A little cliche, but The Mistress of Nothing is quite something. Dealing with the class distinctions of Victorian England, its a very insightful look at British peers and their relationship and expectations of their servants. Lady Duff Gordon and her maid, Sally, travel to Egypt hoping to cure Lady Duff's tuberculosis. There they find a magical and mystical rhythm to life. Their relationship changes and shifts to include the manservant, Omar. When Sally and Omar become lovers, my Lady is unable to cope with the shifts in the rules. Would make an excellent book club title.

This book was a decent read. I think a sad story about a very sick lady whose perception of right and wrong were shaped by her grave sickness. An insightful book about coverting what one can not have and making those who have - thru no fault of their own, pay a huge price. Makes one think that loyalty and love are quite conditional at times.

Wow. I really don't like books like this, but this one kept me hooked. It was really engaging up to the ending. I hate the ending. I had lots of respect for Sally until what happened with Omar and Abdullah. I would recommend it to anyone who can read this style of writing,

If you like Downton Abbey, you will probably enjoy this book. Add a touch of Egypt and you have a good read.

an interesting story loosely based in fact about a lady's maid (Lady Duff Gordon) who travels to Egypt to care for her mistress. There she not only falls in love with the country, but will the manservant hired to take care of the two women. As will happen, someone gets pregnant and the lady is not impressed - using her authority to banish the maid. Alone in Egypt the maid tries her best to survive and care for herself and her child. The ending is a little weak. A good quick read. Not too heavy. Interesting characters. Certainly the lady's attitude to unwed pregnancy is nothing compared to today's beliefs.

A great read. If you enjoy historical fiction this is well worth picking up. It is based (loosely) on a true story which makes it all the more fascinating to me.

Recommended as a book to read if you loved THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett. The only connection I see is that this novel is told from the perspective of the lady's maid. An enjoyable read, though, with an interesting look into Egypt of the late 1800s.

Jo Saul says if you liked The Help by Kathryn Stockett, you'll love The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger

This historical-novel was reviewed on CBC Radio Vancouver's "The Next Chapter" program hosted by Shelagh Rogers on November 19, 2011. The audio file is available at the program's web site.

I highly recommend this book! 5 Stars