Book info

• Title Below Stairs
• Author Margaret Powell
• Year 1968
• Genre Memoir

Arriving at the great houses of 1920s London, fifteen-year-old Margaret's life in service was about to begin… As a kitchen maid – the lowest of the low – she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and even bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids' curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlourmaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew, Margaret's tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation.

Thoughts

This was a super quick read that I picked up in one of the Kindle sales. It’s so interesting to read how someone really feels in domestic service, because from a distance it sounds like an awful job. And Margaret does admit to being bitter about the experience, but she also highlights the good parts as well - as few as they may be.

What’s most fascinating is a) the variation in how domestic staff are treated in different houses, some as equals and others as less than nothing, and b) the gradual change in circumstances due to the war and enforced poverty that came with it.

A good read, interesting and eye-opening throughout.

Rating: 3 / 5