Mistress of Nothing

This book starts in England (mid-19th century) and is the story of a Lady's maid servant. We quickly learn in the story that the Lady is often sick with a cough. My mom could tell you historically what this probably was, but the author does not share. This has allowed the maid servant to go all over the world with her as she seeks warmer climates.

The adventure in this book is in Egypt - where Sally has always wanted to travel.

The author does a great job in describing how Egypt looks through Sally's eyes. Both the land and it's cultures. I was happy with Sally, sad with Sally and scared with Sally. The book is full of love and heartache. You really feel for Lady Duff Gordon as she misses her children and her husband and as she finds herself as a member of a male society.

But for some reason - I don't want to recommend this book. Maybe because at first I really thought it would be a book my mother enjoy - and by the end I knew it wouldn't be? Maybe because the story left me hanging. It didn't wrap it up and tie a pretty bow. And maybe because I wanted more history - a story I could really believe and not just be like, "I wonder if this is really how that happened?" By the way - Lady Duff Gordon is a real person. It is known that she traveled to Egypt with a maid, but that is all.

If Egypt or hierarchical societies interest you - check this book out!

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