This may be one of the the few - or only - books by a domestic about what life in a well-known English Country home was really like the first half of the event-filled 20th century. As the personal maid to the indomitable Nancy Astor, Rose Harrison, as Astor's maid, had a front row seat on the people and events which shaped Britain and world history. You'll find out why Winston Churchill would never eat at Astor's home. You'll get an additional perspective on the Profumo Affair and the Cliveden Set.But what I found most interesting was how a domestic lived then. You will see how a great house was run. The maids had no days off it seemed. And their work was almost like being a slave as they were on call all of the time if they were home. You do learn from this book that WWII bonded servants and their employers so there was more of a sense of family.Nancy Astor was the first woman elected to Parliament. If Rose is a reliable narrator, Astor was a bit of a dragon lady. Rose called her sadistic - and it seems like she enjoyed belittling Rose and lording over her. Astor's behavior makes you wonder if she were a trifle bipolar-lite or hypomanic. She could be charming and loving, and mean and petty by turns. She loved saying controversial things publicly and the resulting limelight. As a mistress, she was demanding, and seemed to enjoy depriving Rose of simple pleasures. I wouldn't want employees living in my home. Nor would I want to be an employee living in another's home - especially working for someone like Astor.Whether Astor's behavior was typical of a lady of a great house, it's hard to say from this book. While Astor scurried around with self-importance, not sure what she contributed to Britain except some parties, her service in Parliament and her efforts during WWII. Then, Rose assures us, her behavior was unselfed and exemplary.Astor was kind to Rose in that she paid for her travel and allowed her pleasant accommodations. It is interesting to read about the trips. Rose discusses Astor's religion, which was Christian Science. Astor had been an invalid until WWI, but was healed and only sick twice since then until her death in her mid-80's. Astor used to continually say "shut up Rose" which isn't typical of this religion's preaching. I was raised in Christian Science, and many of Astor's behaviors are opposite to what the faith teaches. If Rose is harsh on the religion, it's because she saw it practiced by someone who wasn't an example of its teachings. Rose wrote the church doesn't do charity work. Actually, it does have a relief fund for disasters. And it encourages its members to take to heart "love others as yourselves" and give to others your time, talents, and resources plus prayer. Astor would have treated her maid the way she would have been liked to be treated if she were following the church's precepts. In numerous instances Astor didn't do this. Her children were much kinder to Rose than their mother it seemed.Of the two women, Rose comes across as a more likable and admirable person. She had many talents, including dressmaking and could make clothes for Astor from scratch. This is a fascinating account of the inside life of a great English country house, its inhabitants and visitors during an eventful time in world history where Britain was at the center of the action. And Cliveden, Astor's home, was centered there, too.