Based on Lucie Duff Gordon's "Letters from Egypt", this is a lushly evocative period novel. Lady Duff Gordon is the toast of Victorian London. But when her debilitating tuberculosis means exile, she and her devoted lady's maid, Sally, set sail for Egypt. It is Sally who describes, with a mixture of wonder and trepidation, the odd menage marshalled by the resourceful Omar, which travels down the Nile to a new life in Luxor. As Lady Duff Gordon undoes her stays and takes to native dress, throwing herself into weekly salons; language lessons; excursions to the tombs; Sally too adapts to a new world, affording her heady and heartfelt freedoms never known before. But freedom is a luxury that a maid can ill-afford, and when Sally grasps more than her status entitles her to, she is brutally reminded that she is mistress of nothing.
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"'Absorbing, intimate, a subtle observation of the play of power and love' - Lisa Appignanesi 'The Mistress of Nothing serves up spicy passion and romance and biting social comment in one delicious dish.' - Anthony Sattin, travel writer and journalist 'Scorchingly powerful' - Good Housekeeping 'This is a fascinating, intelligent novel, exploring the snobbery upon which the sun never sets.' - Kate Saunders, The Times"
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From the Publisher
Winner of the 2009 Governor General's Literary Award for English language fiction.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs. Q: Book Addict
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Title: The Mistress of Nothing
Author: Kate Pullinger
Publisher: McArthur & Company
Pages: 248
Source: Publisher
'The Mistress of Nothing' was a riveting tale. Sally's parents died when she was young. Sally's aunt was unable or chose not to care for her and sent her to work. Both she and her sister began working as maid's for well to do women. Sally eventually begins working for Lady Duff Gordon. When Lady Duff Gordon is stricken with tuberculosis she is exiled to Egypt . Accompanying her is Sally. Lady Duff Gordon is hoping the dryer, warmer weather will be favourable in her condition making it easier to breath and prolonging her life. The story takes place mostly in Egypt, and a new life begins for both Sally and Lady Duff Gordon.
Sally sees herself as a spinster, although she doesn't know when this happened. She is now thirty and not married. She is devoted to Lady Duff Gordon and believes that she will always be her protector. Eventually, Lady Duff Gordon and Sally are forced to unfasten their constricted english clothing and settle for lighter, cooler Egyptian clothing. The two of them become accustomed to life in Egypt, adapting to the lifestyles and language. Omar is hired to help the ladies, and teach the ways of life in Egypt. Sally falls in love with married Omar and becomes pregnant. Sally is sure that Lady Duff Gordon will continue to protect her, since she has helped many in her situation before. Omar has decided he will marry Sally, as Egyptian law will allow him two wives. Fellow Egyptians are not scandalized, they are accepting of Sally. What happens next is not expected. Lady Duff Gordon is appalled by Sally's actions. She wants nothing to do with her, does not want to see her and has vowed to send her back to England and send her child to live with Omar's first and true wife.
I was engrossed in this riveting historical novel. As always historical novels make me curious, and I will do a little more research on Lady Duff Gordon. The story did not end how I wanted it to, but that does not make it less of a novel. The writing is astounding. The story picks up pace around the second half. I mostly read it in one day, I could not put it down. Highly recommended! The Governor General award is well deserved and justified in my opinion.
*I missed the bus because I was so engrossed in this novel.
Author: Kate Pullinger
Publisher: McArthur & Company
Pages: 248
Source: Publisher
'The Mistress of Nothing' was a riveting tale. Sally's parents died when she was young. Sally's aunt was unable or chose not to care for her and sent her to work. Both she and her sister began working as maid's for well to do women. Sally eventually begins working for Lady Duff Gordon. When Lady Duff Gordon is stricken with tuberculosis she is exiled to Egypt . Accompanying her is Sally. Lady Duff Gordon is hoping the dryer, warmer weather will be favourable in her condition making it easier to breath and prolonging her life. The story takes place mostly in Egypt, and a new life begins for both Sally and Lady Duff Gordon.
Sally sees herself as a spinster, although she doesn't know when this happened. She is now thirty and not married. She is devoted to Lady Duff Gordon and believes that she will always be her protector. Eventually, Lady Duff Gordon and Sally are forced to unfasten their constricted english clothing and settle for lighter, cooler Egyptian clothing. The two of them become accustomed to life in Egypt, adapting to the lifestyles and language. Omar is hired to help the ladies, and teach the ways of life in Egypt. Sally falls in love with married Omar and becomes pregnant. Sally is sure that Lady Duff Gordon will continue to protect her, since she has helped many in her situation before. Omar has decided he will marry Sally, as Egyptian law will allow him two wives. Fellow Egyptians are not scandalized, they are accepting of Sally. What happens next is not expected. Lady Duff Gordon is appalled by Sally's actions. She wants nothing to do with her, does not want to see her and has vowed to send her back to England and send her child to live with Omar's first and true wife.
I was engrossed in this riveting historical novel. As always historical novels make me curious, and I will do a little more research on Lady Duff Gordon. The story did not end how I wanted it to, but that does not make it less of a novel. The writing is astounding. The story picks up pace around the second half. I mostly read it in one day, I could not put it down. Highly recommended! The Governor General award is well deserved and justified in my opinion.
*I missed the bus because I was so engrossed in this novel.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Andrea
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
In 1865, Lady Lucie Duff Gordon's Letters From Egypt were published, telling of her experiences as well-respected English woman forced to relocate to a warmer climate in order to survive tuberculosis. In her letters, she mentions Sally, her lady's maid, but gives very little information about her. With this novel, Kate Pullinger attempts to fill that gap and tell Sally's story.
The story is well written; I really liked Pullinger's sparse style. The premise was interesting and I loved the way Sally's first view of Egypt from their boat was described. Her sense of awe and her joy were conveyed perfectly. I also really enjoyed all of the details of Egyptian life.
A couple of elements made the book unsatisfying, despite the good writing. First, the love story between Sally and Omar seemed unrealistic. There wasn't any build-up leading to it, it just happened and even though Sally is aware that Omar is already married, that fact never really comes into play until very late in the story. That left me wondering the entire time, 'But what about...?' In addition, Lady Duff Gordon's reaction to Sally and Omar's relationship seems very inconsistent with the way her character was developed throughout the novel and is never explained. In the end, I was left with more questions than any resolutions to the story.
The story is well written; I really liked Pullinger's sparse style. The premise was interesting and I loved the way Sally's first view of Egypt from their boat was described. Her sense of awe and her joy were conveyed perfectly. I also really enjoyed all of the details of Egyptian life.
A couple of elements made the book unsatisfying, despite the good writing. First, the love story between Sally and Omar seemed unrealistic. There wasn't any build-up leading to it, it just happened and even though Sally is aware that Omar is already married, that fact never really comes into play until very late in the story. That left me wondering the entire time, 'But what about...?' In addition, Lady Duff Gordon's reaction to Sally and Omar's relationship seems very inconsistent with the way her character was developed throughout the novel and is never explained. In the end, I was left with more questions than any resolutions to the story.
By Karen Mudge
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book was picked for our Book club for March so we haven't discussed it yet. I finished it just a few days ago. I found the first section very slow and I didn't think I would like. However it went much quicker and I really enjoyed it. the Character of Sally was very strong and i could see that she would succeed. The character of my lady was typical of thr era but I didn't like her. I know she was dying of tuberculous probably and I know she was kind to some people. However I think her treatment of Sally was terrible and that is when Istarted to dislike her'.
Was the epidemic they faced Cholera?
Was the epidemic they faced Cholera?
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Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
More Bookish Thoughts...
I admit that the premise of the 2009 Governor General's Award for fiction didn't exactly excite me: Lady Duff-Gordon, a passionate intellectual suffering from tuberculosis, moves... Read more
Published on May 30 2011 by Reader Writer Runner
4.0 out of 5 stars
An exotic and suspenseful Victorian era romance
Lady Duff Gordon is the toast of Victorian London society. But when her debilitating tuberculosis means exile, she and her devoted lady's maid, Sally, set sail for Egypt. Read more
Published on Mar 8 2011 by Great Historicals
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poorly written, trashy, irritating...
Those are just a few of the adjectives that immediately come to mind. As a Canadian, I am shocked and embarrassed that this book won the Governor General's award. Read more
Published on Aug 14 2010 by Mlle Fantine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Through the Looking Glass of History
Canadian novelist Kate Pullinger has written a real winner of a novel in her latest creation, "The Mistress of Nothing". Read more
Published on July 23 2010 by Ian Gordon Malcomson
4.0 out of 5 stars
I liked this
For me, it was more than just a story - there was a real history here describing what life was actually like at the turn of the century.
Published on July 13 2010 by MS JUDI ROY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully Written
I loved this book and hated for it to end! The language and descriptions of Sally's life in England and in Egypt are beautifully written. Read more
Published on May 11 2010 by Katydid
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