To See a Fine Lady

by Norah Lofts

When, at the Pollards Harvest Supper of 1817, Araminta Glover was seduced by Jan Honeywood, the outcome seemed inevitable. Araminta, like so many servant girls, would marry her poor suitor and prepare to raise a large family on nine shillings a week. But 17-year-old Araminta was determined enough to rebel against the pattern of impoverished rural life and, putting marriage and Jan firmly behind her, she accepted the post of dairymaid in the house of the strange Mrs Stancy - thrifty, terrifying, and vicious - a woman who was not what she appeared to be... And here begins a new life for Araminta Glover...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it.

Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.

Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Norah Lofts but she always leaves me hanging with her abrupt endings lol.

Another wonderful historical heroine from Norah Lofts. Not a flawless Mary Sue, but a pragmatic survivor, and an authentic woman of her time and her social class.

Araminta toils in the nineteenth century as a dairy maid and dreams of earning just a few more shillings to send to her destitute family. She shudders away from the indentured servitude of marriage to one of her own class and prefers to remain free and independent even as she struggles with the natural urges and romantic leanings of women her age.

Lofts does such a fantastic job of exposing the brutality and inequality of the social classes at that time without beating us over the heads with sanctimonious preaching. It was particularly hilarious when she satirizes the members of the liberal, do-gooding upper classes who have no problem railing against social injustice before their peers and generously donating financial aid to their tenants in need, but balk at actually crossing the class line with marriage.

I had to really chuckle at the way the proper old mother of Araminta's upper class suitor tentatively suggests to him that she would be better suited as his mistress than his wife,but I actually shuddered when his uncle jovially threatens to abuse his power as magistrate to arrest and imprison Araminta on trumped up charges if his nephew persists in his folly to make her his wife.

Second only to the amazingly insightful characterization of our heroine Araminta is the chilling, stomach-churning portrayal of her sadistic employer Mrs. Stancy, a villain the likes of which I am hardly to ever forget. She was more suited to being a vampiric Countess feeding on the blood of young women than a neat and tidy dairy farm owner in the English countryside. The denouement of the story is centered not on Araminta's romance and upward mobility but in her struggle with a demented monster who finally cracks. Lofts was able to bring a really dark, Gothic tale into a sunny, clean, white-washed dairy farm so that the shocking ending really paid off.

I really would have liked to read how Araminta adapted herself to become a member of the gentry and undoubtedly succeed at it. She was such a likeable heroine, flaws and all, not the least of which resided in her own ability to judge herself quite severely at times and also because of her eternal optimism in the face of so many harsh trials. But I think Lofts always likes to quit while she is ahead and leave her readers sighing for more. This is, of course, the mark of a great storyteller.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Araminta Glover, an eighteenth-century English dairy maid who falls in love with day laborer Jan. Although she loves Jan deeply, she can not picture herself living a happy life with him. She believes that falling in love with Jan will lead to the type of life her mother has led. Araminta moves on to work at another dairy farm and attracts the attention of a member of the local gentry. She also attracts the attention of Mrs. Stancy - a devilishly psychotic employer. Steeped in period detail and class conflicts, this is a rags-to-riches story set in eighteenth-century England. I loved this story and give it an A+!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Lofts book I've read that is of the historical romance genre--although without the bodice ripping. It is the story of an early 19th century dairy maid, Araminta Glover, who is charismatic, intelligent but unschooled, industrious, and kind. She wishes to avoid the hardscrabble life of her laboring parents by refusing the marriage proposal of a farmhand she loves and accepting higher paying employment at a much larger dairy farm. Unfortunately, that successful estate is operated by a sadistic widow who torments and exploits her workers. Can the young gentleman who was raised in a politically radical (progressive) family who discovers and falls in love with Araminta rescue her?

Lofts paints sharply contrasting pictures of living and working conditions for the sometimes warring, rural classes. She also raises still-timely questions about the effects of management styles and about the difference between ideals in the abstract and in their application.

Because her story is multi-layered, it breaks the sometimes stultifying bonds of the romance genre.

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diabolical!

[Franziska Self Fisken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and reread this in the late 1960s or early 1970s. I think this is an excellent and imaginative account of the life of a strong-spirited girl from a poor background.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the early 1800's in rural England, this is the story of Araminta. Being one of many children from a poor working family, she has been "hired out" since the age of ten. Eventually, Araminta learns to be a milkmaid, milking the cows, preparing milk and cream, and making butter. Her employer is cruel to her help, denying them heat and food and working them long hours. Her luck takes a turn when a rich, nobleman rides by the farm and sees Araminta in the field, digging root vegetables and singing as she works. Read the book to find out what ensues. A new author for me, recommended by my friend Erika, this book was published in 1946. I look forward to more books by Norah Lufts.

[Lo]

Stupid

[Elham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norah Lofts has written at least 461 novels...waw... i have just read one of her novel...it was very nice..