Lily Steps Up

Lissadell #2

by Judi Curtin, Rachel Corcoran (Contributor)

Lissadell House, Sligo, 1913

Lily and her friend Nellie are young housemaids in service in the Big House - they work for Lady Mary and Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth at Lissadell. As well as her housework and duties, Lily helps out in the local school of needlework - she hopes it might be a step on the way to her dream of being a teacher.

Though they work hard, there's lots of fun to be had at Lissadell - like friendship, fun and madcap bicycle rides with Sir Josslyn's niece Maeve, daughter of the famous Republican, Constance Markievicz.

Before Nellie came to Lissadell, she had a hard life in the workhouse, where she was separated from her family. So when Lily and Maeve manage to track down Nellie's long lost sister, Johanna, and fix it so she comes to Lissadell as Lady Mary's maid Nellie is overjoyed. But when a valuable locket goes missing, Johanna is the chief suspect; should Lily take the blame, so that the sisters can stay together?

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[trijnewijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zo mooi hoe een verhaal je kan doen meeleven, zonder dat er grootse avonturen in gebeuren. Dit boek gaat over het leven van de dienstmeisjes Lily en Nellie, over haar dromen en realiteit, over vriendschappen. Over klassenverschillen, werkhuizen, hoeveel werk er was voor de uitvinding van stofzuigers of wasmachines, hoe moeilijk het was om mensen terug te vinden voor er zoveel administratie gebeurde. Het is een verhaal over gewone mensen, dat zomaar echt gebeurd zou kunnen zijn (het is dan ook een mix van feiten en fictie) en dat maakt het extra mooi.

[Mary Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong expression of responsibility, conscience and empathy set the tone in this beautifully penned novel for young people, taking the reader on a journey into Irelands’ past at a time of exciting, dramatic social change. The descriptions of time and place effortlessly send the reader into the life they live, so that we feel we are there. There is a tangible sense of the growing bond between Lily and Nellie. Their dreams are now more easily shared; their willingness to see what each other has been through and how they have lived are more readily understood. It is that friendship that lies at the core of the story, driving all the action, affecting each character, allowing us, the readers into this world and giving it its’ heart and humour. Told with a keen eye into history, it is warm, compassionate and an absolute joy to read. Like its’ predecessor (Lily At Lissadell) this book is an absolute gem.

[Zara O'Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book 📖 👌