∎ Read Gratis The Mistress Of Nothing katepullinger 9781846687099 Books

The Mistress Of Nothing katepullinger 9781846687099 Books

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The Mistress Of Nothing katepullinger 9781846687099 Books

Historical fiction has a long tradition of using fiction to fill in the gaps. As a lover of Historical fiction I am happy to engage in this imagining. However, I was uncomfortable and annoyed at times with the fictional, one sided version of Lucie Duff Gordon. In real life, as in the book, Gordon was an adventurer and respected writer. Her Letters From Egypt remain popular reading. Pullinger makes Gordon out to be cruel and vindictive with Sally her trusted companion. Perhaps I romanticize the real Lucie Duff Gordon, but I think that any woman suffering from tuberculosis who would travel abroad in the early 1900's, away from family and friends and who would write about her adventures in order to fund her health needs is deserving of greater literary care. Why imagine Gordon in this polarized way? I can imagine, reading Gordon's Letters that she was a woman of strong, sometimes unfortunate opinions. But I sense that she was also very intelligent and capable of being emotionally gracious. If a writer is going to play fast and free with the facts about a person's life I hope that she would aim for some kind of balance.


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The Mistress Of Nothing katepullinger 9781846687099 Books Reviews

It mostly took place in Egypt and was so repetitious on the journeys they took and the sights they saw. You knew what was going to happen early on. Because it was based on a true story it was an interesting portrayal of someone not so famous.
What a delightful book. I bought it for my granddaughter who lives in Cairo but I'm reading it first! It is a delight andI recommend it to anyone whether they have an interest in Egypt or not!
asked me to write this review, and it's been a few months since I read the book, so I've forgotten details. I did enjoy it so much that I bought another copy to send to my cousin. I love the historical fiction genre, and this story did not disappoint. I had not previously ever heard of the Victorian-age (I believe) writer (whose name I cannot now recall!) who traveled extensively through Egypt (because of the warm dry climate) with tremendous vigor for life and respect for the different culture while trying to conquer tuberculosous. The novel, though, wasn't mainly about her. It was about her slightly historically documented Lady's Maid, filling in details and blanks about how she (Jane) lived her spinsterly life, and came to discover a real life for herself in Egypt. If I go into what happens to Jane, and her Lady's unexpected reaction, it will give away too much of the plot. The transition from proper British ladies (aristocratic and working class mentality) to blending into the Egyptian culture was gradual and believable. The character studies were absorbing, but the plot always surged gently ahead, just like the Nile River they often sailed upon. It was never formulaic, which I also appreciate in a good novel, and the ending was open and satisfying. I remember that after reading it, I looked up the famous writer character in Wikipedia, and found quite a bit of biograhphical information that jived with the novel (her letters became the basis for a popular travelog novel ofthe time<); the Lady's maid, Jane, who you will empathize with trememendously, received only a footnote in real history. I'd love to read more by this author.
"Mistress of Nothing" is a little bit "Upstairs Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey" moved to Egypt. Based on the memoir of a real person, the book is both a "page turner" and a study of British and Egyptian culture in the 19th Century. It provided good subjects for discussion at my book club including progress in the last 150 years in science, medicine and social relationships while much of human nature has remained the same.
Good story, kept me turning pages to see what happens next. Had no idea it was based on real people. Makes me want to learn more about Sally.
An amazing true story about how the English viewed Egypt early last century walking on antiquities, and homes built with temple walls are two examples. It also is a good love story about an English lady's maid and her love for an Egyptian, which was something frowned upon by both societies. The writer really takes you into the ambience of Egypt and also the heat, the sand, the Nile. Well written book that fills in some historical gaps and has a good love story as well.
I read this for a book group, and was intrigued because of the reputation Lady Duff Gordon had for being an iconoclast. I won't summarize the book, because you can read the description and get that from other reviews — suffice it to say that it's an interesting enough read, if you're interested in stories about status-obsessed, self-absorbed English aristocrats who "explore" other lands and cultures, and the collateral damage they cause in the process. From a historical point of view, it was informative enough. The plot moved along nicely until the end, where it seemed to hit a wall, as if the author needed to wrap the thing up quickly. I felt like it left the reader hanging. The characterization of Lady Duff herself was less three-dimensional than I'd have liked, probably because of the voice the author chose to use, that of the maid. It's a quick read for those interested in historical fiction, but it's not something I'd recommend across the board.
Historical fiction has a long tradition of using fiction to fill in the gaps. As a lover of Historical fiction I am happy to engage in this imagining. However, I was uncomfortable and annoyed at times with the fictional, one sided version of Lucie Duff Gordon. In real life, as in the book, Gordon was an adventurer and respected writer. Her Letters From Egypt remain popular reading. Pullinger makes Gordon out to be cruel and vindictive with Sally her trusted companion. Perhaps I romanticize the real Lucie Duff Gordon, but I think that any woman suffering from tuberculosis who would travel abroad in the early 1900's, away from family and friends and who would write about her adventures in order to fund her health needs is deserving of greater literary care. Why imagine Gordon in this polarized way? I can imagine, reading Gordon's Letters that she was a woman of strong, sometimes unfortunate opinions. But I sense that she was also very intelligent and capable of being emotionally gracious. If a writer is going to play fast and free with the facts about a person's life I hope that she would aim for some kind of balance.