March 2013 Free Book!
Our March Free Book is a fantastic novel set in the late 1800s: THE DILEMMA OF CHARLOTTE FARROW by Olivia Newport.
From the back cover: “While the rest of Chicago focuses on the enormous spectacle of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Charlotte Farrow’s attentions are entirely on one small boy – her boy – whom she has kept a secret from her wealthy employers for nearly a year.”
When the woman who has been caring for her son abruptly returns him to the opulent Banning home, Charlotte must decide whether to tell the Bannings the boy is her son and face dismissal or keep her secret while the Bannings decide the child’s fate.
“This compelling story of courage, strength, and tender romance captures the tension between the glittering wealthy class and the hardworking servants who made their lives comfortable.”
Our give-away copy is a new trade paperback. To qualify for our Wednesday, March 13 drawing, please answer this question:
If you had to work as a servant for a very wealthy family in the 1800s, what job would you prefer? Maid, cook, butler, gardener, laundress, seamstress, nanny, tutor, farrier, coachman, housekeeper, music teacher, or ??
I would have been the music teacher. Music you learn as a child stays with you forever.
I love this idea, Ellen. What a wonderful way to teach children, not only to read but to grow spiritually.
In the early days children were quite often taught to read from the bible. So the thing I would have liked to do the best would have been to tutor the child in learning , especially reading from the bible.
Cook would probably be high on my list, too, but like you, I’d love to work with horses. Things were so different then, weren’t they!
I love the question! Since a woman would not have been a farrier or coachman or gardener – I prefer being outside and/or with horses, obviously – I’d settle for the cook. The cook had a high standing amongst the lower class…plus I enjoy cooking. 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
I would have to pick gardener , as I love to be outside watching the birds & checking on my plants early in morning & at dusk during our very hot summer months.
I Would have to say a nanny. What a joy to take care of precious children.
I would like to have been a tutor.
I’d like to be the gardener. Lots of beautifully maintained flowers, bushes with garden decor. suitable to the time period.
I would have liked to have been a piano teacher or riding instructor