For the first time since records began, the servant class has
virtually disappeared from English society; this book records its
last laboured breaths, from the days before the First World War
when a family was very poor indeed if it could not afford a maid,
and when the Duchess of Westminster was bitterly ashamed because
her parents could only run to five maids, a manservant, a boy and
two gardeners. Most of her friends had 'too many servants to
count'. There are many books on this subject which merely purvey
entertaining anecdotes - and indeed there are plenty of those here;
but the book has a more serious purpose, which is to record a
genuine social phenomenon - and it does so with the help of
personal and public archives, with chapters not only on the often
dreadful lives led by put-upon domestics, but on the 'official'
view of the Government, on taxation, health, the role of voluntary
services, the way in which the Second World War in particular
contributed to the demise of the servant class, and of course the
typically English convolutions of 'social behaviour' between master
and servant. The illustrations in themselves tell a story - the
pomposity of butlers, the frightened pallor of maids, the sturdy
independence of gardeners are all shown, and also the unrestrained
gaiety of the lower orders at play on their infrequent and
grudgingly afforded days off. (Kirkus UK)
In 1931 domestic service remained the largest female occupation in
Britain; now only the rich can afford full-time resident staff and
most of those engaged in domestic duties work in hotels or in
public institutions. By using reminiscences, official records and
newspaper reports this book considers the changing face of domestic
service from 1918 to the eve of the new millennium. It examines the
lives and status of male and female employees, including those who
worked outdoors such as chauffeurs, gardeners, grooms and
gamekeepers. The reluctance of many women to return to service
after the two world wars is discussed, together with government
efforts to persuade them otherwise. The final chapters bring the
story right up to the present day, examining the roles of au pairs,
daily helps, and nannies in the home and the position of domestic
staff in hotels, hospitals and other institutions.
General
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