#319 ~ The Mistress of Nothing

The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger

Published by: Simon & Schuster

Published on: January 2011

Page Count: 250

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Reading Format: Review copy sent to me by the publisher

Available Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

My Review

The Mistress of Nothing came into my reading life at an advantageous time. Just prior to me picking it up, Egypt had overthrown its government. I had also recently watched the first installment of Downton Abbey, a PBS series about British aristocracy and their hired help. These things put me in the perfect mindset to read this novel, which is written from the point of view of Sally Naldrett, the lady maid for Lady Duff Gordon.

Lady Duff Gordon has a terrible case of consumption and, as different climates on the continent were of little help to her, she is forced to leave her family for at least two years to live in the hotter, dryer climate of Egypt. As Lady Duff Gordon’s lady maid, Sally had little choice but to travel with her. Luckily, she was excited for the adventure and longed to see her Lady feeling better. While Egypt was literally a world away to the two women, they acclimated as well as could be expected. It was the women’s great good luck to encounter, Omar, the man who would become their dragoman, a translator, guide, and all around helper. Soon, they dropped their stays and confining dresses and adopted the dress of the Egyptians. Lady Duff Gordon was soon well enough to entertain both other British nationals as well as local men of a similar station to her own. When she is not ill, Lady Duff Gordon needs very little from Sally and Omar and their relationships, much to Sally’s shock, becomes more casual. Sally realizes that traveling to Egypt has given her the opportunity to be treated almost as an important friend, something that never would have occurred were she in England. This time of happiness did not last. With the arrival of Lady Duff Gordon’s husband for a visit does not go as the Lady had hoped and Sally makes it impossible for her not to tell Lady Duff Gordon the one secret she’d been keeping from her, Sally’s life comes crashing down.

While The Mistress of Nothing dealt with the lives of actual human beings, what struck me the most about the story is the relationship between those with power, in this case Lady Duff Gordon, and those with none, Sally and Omar. Even in times of illness, while Lady Duff Gordon believes that she is in control of her life and her environment, she is kind-hearted to those needing her help and assistance. Before they left England for Egypt Sally relates the a fellow servant who had fallen from grace. The father of her unborn child left her and without her work, this unfortunate woman has nothing and no where to go. Sally is certain that her Lady will be kind to the girl and she was. Benevolence is easy when one feels in control. Benevolence also has a nasty flip side.

When you’re in the situation of relying on the good will of another human being, be that for your livelihood or your life, you ought never take it for granted. This is what happened to Sally. She is taken aback by the way Lady Duff Gordon relaxed their relationship in Egypt. Both Sally and Omar mistook the growing intimacy of their evenings for her Lady Duff Gordon’s growing fondness of them. In actuality, it was all about Lady Duff Gordon and the freedom she herself had discovered. Taking that change as a sign of friendship and relaxing themselves set the stage for what was to come.

I truly enjoyed The Mistress of Nothing. Not only did the Egyptian landscape and lifestyles come to life, I cared very much about the characters and how they made their lives there. It’s interesting how one can adapt so easily and thoroughly to physical, mental and religious changes in the landscape. Kate Pullman is an excellent writer and she had me hooked from the very first sentence. She adds depth to the characters and the situation in which they found themselves in a concise and beautiful manner. This is a novel for historical fiction fans and all readers interested in the dynamics between classes and how women interact with and treat one another. I highly recommend reading this novel.