What do you think?
Rate this book
Nanny
Grace is born into the comfortable middle-class life of provincial Edwardian England, but is forced to enter service as a lower housemaid at the home of the ancient Lydiard family, before rising rapidly to the position of nanny. The author has written many television plays and several novels.
463 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1994
331 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Bingham
75 books75 followersThe Honourable Charlotte Mary Thérèse Bingham was born on 29 June 1942 in Haywards Heath, Sussex, England, UK. Her father, John Bingham, the 7th Baron Clanmorris, wrote detective stories and was a secret member of MI5. Her mother, Madeleine Bingham, née Madeleine Mary Ebel, was a playwright. Charlotte first attended a school in London, but from the age of seven to 16, she went to the Priory of Our Lady's Good Counsel school in Haywards Heath. After she left school, she went to stay in Paris with some French aristocrats with the intention of learning French. She had written since she was 10 years old and her first piece of work was a thriller called Death's Ticket. She wrote her humorous autobiography, called Coronet Among the Weeds, when she was 19, and not long before her twentieth birthday a literary agent discovered her celebrating at the Ritz. He was a friend of her parents and he took off the finished manuscript of her autobiography. In 1963, this was published by Heinemanns and was a best seller.
In 1966, Charlotte Bingham's first novel, called Lucinda, was published. This was later adapted into a TV screenplay. In 1972, Coronet Among the Grass, her second autobiography, was published. This talked about the first ten years of her marriage to fellow writer Terence Brady. They couple, who have two children, later adapted Coronet Among the Grass and Coronet Among the Weeds, into the TV sitcom No, Honestly. She and her husband, Terence Brady, wrote three early episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs together, Board Wages, I Dies from Love and Out of the Everywhere. They later wrote an accompanying book called Rose's Story. They also wrote the episodes of Take Three Girls featuring Victoria (Liza Goddard). In the 1970s Brady and Bingham wrote episodes for the TV series Play for Today, Three Comedies of Marriage, Yes, Honestly and Robin's Nest. During the 1980s and 1990s they continued to write for the occasional TV series, and in 1993 adapted Jilly Cooper's novel Riders for the small screen. Since the 1980s she has become a romance novelist. In 1996 she won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association.
In 1966, Charlotte Bingham's first novel, called Lucinda, was published. This was later adapted into a TV screenplay. In 1972, Coronet Among the Grass, her second autobiography, was published. This talked about the first ten years of her marriage to fellow writer Terence Brady. They couple, who have two children, later adapted Coronet Among the Grass and Coronet Among the Weeds, into the TV sitcom No, Honestly. She and her husband, Terence Brady, wrote three early episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs together, Board Wages, I Dies from Love and Out of the Everywhere. They later wrote an accompanying book called Rose's Story. They also wrote the episodes of Take Three Girls featuring Victoria (Liza Goddard). In the 1970s Brady and Bingham wrote episodes for the TV series Play for Today, Three Comedies of Marriage, Yes, Honestly and Robin's Nest. During the 1980s and 1990s they continued to write for the occasional TV series, and in 1993 adapted Jilly Cooper's novel Riders for the small screen. Since the 1980s she has become a romance novelist. In 1996 she won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 21, 2020
This was a very interesting read about the life of Grace Merril. Grace was forced to go into service when the circumstances of her middle-class family suddenly changed and she had to earn money to support her mother and younger sister. Starting as a scullery maid she found life below stairs hard but worked uncomplainingly and she was by chance promoted to nursery maid and thence to nanny for Lord and Lady Lydiard. I found most of the characters likeable and very believable except for Brake Merrowby, an artist who stays at the Lydiard house and wants to marry Grace. He is like a spoilt child, he drinks too much, throws tantrums and, I felt, would be better off in the nursery with the other children learning some manners. The book covers a period of time from the beginning of the 20th century, through the years of the First World War and the events after. It is a long read at 538 pages but I enjoyed the vast majority of it.
April 22, 2021
Nanny the never ending story
I thought this book would never end. I'm not one to stop reading a book even if it drags along. Generally even if a book is a bit sluggish you are generally rewarded by finishing it. This plot occurs during WWI. It could have been told in half the time.
I thought this book would never end. I'm not one to stop reading a book even if it drags along. Generally even if a book is a bit sluggish you are generally rewarded by finishing it. This plot occurs during WWI. It could have been told in half the time.
April 9, 2021
Didn’t think I would like this, but got caught up in the really good characters, good descriptions of life in a Stately Home, upstairs and downstairs, before WW 2 , the horrible war itself and it’s aftermath. A bit of a saga, very well told.
April 20, 2021
The author has such a sense of color and texture that the book becomes a sort of portrait. Grace is strong and realistic. She never fails to soldier on, even when she is mistreated and wronged. Other characters took longer to win me over. They had so many layers and eccentricities. Her sister Lottie worked so hard to take care of their mother, who never showed them much concern and she never lost faith in their ability to survive.
Every character plays a vital role in the outcome. The skill the author has of painting the picture for the reader draws you into the family's losses and struggles in everyday life. Her ability to let the reader see the paintings of the war scenes is remarkable. The descriptions of light and color bring the reader face to face with what the soldier's lives were like. This was a lovely book and I will look for others from this author.
Every character plays a vital role in the outcome. The skill the author has of painting the picture for the reader draws you into the family's losses and struggles in everyday life. Her ability to let the reader see the paintings of the war scenes is remarkable. The descriptions of light and color bring the reader face to face with what the soldier's lives were like. This was a lovely book and I will look for others from this author.
August 9, 2023
conflicted ….
Hmmm. Struggled a tad with this one. The division between the haves, and have Nots stayed with the story, although it tried to desperately evolve. I saw zero suffering in the house during the war with exception of lost help. And where was the Spanish flu?
Some characters did some complete personality changes, which really threw me. The main character…I wanted to feel for her but I just didn’t. Sacrifice … determination being themes here…. I sort of saw it but … things worked out a little too easily for me.
Hmmm. Struggled a tad with this one. The division between the haves, and have Nots stayed with the story, although it tried to desperately evolve. I saw zero suffering in the house during the war with exception of lost help. And where was the Spanish flu?
Some characters did some complete personality changes, which really threw me. The main character…I wanted to feel for her but I just didn’t. Sacrifice … determination being themes here…. I sort of saw it but … things worked out a little too easily for me.
July 22, 2021
Yawn
I had to force myself to finish reading to the end and probably skimmed through at least a third of the book. I didn’t like her writing style and her long ramblings were quite annoying. It would have been a good story if she had been more focused. Once I start a book I have to finish it even if I have to slog through it.
I had to force myself to finish reading to the end and probably skimmed through at least a third of the book. I didn’t like her writing style and her long ramblings were quite annoying. It would have been a good story if she had been more focused. Once I start a book I have to finish it even if I have to slog through it.
October 20, 2021
This story line never really developed. For me, there was too much filler dialogue and too many editorial mistakes.
July 22, 2022
A lovely and moving book Nanny
Nanny is the story of Grace Merrill, a young middle class woman in Edwardian days, whose family falls on hard times when her father runs off with a neighbor just after she has graduated from school. Grace had hopes of being admitted to art school, but her father’s dereliction makes that impossible. Her mother has taken to her bed and her sister is too young to go out to work, so it falls to Grace to support them. She’s able to secure a place as a between stairs maid, or “tweeny”, at the nearby estate of Lord Lydiard, and with some difficulty settles into the job. She becomes a favorite of the staff and eventually becomes nursery maid, assistant to elderly Nanny Lydiard, who she thinks is getting senile. What she doesn’t understand is that the old nanny is testing her, as she’s tested others to see whether they would be suitable as her replacement—and Grace is the only one who has passed to her satisfaction. Grace is promoted to nanny and given charge over the nursery and the Lydiard children Henry and Harriet. The story from then on deals with her relationship with the children, their parents, and the outside world as the children grow up, and with Grace’s personal life. It’s a richly drawn tale and parts of it are extremely emotional, especially the sections dealing with WWI.
If I have any complaint about the book it’s the things that are left untold. No doubt the author had her reasons and it’s also part of the book’s charm, even though it’s a bit maddening. Definitely a five star read.
Nanny is the story of Grace Merrill, a young middle class woman in Edwardian days, whose family falls on hard times when her father runs off with a neighbor just after she has graduated from school. Grace had hopes of being admitted to art school, but her father’s dereliction makes that impossible. Her mother has taken to her bed and her sister is too young to go out to work, so it falls to Grace to support them. She’s able to secure a place as a between stairs maid, or “tweeny”, at the nearby estate of Lord Lydiard, and with some difficulty settles into the job. She becomes a favorite of the staff and eventually becomes nursery maid, assistant to elderly Nanny Lydiard, who she thinks is getting senile. What she doesn’t understand is that the old nanny is testing her, as she’s tested others to see whether they would be suitable as her replacement—and Grace is the only one who has passed to her satisfaction. Grace is promoted to nanny and given charge over the nursery and the Lydiard children Henry and Harriet. The story from then on deals with her relationship with the children, their parents, and the outside world as the children grow up, and with Grace’s personal life. It’s a richly drawn tale and parts of it are extremely emotional, especially the sections dealing with WWI.
If I have any complaint about the book it’s the things that are left untold. No doubt the author had her reasons and it’s also part of the book’s charm, even though it’s a bit maddening. Definitely a five star read.
May 23, 2023
A very poignant story
I feel the character would probably contradict me, however I feel as if poor Grace was a sacrificial lamb, who never got to live life. Grace lives through everyone else. They all love her but no one really knows her, Brake came closest to realising there was so much more to Nanny, and of course he was yet another casualty of the war. The look at World War 1, and how it affected those in it and those at home is so well done without overt sentimentality. The world started changing then, but not for Grace, even her sister slotted her back into her appointed role, knowing her dream and dragging her back.
I feel the character would probably contradict me, however I feel as if poor Grace was a sacrificial lamb, who never got to live life. Grace lives through everyone else. They all love her but no one really knows her, Brake came closest to realising there was so much more to Nanny, and of course he was yet another casualty of the war. The look at World War 1, and how it affected those in it and those at home is so well done without overt sentimentality. The world started changing then, but not for Grace, even her sister slotted her back into her appointed role, knowing her dream and dragging her back.
April 21, 2021
This is a hard book for me to review..It was very well written but at times, for me, it dragged a little..It was sad, beautiful and it kept me interested most of the time..I'm an artist so I really enjoyed all the parts about Brake and Grace's talent and passion for art..
I was quite disappointed with the ending but I guess I saw it coming..I had to give 5 stars, no matter what I felt about the book because it really was beautifully written..I'm glad I read it..
I was quite disappointed with the ending but I guess I saw it coming..I had to give 5 stars, no matter what I felt about the book because it really was beautifully written..I'm glad I read it..
June 14, 2021
The Nanny is a book about loyalty and how far someone would go to protect others while denying self. I found Grace to be a beloved character, complicated, and well developed. I wish some of the other characters had been as well developed. The love story is beautiful although could have also used more development. The WWI time period is very interesting to me. It is a shame that so little is written about it as compared to WWII. I would recommend to any lover of historical fiction.
July 12, 2021
A middle class family falls apart when dad runs off with his mistress. Mom goes almost comatose.. the older girl goes into service instead of following her dreams to art school, and the younger girl stays home to take care of mom while taking in sewing and laundry and anything else to make money.
The older girl starts a kitchen maid then promotes to nanny. The rest of the book tells about her interactions with the children and parents of the children and the decisions she makes in her life.
The older girl starts a kitchen maid then promotes to nanny. The rest of the book tells about her interactions with the children and parents of the children and the decisions she makes in her life.
November 24, 2020
Great read from Charlotte, a life of a girl who becomes a nanny. She is reminiscing about her life for a couple of researchers, one of whom just wants the juicy bits - Nanny's thoughts on this young man were fun. Her story is full of happiness, pain, fun and sadness - just like real life really. From start to finish a highly recommend must read.
March 30, 2021
Great account of life in England
The characters are marvelous. The description so good you can see in your minds eye the lake and the park around the estate. The history of what it was like for people during WW 1 was given from a perspective of both the wealthy and those who served them. A great read.
The characters are marvelous. The description so good you can see in your minds eye the lake and the park around the estate. The history of what it was like for people during WW 1 was given from a perspective of both the wealthy and those who served them. A great read.
Read
April 5, 20211907, Grace has her life before her, a chance to go to a prestigious art school, a chance her beloved teacher helps her win. Then in a second her life changes and all her dreams come crashing down. She is forced to go into service, when her father deserts his family running away with her teacher. But Grace perseveres and finally becomes a Nanny, caring for and loving other peoples’s children.
August 9, 2021
Well written description of life as a Nanny
Beautiful narrative of one woman’s change of fortune when she has to go into service. Her rise from kitchen maid to Nanny and her subsequent relationships with the family members is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at times. An excellent and engrossing story
Beautiful narrative of one woman’s change of fortune when she has to go into service. Her rise from kitchen maid to Nanny and her subsequent relationships with the family members is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at times. An excellent and engrossing story
May 9, 2022
I enjoyed the first 60 pages or so. At one point I started getting excited at any mention of illness or disaster, hoping the death of any of the characters would spice up the story. I wouldn't know what happened to them, though, as I was unable to muster enough interest to go past the first 3rd of the book. Waste of time.
February 20, 2024
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Assult.
A bittersweet and at times remarkable tale of a woman who despite all the turmoil they infects her life manages to climb out unscathed. It's sweet, sad and often times made me audibly gasp.
The only issues I found in this book was the BBC subplot, it was a little to much but didn't distract from the story so I'd say it was a minor, almost unmentionable issue. The second and last was Brake Merrowby. A supposed love interest who I couldn't for the life of me like, he was annoying and petulant and even as his attitude changed and I started to like him. I found I didn't connect with him enough to emotionally react to his characters story.
Other than that an interesting read. I'd reccomend to anyone wanting something not necessarily a romance but still an easy and intriguing read.
A bittersweet and at times remarkable tale of a woman who despite all the turmoil they infects her life manages to climb out unscathed. It's sweet, sad and often times made me audibly gasp.
The only issues I found in this book was the BBC subplot, it was a little to much but didn't distract from the story so I'd say it was a minor, almost unmentionable issue. The second and last was Brake Merrowby. A supposed love interest who I couldn't for the life of me like, he was annoying and petulant and even as his attitude changed and I started to like him. I found I didn't connect with him enough to emotionally react to his characters story.
Other than that an interesting read. I'd reccomend to anyone wanting something not necessarily a romance but still an easy and intriguing read.
April 10, 2021
Romance with grit
Really enjoyed this book. Romantic but not slushy. The upstairs downstairs description is great. Liked the characters. The description of the characters is so real.
Really enjoyed this book. Romantic but not slushy. The upstairs downstairs description is great. Liked the characters. The description of the characters is so real.
April 27, 2021
Nannies
I'm sure my mother would have loved one but she had me the oldest of five growing up in the fifties and sixties. The life of those young women in the Victorian age didn't have choices so sorry but what a wonderful book
I'm sure my mother would have loved one but she had me the oldest of five growing up in the fifties and sixties. The life of those young women in the Victorian age didn't have choices so sorry but what a wonderful book
May 31, 2021
Love
This is one of the best stories I've ever read! In trying to survive,having to take a job in servitude,finds her reason to live through love of this family which becomes her own. Just wish it didn't have to end. I'll miss reading this book.
This is one of the best stories I've ever read! In trying to survive,having to take a job in servitude,finds her reason to live through love of this family which becomes her own. Just wish it didn't have to end. I'll miss reading this book.
June 25, 2021
Highs and Lows
Was intrigued when I started reading this book, but found it began to drag in parts. Was mostly fairly enjoyable, but think it would have been better had it not been so long. Not one of my favorites.
Was intrigued when I started reading this book, but found it began to drag in parts. Was mostly fairly enjoyable, but think it would have been better had it not been so long. Not one of my favorites.
July 30, 2021
Worth the read
I loved the writing. The story was good. Themes of sacrifice, service and love. Not predictable, though I wouldn’t have minded if it ended the way I thought it would. It was more realistic because the other didn’t make everything work out perfectly for everyone.
I loved the writing. The story was good. Themes of sacrifice, service and love. Not predictable, though I wouldn’t have minded if it ended the way I thought it would. It was more realistic because the other didn’t make everything work out perfectly for everyone.
May 11, 2022
A good read!
An interesting slant on the life of a nanny ,family but not quite more of a mother than the biological mother but still an outsider. The love story was an aside but added to the pleasure. I for one liked Blake!
An interesting slant on the life of a nanny ,family but not quite more of a mother than the biological mother but still an outsider. The love story was an aside but added to the pleasure. I for one liked Blake!
March 23, 2021
Lovely
So much happens in this book. A true saga that you hate to see end. Much like Downton Abbey. E think these are predictable but each is unique.
So much happens in this book. A true saga that you hate to see end. Much like Downton Abbey. E think these are predictable but each is unique.
March 26, 2021
Very realistic characters
A wonderful rich story, it makes one feel as though it was totally real. Beautifully written, the characters are so alive and full of color.
A wonderful rich story, it makes one feel as though it was totally real. Beautifully written, the characters are so alive and full of color.
April 2, 2021
Poignant
During the last twenty pages, I cried twice. For what is life but what we make of it. Happiness lost and happiness found.
During the last twenty pages, I cried twice. For what is life but what we make of it. Happiness lost and happiness found.
April 16, 2021
I didn’t like the ending!
April 20, 2021
The first half was really good, but then it lost it's edge and was too syrup sweet. The author really cheated the main character out of her potential. Sappy ending. Not for me.
April 22, 2021
Nanny was a pleasure to read & I was sad that it ended. Such a great story with so much heart. Interesting & likeable characters. Another must read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews