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Polly's Story (2000)

by Jennie Walters(Favorite Author)

3.66 of 5 Votes: 3

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English

genre

Historical Fiction

series

Swallowcliffe Hall

review 1: Jennie Walters HOUSE OF SECRETS reveals the hidden lives of the residents of Swallowcliffe Hall as seen through the eyes of a 14 year old servant girl named Polly Perkins. Similar in some respects to its adult focused predecessors like Upstairs-Downstairs, Ms. Walters has chosen to write this book for a YA audience and has selected a contemporary of that age group as her narrator. Kudos to her for not "writing down" to her teen readers and special applause for telling an authentic story of a servant in the early 1900's without romanticizing the facts. This is instead the observations of a young girl thrown into a harsh and unfamiliar environment struggling to adjust to her circumstances and deal with the demands of her job while learning her place within the household. At ... moreSwallowcliffe there is a definite pecking order, even among the servants, which decides every aspect of life such as friendships, how work is assigned and who is allowed to speak and when (no servant can ever INITIATE a conversation with any family member). Jealousy between the servants is common as are some of the bonds that are formed out of necessity. Most captivating is the story of the alliance that develops between Polly and her fellow servant Iris. It is that bond and the outcome of that friendship that serves as the engine that drives the story.Unlike most books of this genre, this is not a story of a young girl struggling to rise above her station in life, it is instead an authentic look at the life of one girl functioning in one of the jobs available to the British laboring class in the early 20th century, a time when young men and women left home to enter the work force in their early teens in order to ensure their survival and that of their families. Reality is the key in this story and the author has done an excellent job of imparting the atmosphere and circumstances surrounding the working class of the era when hard work and discipline were deemed necessary in building the character of good servants. There are no social welfare programs to provide for basic needs, no medical care at the local emergency room, no homes for unwed mothers, no food stamps or temporary housing. This book is not only a lesson in what was but could serve also as a reality check for the YA's of today who find life difficult to deal with life because they don't have access to a cell phone, the latest computer game or I-Pod. While not a nostalgic trip down memory lane, HOUSE OF SECRETS is by no means depressing. This historically informative and emotionally engaging tale is an easy read that anyone, teen or adult, would find enjoyable. 3 1/2 STARS
review 2: I first read this book, which is the first in the Swallowcliffe Hall trilogy about 2 years ago when I was researching Victorian servants and it has remained one of my favourite books since. Polly, who is 14 when she first walks through the imposing gates of Swallowcliffe Hall to become under-housemaid, having left home to help support her younger siblings and mother because their father was drowned at sea. As it is 1890, the fashion for extravagant entertaining has reached is peak and fancy guests are always arriving for dinner parties, while the servants scurry around catering for their every need. After having worked at the village vicar's house, Polly expects the hard work but not the spiteful tricks, accusations and other hardships that she has to endure. At first she is pleasantly surprised and in awe of the grand house, which the other servants find rather amusing. However, slowly, she gets used to the work and makes friends, especially with the beautiful 'butter haired' parlour maid Iris and others that she is not supposed to speak with.Told through Polly's point of view, her story enthralled me as her unique voice lifted off the page and she soon became very real in my mind and I imagined how I would feel in her place as she is only a year older. Her voice was very informal and chatty and the way she described the details of her new life at the Hall was very lively and not at all like a dull historical account. The opening of the book was very strong and got straight to the point and the action in the story, as Jenny Walters says on the book's website that she cut most of the first chapter out in order to achieve this effect of 'drawing in.' I love it so much that I am going to include the first few paragraphs in this post below:'I stood on the doorstep to the grand house, my heart thumping so hard that it was fit to jump out of my chest, raised the knocker and brought it down with a clap that echoed round the empty courtyard. A couple of pigeons pecking at crumbs fluttered up into the air, such a great noise in that quiet place startled me,too, though I had made it myself. For two pins I would have taken up my basket and ran all the way home, but there could be no turning back: the new year had begun and with it, a new life for me. I had arrived to start work as under housemaid at Swallowcliffe Hall- if only someone would let me in.' Characters- The characters were all very authentic with natural flaws to their personality and I loved the range of characters in the book from Miss Harriet (the youngest daughter of the Vye family who live at Swallowcliffe Hall) who doesn't want to be lady like and sew but instead to be free to the stern on the outside but ind hearted Housekeeper. Polly was very easy to relate to as she was just a 'normal girl' who goes through things that girls today of her age can relate to such as growing up, developing friendships and falling in love for the first time. Historical description- Through the experiences that Polly has and her description I learnt a lot about life as a Victorian servant and the world 'below stairs' that I had not discovered in research. In reading it, you will find about social hierarchy, Victorian manners and decorum, households and methods of house-keeping, the roles of servants, workhouses, the constraints put on love and courting as a servant and fashion. To add to the historical setting and detail, at the beginning at each of the chapters, there was a short snippet from a Victorian Publication such as a manual on 'Mrs Nickleson's Guide for a Household Servant.' I found them incredibly interesting and set the scene for each chapter and sometimes hinted at what it was about.Although, I don't think that any book is perfect, I can't really fault Swallowcliffe Hall, except to say that I don't think that ll of the cover should be in a sepia tone as although it creates an aged effect, I feel it should be a bit brighter to make it more appealing.I loved Polly's story of finding your place, friendship, mistakes, sad and trying situations and a growing friendship turning into first love. Now, I have read it several times and although it is not an amazing literary work, it has really inspired some of my historical fiction short stories. less

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