TY - BOOK AU - Brown,T.J. TI - Summerset Abbey: a novel SN - 1451698984 (pbk.) PY - 2013/// CY - New York PB - Gallery Books KW - Household employees KW - Fiction KW - Sisters KW - Social classes KW - Great Britain KW - History KW - 19th century KW - Social life and customs KW - Historical fiction KW - gsafd N1 - Includes a reading group guide; Includes bibliographical references (page 292) N2 - "Reminiscent of Downton Abbey, this first novel in a new series follows two sisters and their maid as they are suddenly separated by the rigid class divisions within a sprawling aristocratic estate and thrust into an uncertain world on the brink of WWI...Rowena and Victoria, daughters to the second son of the Earl of Summerset, have always treated their governess's daughter, Prudence, like a sister. But when their father dies and they move in with their uncle's family in a much more traditional household, Prudence is relegated to the maids' quarters, much to the girls' shock and dismay. The impending war offers each girl hope for a more modern future, but the ever-present specter of class expectations makes it difficult for Prudence to maintain a foot in both worlds.Vividly evoking both time and place and filled with authentic dialogue and richly detailed atmosphere, Summerset Abbey is a charming and timeless historical debut"-- ER -