This was a well written, fast-paced, historical fiction book about the Carnegie family and their advancement from being immigrants to being powerhouses during the industrial revolution. It is told in the perspective of Clara Kelly, an immigrant that works as the ladies maid to the matriarch of the family. There is a bit of a love story thrown in along with the detailed descriptions of the immigrants and how they suffered during this period. The author, Marie Benedict, does a good job blending actual research with purely fictitious storylines to produce a book that is both informative and enjoyable. The format of short chapters that draw the reader to read just a few more pages, then just a few more, enticed me to read the entire book in one evening.

Clara Kelly steps of the boat Envy, from Ireland and now emigrating to America. A woman of the same name and from the same area of Ireland is also expected, our Clara takes the initiative and travels to Pittsburgh to become a Lady’s maid to Mrs. Carnegie, mother to Andrew a business man who will go on to become the wealthiest man in the world.

While the initial premise of this book sounds great, I did find that the idea of a Irish farmers daughter being able to pull off the skilled role of a lady’s maid somewhat unbelievable, but I actually put that aside and just enjoyed the story, this was quite interesting. Clara spends a lot of time with her employer and builds up a friendship with her son. I found a lot of details on the Carnegie family that I was unaware of in this book. I didn’t know much about the family before I started this story, but by the end I found a huge amount of detail had been added as part of the story. It did spark an interest and I found myself reading further on the internet, so I can also now add that the author has done her research well.

So, as well as the research and information given on the Carnegies, there were also some other nice details for social etiquette and status of the time especially when on a visit to New York. The characters of Clara, Andrew and Mrs. Carnegie have been developed very well. This book has a nice steady pace, and has some inclusion of famous historical events that help keep the feel of the era it is set in.

This is a good read that would appeal to readers of historical fiction, American History with social and economic elements from 1860’s America and Ireland included. I did feel there were some discrepancies with the way Clara could have got this job, but I read this as more of a fiction book than a historically accurate fictionalised one.

When I first saw Carnegie's Maid as an upcoming release on NetGalley, I immediately took note of the author's name--Marie Benedict. Earlier this year, I read and thoroughly enjoyed Benedict's previous novel, The Other Einstein, and although I was utterly clueless about the history of the Carnegie family, I knew that Benedict's writing and diligent research into her subject matter would make this a book worth reading.

Although Carnegie's Maid invents a completely fictional character in that of Clara Kelley and The Other Einstein utilized only real people as characters, I still found that I was able to garner a wealth of information about Andrew Carnegie and the business dealings that led to his success as one of the richest men in history.

The premise of the book itself is a bit far-fetched, for sure. Clara Kelley journeys to America in order to secure a job that will help her family back in Ireland. Upon her arrival, she is mistaken for another woman with the same exact name who journeyed to America on the same exact ship but died during its passage. Clara is taken to Mrs. Seeley, a woman who places young women in the service of Philadelphia's wealthy, under the assumption that she is the Clara Kelley expected, and she is placed in the service of the Carnegie family as Mrs. Carnegie's lady's maid. Clara's inexperience in that particular line of work would have meant failure in most other young women, but due to Clara's fortitude and intelligence, she adapts quickly and succeeds in her mission to become indispensable to Mrs. Carnegie. She also develops an intellectual relationship with the eldest Carnegie son, Andrew, that soon develops into an emotional connection that Clara refuses to acknowledge for fear of jeopardizing the critical financial assistance she is able to provide her family back in Ireland.

As with Marie Benedict's The Other Einstein, I found Carnegie's Maid to be a perfect read for those who enjoy learning more about important figures in history. The research Benedict did into the lives of the Carnegie family and the details of the time period was obviously extensive, and the influence that Clara had on their lives, although completely fictional, fit into the story in believable ways. Carnegie's Maid is much heavier on historical details and factual insights into Andrew Carnegie's life and businesses than it is on dramatic action, and I found myself easily able to imagine the landscape, both physical and societal, of the Philadelphia of the mid-1800s.

In addition, I found Clara's character to be incredibly interesting. Her work ethic and strength in the face of adversity was more than admirable--it was inspiring. Clara's desire to make more of her life than her birth into a family of Irish tenant farmers might have dictated during her time and her dedication to helping her family by sacrificing her own desires was clear throughout the book. Readers will find themselves rooting for her success. As history dictates, her ending is not necessarily the fairy tale one that readers will hope for, but that isn't to say that this book is not full of hope.

My only complaint about Clara's character would be minor--her internal conversations about her need to maintain her position for her family's sake began to get somewhat tedious with their frequency. Although I understood her worries and the idea that they would be at the forefront of her mind, I did feel somewhat that I was reminded of them a bit too often. In addition, Clara's story is one that is worth reading, but readers should also be aware that Carnegie's Maid is very heavy on descriptions of Andrew Carnegie's business dealings. As someone who was completely ignorant of those dealings prior to reading this book, I found myself a bit confused at times; however, I also found myself learning a great deal. Readers who are looking for a heavily romantic story will be disappointed; Clara and Andrew's relationship does not veer into romantic territory much, and once it does, the details and length are sparse. Instead, Carnegie's Maid is very much more the story of the value found in hard work and developing one's intellect through access to information, which is a cause that Andrew Carnegie championed during his life. Benedict's novel seeks to answer the question of what (or who) caused Carnegie's attitude toward business to shift from one of cutthroat advancement to selfless giving, and I found Clara Kelley to be a beautifully crafted answer.

As soon as I started the book, I couldn’t put it down but I honestly have to say that I wanted a different ending…

Clara Kelley comes to America with pre-planned destination but through a case of mistaken identity, she attains a better job with nicer living conditions as Mrs. Carnegie’s personal maid. Clara misses her home, yearns for news about her family and longs for Ireland.

Clara works hard to assume her new role to ensure she maintains her place in the Carnegie home. Her family is desperately counting on the money she sends.

She can’t help but notice the people living within these opulent surroundings don’t have a carefree existence. They are striving to fit into a society that looks down upon them. They are vying for their mother’s affections and always trying to come up with the next great business idea. It’s not what Clara would have surmised.

Andrew Carnegie spies his mother’s maid reading a book in the library. Instead of chastising her, he encourages her to keep reading the books and slowly they develop a friendship. It’s a friendship that had it been discovered, would have been detrimental to them both. They yearn to spend time with one another and if things were different they might have loved one another forever.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This novel was engaging and easy to read, but I was disappointed it didn't include more about the Carnegie empire. It was a quick and satisfying read, the story was entertaining. This novel will satisfy readers looking for a light read that transports to another era. It did convey the feel of the times. I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2215891458

As a resident of the Pittsburgh area and an avid user of the Carnegie Public Library, I found the content of this book to be engaging and informative. However, the writing seemed geared toward a YA audience rather than adults. I will still reference and recommend it to my students, but I wanted to love it more than I did.

I enjoyed Marie Benedict's first historical-fiction novel "The Other Einstein" and that, combined with the fact that I grew up around Pittsburgh, PA where everyone knows the Carnegie name, had me determined to read Benedict's "Carnegie's Maid".

This, too, was an enjoyable read. Perhaps the reader must suspend belief at the circumstances of how Clara Kelly came to be placed into service in the Carnegie home; but that 'glitch' was easy for me to overlook given the author's rich descriptions of life in Pittsburgh during the time-period, particularly with the well-defined differences in classes. Benedict's capacity to put the reader in the characters' shoes and relate to the lives of the characters is a gift.

At times a bit slow, I would still say this was worth the time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks/Landmark Publishers for providing me with an e-ARC of the book. The thoughts reflected in this review are strictly my own

I love history and historical fiction. I wanted to love this book. But I just couldn't. It's a short novel, and should have been a quick read, but for me it just seemed to drag. Set mostly in the 1860's, it's a "what-if" novel - what if Andrew Carnegie, Scottish immigrant who rose to be a renowned businessman and endower of public libraries, met a woman, an Irish maid, who helped him become the man who would provide those libraries for the common man. If you can believe that a maid, who is herself living a lie, would fall in love with her employer, deliver wrathful 2017 style lectures on wealth redistribution and economic inequality, and be the catalyst for him to open free libraries for the common folk, you may love this book. Unfortunately, it just missed the mark for me. But I did enjoy the look at the lifestyle of the century, the plight of many immigrants, and the pluck of the heroine. Probably a 3.5 story, rounded down because of the forced and clunky dialogue and slow pace. Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc - I am grateful for the glimpse into the life of Andrew Carnegie, his mother, and that era in general.

Set in the late 1800 in Pittsburgh, this book takes you back in time when the rich had maids and servants, when they traveled in private train cars and made an obscene amount of money.

Clara is fresh off the boat. She lies her way into a position as Lady’s Maid for Mrs. Carnegie, Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Clara is smart and quick on her feet. She must be to create the life her parents intended. However, she has an attraction to Andrew Carnegie as a mentor. This attraction grows stronger the more they are together and could possibly bring down Clara’s house of cards.

The setting of the book is fabulous. The wealth, the poverty and the struggle to survive life, I felt like I was inside the pages with Clara. I also loved how much I learned reading this tale. I was researching Carnegie, Pittsburgh and NYC. I love historical fiction because I always learn something.

I am having trouble with this review. Basically, because I enjoyed the book so much, but there are some problems. I think the author glorified Carnegie a little too much. She created a very sincere and kind man and I am not sure he was as kind as she made him out to be. He did make his fortune on the backs and deaths of many workers. This is briefly touched on but I felt it should be expanded on more. Yes, it is a fiction book and he was a great philanthropist, but he also treated his factory workers poorly.

Marie Benedict is an expert on research. Her stories are vivid and memorable. I do love this book, I just felt it could have been more realistic.

I received this novel from the publisher via Netgalley for a honest review.

This book starts with an unbelievable premise, on which the whole plot hangs. Clara Kelly assumes the identity of a dead girl with the same name who happened to be traveling on the same boat to America. It gives you a good taste of the trials of the Irish immigrant and is a reminder how American prejudice used to be directly squarely at the Irish Catholics.

The book reminds me in some ways of Jane Eyre and other books from the period that looked to have love bridge the social gap between rich and poor. But it’s not giving anything away to say there’s no happy ending here.

While the story here is interesting, I didn’t find the main character to be compelling or believable. I just didn’t engage fully with Clara. We’re meant to believe that a ladies maid is the impetus behind Carnegie’s funding of the public libraries he founded. We’re also meant to believe that some of Carnegie’s business ideas were actually Clara’s. I found her character to be more device than real.

Carnegie’s story is interesting, however, especially how he made his money. Benedict doesn’t try to whitewash his tactics, including insider trading. At times, I wished the story were more directly about him. Benedict does her best job at painting Mrs. Carnegie. A true rarity in her day, she was a shrewd businesswoman but socially insecure.

The parts in enjoyed most are the details about the times and social mores. The necessity of a chatelaine to help ladies prone to fainting because of their tight corsets is an excellent example. And Benedict shines when she contrasts the wealth of the Carnegies and their friends to the lot of the poor in Ireland and Pittsburgh.

This book will appeal to those who favor historical romance.

My thanks to netgalley and Landmark Sourcebooks for an advance copy of this novel.

A case of mistaken identity leads to an young Irish woman unexpectedly landing a job as a lady's maid with the Carnegies. This Gilded Age tale, complete with the inherent tension between "upstairs" privilege and "downstairs" duty, captivated me.

A young Irish girl leaves for America expecting to find work as a common laborer instead thanks to fate she ends up becoming a ladies maid for the famed Carnegie family. Her fictional story is told by author Marie Benedict. Benedict expert crafts a believable tale and allows the reader to believe that Clara Kelley and did influence Andrew Carnegie which lead to his becoming one of America's greatest philanthropists.

The one downside of her novel is it is a bit predictable but not terribly so.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

Carnegie's Maid is historical fiction at its best. I was instantly gripped by the characters in this book and their extraordinary story of survival.

Clara is immigrating to America to find work to help support her family back home. Without a prospect of a husband she is chosen from her three sisters to make the arduous trip to America in the hull of a steamer ship. Upon arriving in America she makes it through a harrowing day of customs and happens upon a man holding a sign with her name on it.

Clara is supposed to be headed to the slums to live with distant relatives, so she is shocked to see a coach waiting for her. With nothing more than a sack with a couple of belongings and the dress on her back she boards the coach with two other girls. Clara soon learns that they have the wrong girl and presumes the Clara they are seeking must have died on the ship.

Rather than pass up a chance at employment Clara doesn't say anything. Instead she listens to the other two girls and finds she is headed to an employment agency and will be dispatched to work in a home. Clara couldn't have wished for a better opportunity.

Once at the agency Clara must make up a tale of why she is dressed so raggedly and accept a more appropriate dress that the cost will come out of her pay. Clara is a quick learner and thankful for the education her father gave her and her sisters. She soon learns that education will serve her well in this new world she happened upon.

Clara is taken to the Carnegie estate where she is to be the ladies maid for Mrs. Carnegie. Mrs. Carnegie has gone through several ladies maids and Clara's agency doesn't have much hope for her working out, but they've under estimated Clara's ingenuity and ability to deceive.

Clara quickly figures out her role and excels at it. This allows her to send money home and have a safe room to stay in. When Mrs. Carnegie's son, Andrew, returns home from business he is soon smitten with Clara. Clara quickly learns from Andrew that the Carnegies are newly immigrated to America and trying to find their place in society. It wasn't that long ago that the Carnegies weren't rich and were not living in the conditions they are now.

A romance soon buds between Clara and Andrew, but Mrs. Carnegie must not find out. What would high society think of her son in love with a ladies maid?!

Carnegie's Maid is a must read if you love historical fiction. I loved all the details from that time in history, the characters and their story. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction that was from the point of view of the household help which made this book intriguing.

A vey romantic ‘what if’ strategically placed in history.

You can’t rewrite the history but you can fill in the gaps. You can add details, stories, suppositions. For instance, you can write a whole novel about reasons why Andrew Carnegie got married so late in life or why he did so much philantropy…

It just may be becauase of one beautiful, smart and determined lady’s made

Carnegie’s Maid is a story of such a supposition. Moreover, it is a story of a strong woman born in a wrong place at a wrong time. And like many other strong women, her journey is a lonely one.

It’s a very ‘grounded’ love story. It is a story of two people who met, noticed each other and fell in love against many odds. It is a love story with a clear mind and cool heart. It is a love story that was meant not to happen.

The narration is very good. It is like a conversation or a monologue in places. There are some spots that sound hard to believe (where factory workers speak very posh English), but otherwise, the book is good, very good.

Carnegie’s Maid is a picture of industiral America in late nineteenth century with all it’s grandeur and all it’s smoke, soot and grime. It is a story of people coming to a new and foreign country and making it their own.

All in all, this is a very interesting read. This story just might have happened…

I am surprised I never took historical fiction seriously. This book was such a breeze to read. So fresh and simple writing ,befitting the era it is written for. A marvelous lady character and inspiring cast makes this a compelling read. Mixed with history of America during civil war and industrial revolution and the way it affected various people , this was well researched. Absolutely delighted at the chance to read this book.

Much in the same vein as Downton Abbey, this novel follows the plight of the young Clara Kelley, an immigrant from Ireland during the mid 1800’s. I was instantly sympathetic to the story of this downtrodden girl and quickly was drawn into the plot. The characters were richly written and realistic and I found myself sneaking off to read snippets of the book during work, at the gym and on my lunches. If you enjoy period dramas of any sort, go get this book the minute it comes out. It is intricately researched and brought me to the era it t

Every once in a while I come upon a new book or author that is absolutely captivating. That's what I found in Marie Benedict's upcoming novel Carnegie's Maid.



A few years ago on a rainy Saturday, Billy and I watched a series called "The Men Who Built America." It was a documentary about John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford and J.P. Morgan, and the amazing things they did that literally built our country. It was absolutely fascinating! So, whenever I have an opportunity to read more about those men, and their contributions to society, I jump at it!

Andrew Carnegie was a ruthless business man as he built his steel and railroad businesses, never caring who he destroyed along the way. Then, it would seem he had a change of heart, and gave millions of dollars to philanthropic causes and even the arts. (Carnegie Hall, anyone?) So, what made him make such a huge turnaround in his values? Marie Benedict has written a beautifully imagined novel about just that!

Clara Kelly left her native Ireland when her family lost their farm and their income. She came to America to find work, to send her wages home to support her father, mother and two sisters. Through a strange mixup, she ended up working as ladies' maid to Mrs. Carnegie, mother of the up-and-coming steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie.

Clara was intelligent, and had a naturally curious mind. When Andrew realized that his mother's maid had a mind for business, they embarked on a clandestine relationship--meeting in parks, late at night, or when his mother was away. Clara cared for Andrew, but knew that a relationship with him was dangerous for her. She advised him in his business, and he repaid her by helping her to buy stock in his company.

As Clara learned more and more about Andrew and his business dealings, she became more and more unsettled. She had family in the city, and when she visited them, she would see the appalling conditions they lived in. When people began to lose their jobs because of Carnegie's dealings, Clara felt compelled to say something.

History, of course, tells us that Andrew Carnegie did not marry a maid named Clara Kelly. I knew that going in. But Carnegie's Maid is so well-written, that I found myself rooting for her all the way!

No one knows what caused Andrew Carnegie's change of heart from ruthless businessman to one of the world's most charitable givers. But Carnegie's Maid is a great story about what may have happened to change him. This novel is amazing and beautifully written.

If you're looking for a great way to start your reading list in the new year, Carnegie's Maid is a great book to read! I promise you'll be enthralled in this story of a woman who rose above her status, changed a man for the best and saved her family from ruin. It's incredibly inspiring, and a great first read for the new year!

Happy Reading!

You can preorder your copy of Carnegie's Maid here, and the series, "The Men Who Build America" here.



I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I will make a small commission, but you won't pay anything extra. Thanks for your support!

Carnegie's Maid is an engaging read about an Irish immigrant girl who assumed another's identity to work as a laud's maid in Pittsburgh during the Civil War. The novel details the social disparity between the rich and the servants. The romance with Andrew Carnegie was a tad cheesy, but overall a solid story.

First line: The gentle melody of a Christmas song lifted into the air of his study from the street below.

Summary: Clara Kelley is a poor Irish girl who has been sent by her family to America to acquire a job so she can send money home to her parents. When she is mistaken for another Irish immigrant, she gains the job of a lifetime. She is hired as the lady’s maid to Mrs. Carnegie, the mother of the rising industrialist, Andrew Carnegie. When she is discovered reading books in the family library by Andrew they strike up a friendship. They discuss poetry, their past lives and business. As their relationship grows, she continues to worry that she will lose her position and no longer be able to help her starving family in Ireland.

Highlights: I loved the lightheartedness of the story. The character of Clara was one I enjoyed following through the story. The time period is one filled with change. Seeing the friendship between Clara and Mr. Ford. They were two outcasts at the time. Each had their own struggles in the time of the Civil War. It was a nice look into the history and cultural outlook of the era. I liked the relationship between Andrew and Clara. The background of Andrew Carnegie was fascinating. It showcases the American dream. He came to America as a poor young man but he took advantage of every opportunity to become one of the richest men in U.S. history. I enjoyed his discussions about his love of reading that slowly evolve into the idea for the Carnegie libraries. Mrs. Carnegie was fascinating. She is a society woman who was not exactly sure how to be a society woman. She was new money and learning as she went. I liked that she deferred to Clara on how things were done. However, she always seemed to be in control.

Lowlights: I wanted more of the friendship between Mr. Ford and Clara. They have such an interesting dynamic. Clara claims that Mr. Ford was her only friend but we see very few interactions between the two. I liked that they found someone who is as much on the outside as the other.

FYI: The story is fiction but it is a nice story of Andrew Carnegie.

Carnegie’s Maid follows the story of a poor Irish farm girl as she immigrates alone to the United States to find a better life for herself and to help out her family back in Ireland.
Due to a mistaken identity, Clara is sent to be a lady’s maid to the wealthy Mrs. Carnegie. Through her wit and observation, Clara manages to fit into the job that was above her qualifications and win over Mrs Carnegie, who had a reputation for not liking any of the previous girls who were sent to work for her..

While working for Mrs. Carnegie, Clara develops a friendship/romance with Andrew Carnegie and through him, she is able to put herself in a better financial position in order to help her family. Even though the two became close, it seemed that spark never developed between them that would have been enough to keep them together in the face of adversity.

Readers who enjoyed Downton Abbey, The Address by Fiona Davis and similar novels will most likely enjoy Carnegie’s Maid. I didn’t really know much about the Carnegie’s and reading this novel prompted me to learn more about the family.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me an advance copy to read and give my honest review.