain what could have caused Andrew Carnegie, a ruthless businessman, to become a philanthropist and founder of the Carnegie Libraries. As a former impoverished Scottish immigrant, he fights his way to the top echelons of America’s monied, sometimes stepping on the backs of other immigrants to get there. Author Marie Benedict has created a lady’s maid from Ireland who is on a mission to support her Irish Catholic Fenian family. Her Clara is hard-working, smart, and focused. An opportunist, she takes the place of another Clara becoming a lady’s maid rather than a scullery maid making herself privy to the family’s secrets and business machinations.

As seen in Benedict’s other excellent work of historical fiction, The Other Einstein, the novel Carnegie’s Maid demonstrates the author’s intensive research and attention to detail. As I read I found myself wishing for a main character based on an actual person as in The Other Einstein. I assume the details and records of Carnegie’s life are just too sketchy to provide such a character. Benedict has taken the immigrant culture of the times, the certainty that Carnegie’s mother would have had a lady’s maid, the mystery of Carnegie’s altruism, and his delay in marriage as the basis for her fictional Clara. There is much more supposition in this book, but it is well written and not outside the realm of possibility.

I enjoyed the tale with its details about the difficult lives of the Irish both in Great Britain and in the United States. It paints a picture of the U.S. as a very difficult land of opportunity, with no handouts, and even fewer options for women. Gender, ethnic background, religion, money, family, and education all play a role in the highly stratified, unofficial class systems of the time.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Sourcebooks Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Historical Fiction

Notes: by the author of The Other Einstein

Publication: January 16, 2018—Sourcebooks Landmark

Memorable Lines:

“These Catholic Irish running from the havoc wreaked by their famine and pouring onto American shores are not like the hard-working Protestant Irish who immigrated in earlier years. This new Catholic crop is rough and uneducated, and they’ll destroy the fabric of this country’s shaky democracy if we let them, especially in these days of Civil War unrest, just like they did back home in Scotland when they stole factory jobs away from Scottish men and women. An Irish Catholic servant might suffice as a scullery maid but not as my personal maid.”

For whom was I crying? for all the immigrants like the Lambs, who came to America seeking a better life but settled instead for a soot-infested home and dangerous work in the mills and gave thanks for it?

For the first time, I realized how alike my situation was to that of Mr. Carnegie. Although the scale was quite different, the stakes were not. The well-being of both our families rested on our success.

Arriving on the pungent and crowded dock after a tumultuous voyage across the sea, Clara Kelley was happy to finally see the land she'd dreamed so much of. An immigrant from Ireland to America, she came to this new land of opportunity with a supreme goal in mind - make enough money to send to her family back home and sustain them as things with their tenement farm was on shaky ground. It was her duty.

Initially intent upon finding work at a local mill and bunking in with her extended family on the outskirts of Pittsburgh proper, fate shoved Clara into an entirely different direction. Hearing her name being called at the docks was unexpected, but she rose to the challenge - albeit wondering how the well-dressed gentleman knew her name and that she'd be descending from this particular vessel on this very specific day. But after a few questions and a stilted carriage ride with two posh looking young ladies who obviously bore higher stations than she, Clara realized the man had made a mistake. The Clara Kelley he was looking for - a young lady from overseas set to be a lady's maid for the wealthy Mrs. Carnegie - never got off the boat. Instead, the present Miss. Kelley slid into her place like so much silk over ivory skin, determined to make the best of her surprise stroke of luck.

Working for Mrs. Carnegie was never going to be easy, and Clara expected as much right from the start. Growing up a simple farm girl, Clara had no idea how the routines of a great lady's bedchamber went, how to procure the classiest style of wardrobe from the best dressmaker, or how to prepare the prettiest and most high-fashion coiffure available. And it's not as if Clara has any help from the other servants in the great house; other than the boisterous cook Mr. Ford, no one has any use for her, jealous as they are of her elevated station in their rather equal lines of work. Her spirits sink even lower when letters from home begin to arrive - both from her family and from the sweetheart that the real Miss. Clara Kelley left behind. Every day she wakes up she is reminded that she is living a life that does not belong to her, but she also can not afford to tell anyone the truth.

Doing her best to be virtually indispensable to Mrs. Carnegie helps fill Clara's days, and she is not blind to the subtle perks to be had while catering to one of the city's wealthiest families. It doesn't take long for Clara to become more accustomed to the other residents in the home, namely Andrew Carnegie, her mistress's eldest son. The two strike up a curious bond over poetry that slowly builds into a familiarity that skirts the edge of improper, and Clara must make sure she is taking all the necessary steps to keep the budding relationship in as much of her control as possible.

She admires the handsome ginger-haired man; Andrew Carnegie has made a name for himself not only in the city of Pittsburgh, but all over the eastern seaboard. His expertise in finance and the right amount of risk-taking has helped catapult the railroad he works for into a status of absolute need and desire, and with the war coming to a close and residents beginning to travel again, Carnegie has also become instrumental in making those travels one full of luxury. But of all the things that hold his interest, the quietly charming Miss. Kelley is the most intriguing. Although he must court her in complete secrecy, Mr. Carnegie is determined to add her to his catalog of investments.

Warned by her friend Mr. Ford and with her mind full of bad news written of from home, Clara is all but hopeless that a match between she and Mr. Carnegie can be made. Letter after letter from her sister in Ireland proves to be more and more despairing, and she is desperate to figure out how to help her family's circumstance as best she can from so far away. Will Clara be able to attain those things she wishes for most in this world - love from a wonderful man, financial stability for herself and her relatives, and a reunion of those she loves most? Or is she destined to be nothing more than a poor immigrant with no prospects at all, other than that of liar and impostor?

Author Marie Benedict plays with a marriage of history and fiction in her newest novel, Carnegie's Maid. Using her own spin on how famed Andrew Carnegie transitioned himself and his fortune from that of innovative industrialist to philanthropist and rich sharer of libraries and knowledge to one and all, Benedict chooses a romantic path that includes a nod to her own heritage in immigration. While Carnegie was known as one of the richest men in America and has gone down in industrialist and investment history, little is known about why he chose to switch paths so quickly from an employer that offered poor working conditions and notoriously low pay to benefactor for the less fortunate. Using a forbidden romance as the reason for this drastic change of opinion, Benedict sheds a new light on a formative figure of American history.

While the book was full of historic reasoning and proper romance, I am left giving the book 4 out of 5 stars. At times the dialogue felt a bit too much like a lesson from school; more often than not I found the emotional quality and human aspect of the speech to be lacking. I was appreciative at the slow build of the romance between Clara and Andrew, but I felt that the ending left the reader feeling there was no resolution. It is understandable that Benedict could not write Clara and Carnegie as a married couple, but she also did not leave readers with any real sense over what happened after Clara departed the home. All in all, the epilogue could have been much better. I also admired the delicate way in which Benedict handled some of Carnegie's well-known faults in business (how he treated his employees, insider information, social-climbing, etc.) Her angle was well thought out and diplomatic, and very much from Clara's point of view.

I recommend this book to lovers of a proper/clean romance and of American history, as the depictions of Carnegie are rather interesting as the author delves into his mind and reasonings. The human aspect of Clara as an immigrant and her formidable forward-thinking as a woman is admirable and full of female empowerment. Readers may also be interested in Benedict's first novel, The Other Einstein, which offers an interesting take on renowned physicist Albert Einstein's first wife, who was an accomplished woman in her own right.

Love it! This book starts with great, on which the whole book was centered too. Clara Kelly, the main character, used the identity of a dead girl, who also got the same name, and also who happened to be traveling on the same boat to America.It's a moving story of the life of Irish people and they things they've gone through hoping for a new life in a new land.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I loved this book. It was a great fictional tale of how the great Andrew Carnegie became the first true philanthropist. Clara Kelly was a very likable strong woman character and the one chosen from her Irish family to brave the new world. I think because she had the strongest will and composition needed for women of the 1800's traveling to America. A great historical tale for the masses. I will be putting this on the to-read list for my cousin's book club.

Carnegie's Maid is a romantic approach to the tale of the iconic Carnegie family and offers an idea of perhaps why the family turned to philanthropy once they built their wealth. This story also includes a focus on the struggles of immigrants as well as how the Civil War and President Lincoln's assassination impacted people of all classes.

I really liked the juxtaposition of the subservient side of Clara when she is Mrs. Carnegie's maid with her bold businesswoman side when she is sneaking in secret moments with Andrew Carnegie. Furthermore, I liked the innocence of their romance despite the imbalance of power as well as both of their loyalties to their respective families.

My favorite character in this book was Mr. Ford. I would go on further, however, I do not wish to spoil anything. Therefore, I will simply state that his character seemed to be the most generous in that he was generous with his good attitude and generous in doing small good deeds for others.

One of the reasons why I did not give this book 5 stars is because it kind of dragged on at certain points as if length was the goal rather than depth. Another reason is because the antagonist was weak, however, I am not even sure if it is the character that I am thinking of or if the antagonist is supposed to be a group of people. Lastly, I did not care for how Andrew Carnegie conveniently appeared (and appeared quite often) when Clara was alone.

For those who may be triggered or offended: the only things that I could find within the book were poverty, pollution, religious themes, and death.

Please note: an electronic copy of this book was generously provided for free from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

"Carnegie’s Maid”, by Marie Benedict is set in the late 1860’s in Pennsylvannia. The story takes us into the home of one of the richest men in the world at that time and probably one of the greatest philanthropists of all time – Andrew Carnegie.

This was the first book I have read by Ms. Benedict. I do have “The Other Einstein” on my reading list. The premise for the story was interesting. The book flowed smoothly and was rich in the details of the period. The plot is revealed through the first person account of Clara Kelley, an Irish immigrant who becomes the “lady’s maid” to Mrs. Carnegie, Andrew’s mother. The disparities among the economist classes of the day were well researched and well written. The juxtaposition of the lavish and extravagant wealthy class and the overwhelming suffering of the poor is clearly evident and well done.

Ms. Benedict is a skilled writer who draws the reader into the protagonist’s story. Her loneliness, isolation, kindness and compassion are all felt keenly. I found myself cheering her on as the plot progressed. The main character’s intelligence and eagerness to learn is unique to the time period. Few women were noticed for their intelligence in business. I would dare say all of the businesses at the time were created and run by men. I admire Ms. Benedict’s creation of such an interesting and intelligent character. We are also given a great deal of information regarding Mr. Andrew Carnegie. I had no idea that such an eligible bachelor did not marry until much later in life. He established more than 2500 public libraries around the world and made countless endowments.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was totally engrossed in it. It is educational in its presentation of the social classes at the time. At the end I went back and re-read the Prologue which made Andrew’s change of heart so much more powerful. For fans of historical fiction this is a must read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Ms. Benedict and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Last year I read Marie Benedict's The Other Einstein, a story that focused on Mileva Maric, Albert Einstein's wife, and her own accomplishments and life events. What looked to be a promising book ended up falling a bit flat for me and I didn't find it nearly as enjoyable as I thought it would. I mention this only to say that despite the fascinating premise of Carnegie's Maid, I still felt somewhat hesitant about starting it. All I can say now that I have read it is that Benedict's writing seems to have vastly improved and I really, really enjoyed this one!

Carnegie's Maid centers on a period of life in Clara Kelley's life, from her journey to America from Ireland through her employment as lady's maid to Mrs. Carnegie, mother of the famous Andrew Carnegie. I'll be completely honest and admit that I really didn't know much about the Carnegie family. I've of course heard the name and know the very vaguest bits of information about them, but that's about it, so I was actually rather excited to read a book that might enlighten me.

Clara is a highly intelligent woman, and I'm happy to say that overall I really loved her character. Not only is she intelligent in an academic manner, but she also has so much common sense. It was so refreshing to read about a character like Clara. There were so many instances in this book where Clara could have been too stubborn or outspoken or said something to get in trouble, but she knew to use her brain and avoided those moments! I would say that about ninety-two percent of the books I read feature characters who think, "I know that I should just go along with what they're saying, but gosh, my feelings are just too strong to handle something that would keep me from being thrown out on the street," and thus say the bad thing and get thrown out. Maybe I'm being too dramatic, but let's just say that I found Clara to be a intelligent, and also very complex, character.

This book did indeed deliver on teaching me more about the business of Andrew Carnegie, but it of course focused much more on Clara and how she managed to start an entirely new life on her own, adapt to a new course of work, and even educate herself further with the help of Mr. Carnegie. I appreciated the subtle insight into the gap between the rich, the poor, and the working class, as well as the brief bit that focused on the ongoing Civil War and the struggle for many newly-freed and escaped slaves.

I liked that the romance was so slow-building and didn't just sort of appear out of nowhere, but I almost found it to be a bit too subtle at times. Part of me really liked that, but part of me felt that this book needed more to make the actions of the characters more understandable.

Something that confused me somewhat was that in the beginning of the book (and throughout at times) we are told that Mrs. Carnegie is just an impossibly difficult woman to please and no ladies' maids every make it. But then Clara takes the job and seems to have no problems that I can discern. Mrs. Carnegie does not seem exceptionally demanding or difficult to work for, so I just feel like that part of the story wasn't done as well as it could have been.

The part of this book that frustrated me twas the ending. It was one of those where you turn the page expecting a new chapter, and instead the page says 'Epilogue.' I don't mind open endings or those that leave you wanting more in a good way, but I don't like endings that leave me feeling jilted and like I wasn't fulled finished with the book. Looking back, I see why Benedict ended it where she did and the epilogue does answer some questions, but I was just left feeling like this book didn't fulfill what it was supposed to; it left me asking 'why did I just read this book?' I appreciated that there was an epilogue that helped to fill in some of the leftover gaps, but it just didn't feel quite as smooth as it could have been.

Overall, I've still given Carnegie's Maid four stars. Despite the rather lackluster ending, I really enjoyed this book and reading about this period in history in America.

Thank you Sourcebooks for sending me a free copy and inviting me on the Blog Tour for CARNEGIE'S MAID. 

I rate this book a 3.75 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book. It's one of those reads that is just nice and steady. There wasn't any plot twists or dramatics. Just a well flowing, enjoyable read. The epilogue was fantastic, I won't say why, but I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the characters and interaction of Andrew and Clara, however his mother drove was not my most favorite, she was snooty, conniving person, who couldn't look past her own desires. But claims to make decisions for the betterment of her children. 

I loved knowing that the author based some of this book on her ancestral history. It added a little something to the story, I think. Like her previous book, The Other Einstein, the writing in this one is very descriptive, and very pretty. I love that she uses bigger words, and words that you don't hear very often. Although, I am not going to lie, I had to look up the definition of a few. 

One thing that I do know for sure, as many years that have passed, even in the 2000's we are still a society that bases a lot of judgement on looks, money, appearance, and material things. Sadly in that aspect not much has changed since the 1800's. In Carnegie's Maid it is very much prevalent that that's how this family worked. The clothes, the home, the friends, the status, the money, that's what mattered most. Slowly Andrew Carnegie changed, and realized that along with making his money, it could also make the world a better place, and could give opportunities to people who truly needed them. It was pretty fascinating to read.

This was a strange combination for me. The author, Marie Benedict, put in backstory, yet the book came across as shallow with no true feel of the characters. There with too much repetition and filler to the point that I wondered if this would have been a better short story than a full-length novel.

A forbidden love between an employer and his employee can only end a few ways: badly, sadly, or very rarely, happily ever after. This follows the tale of a poor Irish girl who came to create a new life for herself and yet found herself slipping into someone else's life. She is pretending and yet at the same time feels more like who she should be. She has to find a way to retain her old self and this new girl that she is turning into. Throw into that the fact that she is falling for her employer and it is a bit of fun in old Pittsburgh.

Though I loved seeing a historical industrial fiction story away from NYC, I have to say that this was a bit unfair of Maire Benedict. She gave us a great beginning and strong middle and it seemed that the end was scooped together to wrap things up. We see barely any of the actual searchings for Clara, though it seems to be a massive catalyst for Carnegie's life. It goes from her leaving to the Epilogue. There seems to be a massive gap that the Epilogue tries to smooth over and yet I am left holding my hands out for those missing chapters. Perhaps there is hope for a sequel or another excerpt that will draw things tighter together and pad out a strange ending. If you enjoy Industrial Age historical fiction, this is a great choice. There is romance, class, opera, and fashion all wrapped together with "current" events. It evokes the period without dunking your head in a bucket of straight history.

*This eBook was provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for honest feedback*

Andrew Carnegie is best known for being one of the richest men in America having made his fortune by leading the expansion of the steel industry, and towards the end of his life he was a leading philanthropist.

Marie Benedict’s book has been written as a fictional account of how this man was moved to better the lives of others when his early years had been spent focussed on lining his own pockets. To do so she looked at her own ancestors and imagined a young, bright Irish girl becoming a Lady’s Maid to Margaret Carnegie, Andrew’s mother.

We first meet Clara Kelly in December 1868 as her journey across the Atlantic is coming to a close and she’s got to find a way to get to her relatives in Pittsburgh. Clara despite being the second child of her parents has been sent to America to provide a ‘Plan B’ for the family since their leased farm is being carved up following the potato famine and now there are real concerns that the Landlord has it in for Clara’s father.

The premise to the book where a farmer’s daughter ends up being a Lady’s Maid is a great vehicle for studying the man at the centre of the book, Andrew Carnegie. It don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that there is a relationship of sorts between Clara and Andrew, after all both were immigrants, Andrew moving the US from Scotland when he was barely in his teens. With the Carnegie family coming recently to wealth the need to never descend into poverty again is one of their key drivers for continued success. I’m pleased to say that the author doesn’t skimp on the less than moral and perhaps legal actions of this great business leader either before his later transformation into someone who champions the education of all.

It’s also nice that this book is populated by strong and intelligent women. Margaret Carnegie, whilst maintaining a tight grip on her household is also very much involved in her son’s business and Clara is also keen to learn more about business as the book progresses.

This is a heavily fictionalised account and shouldn’t be read as anything other than that but that doesn’t stop it being a fascinating insight into the lives of immigrants to America during and after the American Civil War. The descriptions of life both in Ireland and Pittsburgh make for illuminating reading especially the lives of Clara’s distant relations Patrick and Maeve who bring up an ever growing brood in a small and dirty ramshackle home. Patrick working at the Iron foundry whilst Maeve takes in needlework to be completed by poor light in the evenings. By contrast Clara’s efforts to become indispensable in the Carnegie household may mean long hours brushing hair, cleaning and darning clothes but she lives in luxurious surroundings although I pitied her the lack of friends apart from the former slave Mr Ford within the almost prison-like existence.

A fascinating historical tale which is indeed one explanation for Andrew Carnegie’s transformation into one of the best known philanthropists with the book ending with the opening of the free library in Boston built by Andrew Carnegie.

I’d like to thank the publishers Landmark for providing me with a copy of Carnegie’s Maid ahead of publication date of the 16 January 2017.

Thank you to NetGalley for advanced read. I think generally I'm not a big fan of historical fiction when the main character was a high profile individual. The story just seemed implausible to me. It also moved along very slow.

Clara Kelley, a poor Irish immigrant, arrives to Philadelphia in 1863 with a vague plan and hope for finding employment and housing. Her family's survival in Ireland is dependent upon it. When an opportunity at the docks to travel to Pittsburg and find work arrives Clara takes it. However, it comes at a cost. She will be stepping into a role meant for another who passed away during the voyage.

To Clara's surprise, she becomes a Lady's Maid to Mrs. Carnegie. Having grown up on a farm and educated by her father she has never before served in this capacity - but the original Clara Kelley has. And so Clara quickly learns what is expected of her and strives to exceed them. She is determined to secure her position and station in life.

As Clara becomes adjusted to her new life she meets Andrew Carnegie, Mrs. Carnegie's eldest son. I believe that Andrew sees a kindred spirit in Clara and due to this their friendship grows. Andrew is a complicated man. He is fiercely intelligent and clearly charming, compassionate and kind. Yet he is also ruthless in business and prone to believing he is always right. This combination makes for a fascinating dynamic between he and Clara. What really interested me was seeing how they both forced the other to think in different ways. And how that changed each's view of their lives.

While visiting her cousin and his family in the poor housing/area of Pittsburg, Clara becomes aware of the disparity of wealth in the US and the consequences this has upon the people. While striving to secure her position in life she believes that opportunities for success shouldn't just lie with the wealthy. As she and Andrew move forward with their friendship, Clara forces him to see the reality of his business practices. She is

When Clara's initial decision upon arrival to the US comes to light - she is forced to make a decision. A decision that once again changes her own path forward. I loved Clara! She is loyal, ambitious and stands up for what she truly believes in. She is also human and struggles with the hierarchy of serving in a wealthy home. Her position sets her apart from the other servants. With few friendships in the house, and a family an ocean away I can only imagine how difficult it would be. However, she continues to move forward and strive to improve her and her family's position while also looking out for her fellow servant and friend Mr. Ford and her cousin and his family. She is simply an incredible woman, who followed her own principles and in doing so changed Andrew Carnegie's outlook on wealth.

I really enjoyed this story and devoured it within a day. I would highly recommend it, particularly if you appreciate stories about strong, independent women changing their piece of the world!

I received an e- ARC of this story from Sourcebook via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine.