January 2018

Carnegie. It’s a name I know well; after all, Carnegie Hall is just blocks from my office. But I confess that I knew little about Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish businessman who made his fortune in America. Marie Benedict’s CARNEGIE’S MAID drew me into his world through historical fiction. In it, Clara Kelley has made inroads into his family’s Pittsburgh home in the role of an experienced Irish maid. Actually she is a poor farmer’s daughter who sailed to America to help save her family by sending money back home.

I loved the atmosphere and the tiny details that Marie added to her prose. For those who loved "Downton Abbey," you will revel in the descriptions of life in the Carnegie home. Just as she did with THE OTHER EINSTEIN, Marie does a wonderful job of bringing her characters, warts and all, to life and giving one a great sense of the time period.

Clearly something special sparked Carnegie’s philanthropy, and it was wonderful to hear the possible story behind it. I found myself eager to learn even more about him after finishing the book. The world of culture and the arts was enhanced by his generosity and spirit. CARNEGIE’S MAID is great for a book group discussion, perhaps seeking out more about Carnegie libraries. A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems; 1,689 in the United States. Perhaps there is one near you!