Carnegie's Maid (Thorndike Press Large Print Core)

by Marie Benedict

Large Print, 2018

Publication

Thorndike Press Large Print (2018), Edition: Large Print, 453 pages

Collection

Highlands

Call number

Large Print Fiction B

Physical description

453 p.; 5.6 inches

Status

Available

Call number

Large Print Fiction B

Description

Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:From the author of The Other Einstein, the mesmerizing tale of what kind of woman could have inspired an American dynasty. Clara Kelley is not who they think she is. She's not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. She's a poor farmer's daughter with nowhere to go and nothing in her pockets. But the other woman with the same name has vanished, and pretending to be her just might get Clara some money to send back home. If she can keep up the ruse, that is. Serving as a lady's maid in the household of Andrew Carnegie requires skills he doesn't have, answering to an icy mistress who rules her sons and her domain with an iron fist. What Clara does have is a resolve as strong as the steel Pittsburgh is becoming famous for, coupled with an uncanny understanding of business, and Andrew begins to rely on her. But Clara can't let her guard down, not even when Andrew becomes something more than an employer. Revealing her past might ruin her future �?? and her family's. With captivating insight and heart, Carnegie's Maid tells the story of one brilliant woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropi… (more)

Genres

User reviews

LibraryThing member riofriotex

Speculative historical fiction on why the 19th century multimillionaire Andrew Carnegie may have become a philanthropist. Author Marie Benedict's Irish ancestors worked as domestics and used the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, and a similar mistaken identity story supposedly happened to one of her

ancestors. In research, Benedict used newspaper ads of immigrants searching for lost family who came before them, and was able to access materials and see areas where domestics lived and worked in the Frick Pittsburgh, "a perfectly preserved late nineteenth-century house museum of Andrew Carnegie's colleague Henry Clay Frick" (p. 280). The book ranges from November 4, 1863 - the completely fictional Clara Kelley's arrival at the port in Philadelphia - to the prologue of December 23, 1868, when "at the age of thirty-three, he [Carnegie] wrote a letter to himself pledging to focus on the education and 'improvement of the poorer classes'" (p. 273), which supposedly his love and interactions with Clara inspired, according to this story. The epilogue takes place October 14, 1900, when Clara, who has become a nurse, takes a young relative to the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh.

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LibraryThing member sraelling

As the kitchen cook said, "It never ends well for the servant."

This is an idealized story about Andrew Carnegie and his purported love interest, Clara Kelley (Carnegie's mother's maid.) If it was a woman who encouraged him to become the philanthropist who created an opportunity to everyone to

improve their lot in life, OK. But it is a bit far-fetched.

Including: Going to the opera? Her education in Ireland? Free time that allowed her to meet often with Andrew? Her innate business acuity? Her luck!

The story did highlight the differences between the "haves" and the "have-nots," those who were able to live in healthy surroundings and those who lived in squalor, the relationships between the servants (all positions of servitude are not created equal), even the upper class have their ways of keeping the "wannabes" out.

While Clara's marriage to Andrew didn't work out, she still had a better future than Mrs. Carnegie thought she deserved.

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LibraryThing member Loried

I was pleased to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of Carnegie’s Maid. I hadn’t known much about Carnegie, and I found this book very informative about him as well as life for both immigrants and the wealthy during the time period of the book. It was told from the point of view of an

Irish immigrant maid which was a great vehicle to convey the story. I also appreciated that unlike most novels of this type (including Benedict’s previous book about Einstein’s wife), I wasn’t disillusioned about the “celebrity” after reading the book.

I think the author did an excellent job demonstrating what life was like both in the US and Ireland in the 1860s for people in all walks of life. The novelization made it a very pleasant and easy way to learn history. I recommend this book and think it would be a good choice for book discussion groups.

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LibraryThing member fredreeca

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.

Check out my post about the author’s other book The Other Einstein.

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

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LibraryThing member teachlz

My Review of “Carnegie’s Maid” by Marie Benedict

I enjoyed reading “Carnegie’s Maid” by Marie Benedict. The Genres for this story are Historical Fiction and Fiction. I appreciate the way that Marie Benedict weaves the fictional and historical components of this story together, as in a

marriage. The timeline for this story takes place in the 1860’s. The contrast between the have and have-nots, and the rich and poor is evident. The hardships on Immigrants as they entered the United States is shown, as well as the newly freed slaves and their problems.

The author describes her characters as complicated and complex. Some are ambitious for power, and wealth. Others are ambitious to survive. Clara Kelly, a young Irish immigrant arrives after a long dangerous voyage, where other immigrants died. A woman calls her name, and Clara Kelly answers, finally realizing that it is another Clara Kelly the woman is seeking. Clara goes with her and finds herself in the employment of the prominent Carnegie family, and becomes Mrs. Carnegie’s personal maid. Clara sends whatever funds she has home to Ireland to her desperate family.

Clara is fascinated by books, and meets Andrew Carnegie, who appreciates her literary tastes. Andrew gets to look forward to discussing literature with Clara. The two are attracted to one another, but being from different classes, Clara is very cautious. As Clara sees how ruthless and successful Andrew can be in business, she becomes aware of the people who have lost their jobs because of his financial dealings.

Somehow, the author describes that Andrew Carnegie becoming a famous Philanthropist, paving the way for free libraries, and education, from possibly Clara’s influence. I would recommend this novel to readers of Historical Fiction. I received an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

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LibraryThing member SilversReviews

Clara Kelley needed to help her family financially since their 20-acre farm in Ireland was slowly being sold to pay their bills.

The best place her father thought she could be of help was in America. Since she was educated and not really suited to be a farmer's wife, off to America she went in

search of work, but she was not sure why it was to be in servitude.

Clara made it across the ocean and into the household of the Carnegie family in Pittsburgh. She became the lady's maid for Mrs. Carnegie.

While there, Mrs. Carnegie's son, Andrew, became enamored with Clara because of her intelligence and love of reading. They always talked about books and having a library that is free to the public and the working man.

CARNEGIE'S MAID takes us through the everyday life of Andrew Carnegie, his brother, Tom, and their mother as they build their fortune. Andrew Carnegie was very philanthropic in his latter years.

This was the first book I have read by Ms. Benedict. Ms. Benedict has a beautiful, pull-you-in writing style. I enjoyed her prologue explaining why she wanted to write about the Carnegies.

CARNEGIE'S MAID flowed smoothly and had perfect detail. I live in Pittsburgh and enjoyed hearing the names of towns and streets.

CARNEGIE'S MAID kept me interested and engaged in the story line. It was an excellent read even though the maid Andrew fell in love with and the woman who influenced him is fictitious.

A thoroughly enjoyable book for historical fiction fans and those who want to learn about Andrew Carnegie. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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LibraryThing member JanJanFreeman

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.

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LibraryThing member leopolds

Clara Kelley leaves for America seeking employment to help her family in Ireland. She hopes that she will earn enough to keep her family from losing their farm. Her journey by ship was tough and many fell ill and died on the voyage. When she arrives at the dock she hears her name being called by a

gentleman seeking a different Clara Kelley. Deciding to take a risk, she follows him to Pittsburgh to take a job as a lady’s maid.

Clara finds herself working in the home of the Carnegie family. She has no training or experience about the responsibilities of a lady’s maid. She learns her role quickly and becomes indispensable to Mrs. Carnegie. She keeps her true identity a secret and one day catches the eye of her employer’s son. He becomes interested in her advice and eventually, a romance starts to form.

I enjoyed Marie Benedict’s first novel, The Other Einstein, so I could not wait to read this book. This was an engaging historical fiction novel about individuals whose lives are dictated by social classes.

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LibraryThing member theeclecticreview

"He had vowed to her that he would carve out a different path from those materialistic industrialists and society folk, and he would keep that vow, even though she was gone."

Clara Kelley is in America as a source of income to help her family in Ireland. Expecting to work in the textile mills or as

a domestic when she arrives, fate (in the form of a misunderstanding) changes her path to become a lady's maid for the matriarch of one of the wealthiest families in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An occupation she knows nothing about, but fortunately, Clara is intuitive and intelligent and learns as she goes without anyone catching on.

Then Clara meets Andrew Carnegie, steel tycoon, eldest and favored son of her mistress. His intellect and charm are attractive, but his ruthlessness and elitist ideals are not. However, Clara's sense of justice and hunger for knowledge about his business change Mr. Carnegie for the better. Is Clara the catalyst for his philanthropy endeavors?

See my complete review at The Eclectic Review

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LibraryThing member kimkimkim

Marie Benedict has woven a tale, circa 1860, around the flight of Clara Kelly from Ireland to the United States. The family’s land holdings in Ireland have become tenuous due to her father’s political position and therefore the family’s financial security is in jeopardy. Ireland is in deep

depression with famine rampant and jobs elusive. The fare has been saved to send Clara to the United States where it is hoped she will secure employment and earn the funds necessary to help support her family.

The story revolves around Clara Kelly, Andrew Carnegie, his mother and the social condition of Pittsburgh. Carnegie is drawn in equal parts as likeable, disagreeable, generous, moody, socially aware, and successful with his business superiors willing to take the risks that walk the line of “not quite illegal”. His mother is painted as socially insecure, over protective and controlling, all qualities that drive the reader to embrace Clara’s dilemma. A hint of the ultimate consequence was set forth clearly at the onset and while acknowledging that Clara is in an untenable position it is unfortunate that the author became so repetitive. The cook’s warning to Clara that servants never come out on top was the “tell” of what was in the offing. The social commentary regarding the day-to-day life of the mill and steel workers in Pittsburgh and those in house service was informative and important.

The story was reminiscent of Susan Meissner’s style although not as impressively written. A solid 3-1/2 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC.

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LibraryThing member thewanderingjew

Carnegie’s Maid, Marie Benedict, author; Alana Kerr Collins, narrator
This is the fictional story of Andrew Carnegie and Clara Kelley. When Clara disembarked from the ship taking her to America, as a stranger, with no one to meet her, she was shocked to hear her name called. She was further

astounded to discover that there was an opportunity awaiting her as a lady’s maid, to Mrs. Margaret Carnegie, if she assumed the identity of another Clara Kelley, who had also been on board her ship. That poor young woman had died in an accident during the crossing. She shrewdly assumed the identity of that young woman, and although she had no experience or knowledge of the job being offered, and although she had no possessions except for her rucksack, she approached the well dressed stranger who was calling out her name. When he enquired about her luggage, she was quick witted and said it had been lost at sea. First and foremost, our Clara was loyal to her family and getting a job was paramount. She was in America to ensure their survival. So, from the outset, she was embroiled in a lie she had to perpetuate. It would eventually be her undoing, but her family’s salvation.
The Carnegies, almost destitute, had come from Scotland to America. Andrew, a quick study, educated himself and had managed to keep his family’s heads above water with hard work and dedication. Eventually, their wealth grew, and they entered the upper class. In the magnificent Carnegie home, Clara and Andrew became good friends, and she seemed to become his muse, after a fashion, inspiring and encouraging his business ventures with her own brilliant ideas. Although their relationship grew deeper, it was kept secret to preserve her position with his mother so she could continue to support her family. Her first responsibility remained her family, and she would not jeopardize her livelihood which was so necessary for their day to day existence.
The historic story of Carnegie’s rise in the world of business, his great philanthropy and his enormous wealth is non-fiction and was very interesting, but I found the romance between Andrew and Clara lacking in credibility. The entire relationship between Clara and Andrew took place over approximately four years. Her behavior and his, stretched beyond the realm of believability for me. She seemed out of character for a young lady without formal education, who was from the servant class. In spite of her meager background, she was somehow able to insert herself into the Carnegie home, educate herself, practically overnight, about her responsibilities as a maid, care for Mrs. Carnegie as no other lady’s maid had been able to prior, and then was also the genius behind Andrew Carnegie’s business ventures, future success and acts of kindness.
Although Andrew married rather late in life, probably became the richest man in the world, even when compared to the rich of today, although he was a philanthropist of the highest order, I could not imagine such an unrequited romance being the reason. However, the factual information about Carnegie’s rise in the business world and the tales illuminating the dire conditions that had existed in Ireland coupled with the extreme poverty of the immigrants when they arrived in America, only to be subjected to further hardship, was very informative.
The narrator did a wonderful job reading the novel, interpreting each character with authenticity. The author’s prose was outstanding and put the reader into the time and place of the novel. Although the fictional tale was unsatisfactory for me, the history was very interesting and the author’s ability to put magic into the words on the page made it a very good read.

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LibraryThing member veeshee

This was a very interesting take on what made Andrew Carnegie the philanthropist he is known as today. I like the idea that Clara Kelly, a maid desperate to help her family survive, was able to influence Andrew Carnegie. However, I don't think it was portrayed in a believable manner.

For one thing,

Clara has no real knowledge of business. Now, that doesn't mean she can't come up with any original ideas. However, I wasn't as pleased with the way this came about. I wanted a little more time to see Clara grow in her expertise, or to show her shrewd mind. I didn't see that ability in her and so, it was hard for me to imagine that she was able to come up with the creative ideas that she did.

I also found Clara to be a lot more bland than I would have liked. I wanted some spunk and some tenacity in her. It made it hard to connect with her as a reader. However, the other characters were portrayed beautifully. I especially loved Mrs. Carnegie, Andrew Carnegie's mother. She was very shrewd and her moments of social ineptitude were endearing. In fact, I would have loved to hear the story from her perspective, and see from her eyes as all her hard work is reflected through the success of her son.

I really liked the way that the author set up the historic scene, including the style of fashion and the different levels of decorum that are displayed at various levels of the social hierarchy. However, I wish the language had been simpler. What I mean is that certain sentence structures seemed awkward and could have been worded in a simpler and more effective way; I don't like to have to reread sentences multiple times in order to understand an inconsequential detail.

Overall, I actually quite liked this historical fiction story. I liked learning more about the empire that Andrew Carnegie was trying to build, and I liked the idea that a simple maid could have influenced him so much. However, I wish that Clara had been a stronger character because her pivotal role seemed quite forced. In fact, I would have preferred to see the story from Mrs. Carnegie's perspective over hers! I'm going to give this novel a 2.5/5 stars (rounded to 3), but I look forward to reading more by this author!

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LibraryThing member nivramkoorb

This is the 2nd book I have read by Marie Benedict(disclaimer, her sister is my next door neighbor). Both this novel and "The Other Einstein" deal with strong women dealing with the problems of being a woman in a man's world in the late 19th century. I found the depiction of life in Pittsburgh in

1863-68 very interesting and educational. Benedict does a good job of showing how difficult the world was for immigrants and the large gap between the rich and the poor. Although the story of Clara Kellely an Irish immigrant who assumes the role of a lady's maid to Margaret Carnegie(Andrews mother) through a case of mistaken identity was a leap of faith to accept, the overall depiction of life in that time seemed accurate and kept my interest. The story is fictional but it does give us insight into what may have driven Andrew Carnegie to become one of the greatest philanthropists in our countries history. This was an uplifting story and a good way to to explore history.

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LibraryThing member tamidale

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.

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LibraryThing member BookConcierge

Book on CD narrated by Alana Kerr Collins

Irish immigrant Clara Kelly comes to America in hopes of finding employment so that she can send money home to her impoverished family. She winds up as a lady’s maid to Mrs Carnegie, Andrew Carnegie’s mother, in the family’s Pittsburgh mansion. Mrs

Carnegie has a reputation for being an exacting mistress, and for showing dissatisfaction by firing her previous lady’s maids nearly on a whim. Clara has to use her wits and education to keep this job in order to save her family from starvation, while trying her best to learn all she can so that she can better herself.

I was intrigued by the story and quickly caught up in the tale of this intelligent, resourceful, determined and diligent young lady. I saw the potential relationship with Andrew Carnegie coming a mile off; no surprise, really as it’s pretty much revealed in the prologue. But watching it unfold was still interesting to me, as was the resolution. The Author’s Note at the end was very interesting as well, giving some clue as to the facts that sparked the idea behind the novel.

On the other hand, I did think it was rather repetitious. How many times must Clara comment on her duty to her family? On her need to “keep this job”? On the lack of support / companionship / friendship between herself and the other house staff?

Alana Kerr Collins does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and I had no difficulty keeping the many characters straight.

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LibraryThing member acargile

I loved this novel, however, I was disappointed at the end to learn that the maid didn't really exist in real life. I thought it was researched and true historical fiction. Nonetheless, I loved the book and hope that something like this did, indeed, happen to influence Carnegie!

LibraryThing member Whisper1

This was a pleasant read. I learned a bit about the self-made millionare Andrew Carniege. Clara needs a job as soon as her feet hit the pavement in this strange land called America. Leaving her poor Irish family, she is responsible for finding a position and sending money home. By accident, she

finds a job as the personal maid to Andrew's Mother.

Much of the story focuses on the new rich who want to succeed and know all the social mores of those who made much money before them, and the class system of the new rich and the poor who scramble to find decent employment. Many who arrived in the mid-late 1800's were poverty stricken, looking for a new opportunity, only to find hard labor that paid barely enough to eek out a living.

Clara is intelligent and Andrew Carnegie is draw to her. Theirs is a forbidden friendship.

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LibraryThing member foggidawn

When a case of mistaken identity leads Irish immigrant Clara Kelley to take a position as a lady's maid in the Carnegie household, she finds herself falling in love with the bachelor son of her employer -- none other than the famous businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

I find that I have

problems with historical fiction that takes actual historical figures and makes up parts of their lives. It's strange: something like Hamilton is okay with me, though certainly Lin-Manuel Miranda took plenty of liberties with the historical facts there. And something like the Bloody Jack series is okay with me, because Jacky's encounters with actual historical figures are meant to be over-the-top, and Jacky herself is fictional. But this book irked me a bit. In addition to my issues with the historical shenanigans, I also thought that the writing was poor. The author did a lot of that trick where she shoehorns her research into the text, so that characters are telling each other things they already know in order to impart knowledge to the reader. I also thought it highly unlikely that Clara would be able to fake it 'till she made it as a lady's maid, having had no training. I mean, I'm pretty sure I couldn't accomplish the duties of an 1860's lady's maid if I were suddenly thrown back in time, and it's not like Clara's scullery maid mother could have trained her for the job. I grant that she found a book in the family library that helped her, but she seemed to be doing okay even before then, and I just don't buy it.

That's not to say that the book wasn't enjoyable -- I did make it through the whole thing -- but I probably won't seek out other books by this author. I read this for book club, and I think most of us were pretty ambivalent on it.

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LibraryThing member TheQuietReader

Irish immigrant, Clara Kelley, takes the place of another immigrant who died on the journey across the sea and thus becomes made to Mrs. Carnegie. As Clara finds her footing, she strives to avoid the attention of the oldest Carnegie son.

Clara was a fascinating character to follow. She is aware of

how much her family back in Ireland is depending on her and for awhile she does make a good effort to avoid Andrew's attention. The way she takes on the role of lady's maid without any experience was a little improbable, but life can be stranger than fiction sometimes so maybe its possible something like this could happen.

I don't feel like there was a clear view of Andrew Carnegie. At least, I didn't feel I came to know him at all by the end of the book. His willingness to discuss business with Clara also came a cross as improbable, but I tried to keep in mind this is fiction. Anything is possible in fiction, right?

Plot-wise, the story moves along at a nice pace. The end seemed a bit abrupt and jarring. Overall, I found it an interesting read and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a unique look at a historical figure.

I received a copy from NetGally for reviewing purposes.

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LibraryThing member JenniferElizabeth2

Excellent storytelling and a great story...but the language felt overly simplistic and unengaging. And I didn’t quite believe in Clara’s character; something about her just didn’t ring true to me.

LibraryThing member bell7

Clara Kelley arrives in America from Galway, hoping to secure a job and help her family back in Ireland who has so far managed to keep a large tenancy and not be decimated by the Irish potato famine. When a chance encounter gives her the opportunity, she takes a position as ladies' maid to the

mother of Andrew Carnegie.

Told in diary format, this historical novel uses a fictional maid to explore what might have made Andrew Carnegie, himself a recent immigrant and self-made man, not just a ruthless businessman but also a philanthropist. Diary format is tough to pull off, and I didn't think it worked well for the story, often skipping several months or ending an entry with a question or cliffhanger that wouldn't at all be how one would write an account in a diary. A good readalike for fans of The Daring Ladies of Lowell, but like that title Carnegie's Maid was a bit too light on historical fiction and heavy on relationships for me, personally.

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LibraryThing member beckyhaase

CARNEGIE”S MAID by Marie Benedict
Andrew Carnegie made an about face at some point in his life from a wealth and power obsessed businessman to one of the world’s biggest philanthropists. This book attempts to answer why and how that happened. Although this is a light romance book, it also sheds

light on one of the most important businessmen in this country’s early industrial age.
The glittering world of the VERY wealthy Carnegie’s is contrasted with the plight of the downtrodden working man slaving at hard labor for minimal wages as well as the equally hard working and often ignored servants who made the Cargenie’s life style possible.
This is a quick read that offers food for thought in how people with power exert that power. Book groups can have a discussion that centers on the romance of upstairs/downstairs as well as on the power of wealth and social standing.
4 of 5 stars

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LibraryThing member siri51

Plausible fiction about Andrew Carnegie developing a philanthropic attitude after amassing millions - all due to falling for his mother's maid ("it always ends badly for the servant").

LibraryThing member whitreidtan

If someone is rich, especially rich beyond all imagining, those of us who live on a budget often have many ideas about how they should spend their money. We condemn them for what we view as frivolous or extravagant spending, especially if it is noteworthy enough to be reported on publicly, and

often pair that condemnation with a belief that that money could have been better spent on charity. Underlying that assumption is a value judgement that the wealthy person may or may not have earned. Some wealthy people give a lot to the charities of their choice. Some give little to nothing. Some give right from the moment they earn their first penny, while others amass a fortune before they start to give. Andrew Carnegie was one of the latter type. Known for his intelligence and sometimes ruthless business practices, he was fabulously wealthy before he started using his fortune philanthropically and no one knows what inspired his sudden generosity. In Marie Benedict's historical fiction novel Carnegie's Maid, Benedict has imagined the catalyst for this beneficence on Carnegie's part to be his love for the invented person of Irish immigrant and lady's maid Clara Kelley.

Clara Kelley was sent to the US by her family in search of a job that would allow her to send money home to them, money that might help them save the family farm. She lands in Philadelphia and hopes to make her way to Pittsburgh, where she has family and will look for a job, when she impossibly hears a driver calling her name. He's actually calling for another Clara Kelley, who our Clara Kelley realizes quickly must have died on the boat over and so, without thinking, she assumes the dead woman's identity, lucking into a ride to Pittsburgh and a job as a lady's maid to Andrew Carnegie's mother, a job the farmer's daughter could never have hoped for in the regular scheme of things. As a lady's maid, she is immersed in the opulent house and furnishings, living amidst wealth unimagined. But when she visits her own family near the factories, she sees an entirely different side of the city, the struggle for survival, the grinding poverty unnoticed and unacknowledged by those in the upper echelons of society, the echelons the immigrant Carnegies are so interested in joining. She is bothered by the obvious disparity and the myriad social injustices but she cannot say anything, dependent as her family back in Ireland is on the money she sends home so she keeps her head down, learning her role as lady's maid, keeping track of Carnegie's vast holdings in an effort to understand how he gained his wealth, and using the library in the house to continue the education her quick brain demands. As she encounters Andrew Carnegie more and more often, he cannot miss her intelligence and a proper romance blooms. Will Clara allow her feelings for Carnegie to jeopardize her position and the support her family needs? Or will her loyalty to her family and the impossibility of the class differences win out?

The novel opens with Carnegie drafting a document detailing his goals for using his wealth for the benefit of others rather than for himself as a way to honor the love and beliefs of his Clara before moving back in time to the story of Clara arriving in the US and going to work for the Carnegies. The entire plot here is predicated on something incredibly improbable: not only was there a dead woman with the heroine's same name who was headed to the same city Clara needs to go to but despite Clara's upbringing on a small farm with a mother who was once a lowly scullery maid, she's convincing enough to pretend to be a competent lady's maid until she learns how to actually perform her duties, so the story takes a pretty big suspension of disbelief from the reader right from the get go. Clara also has a pretty immediate and unlikely understanding of certain legal business matters that she shouldn't have, no matter how smart she is. In spite of these coincidences and anomalies, it is interesting to see this lady's maid from the bottom of society spar with Andrew Carnegie, titan of industry, and their conversations serve to draw a fuller picture of his contradictory character. The strong emphasis on libraries and the advantage of having access to books for learning, the way Carnegie himself rose above his working class origins, was definitely interesting. There weren't many characters in the novel, and certainly few that were more than simply mentioned briefly, allowing the focus beyond Clara to be on Andrew Carnegie and his social climbing mother but also likely being historically accurate since lady's maids inhabited a lonely rung in the household structure. Carnegie was an intriguing character here; surprisingly Clara was less so, perhaps because she was rather less believable. Over all, this novel of ideas, a guess at the origin of Carnegie's philanthropy, was a fast, easy, and generally enjoyable read.

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LibraryThing member amillion

I admire Andrew Carnegie's dedication to creating public libraries around the country. These are some of the most beautiful buildings in even small town America. This was a fun, though fictional, easily readable account of why Carnegie may have developed the dedication to making knowledge and books

accessible to everyone - rather than just the wealthy. I'd like to know if more of the business manipulations that are described are true... guess there's more reading to be done. It also has an interesting backstory of the Irish immigrant experience in mid-1800s America.

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