She drew in a breath - and then remembered not to let it out on a sigh. As the poor relations, they were required to be ultra-respectable, though they never got any thanks for it. It was part of their station in life.
The Poor Relation by Susanna Bavin is a gripping, well-paced tale set in the Edwardian era.
For fans of historical romance and drama without saccharine.
1908, Manchester.
Mary Maitland has been working at the Town Hall for 5 years. She is efficient and smart, training young men for higher jobs in the office. Disillusioned with being rejected for promotion for the 6th time, since she is too valuable and competent. Mary is frustrated to be told she is not suitable for advancement since she is a woman. And young men "have to get on".
Her Dadda, a senior clerk in the same office, thinks it's fair she minds her place: "It's my job to support you". He's a stickler for convention, who believes that as a master in his own house, all his womenfolk - wife and two daughters - are his inferiors who should know their place both in the house and society. After all, Mary is a girl from a respectable family, and should not get ideas above her station. What's more, they have influential rich relatives, whose opinion should be considered above all.
Worried about her Dadda's disapproval, Mary applies for a new job at an employment agency for women in secret. The ladies who run the agency are impressed with her efficiency and offer her a job. Being higher in the social hierarchy, they don't think she deserves a salary equal to the one she's had at her previous job. They are friendly and very "modern", i.e. following the latest suffrage ideas and holding meetings to discuss women's rights, but they are also a product of their own class and education.
Encouraged by her employers, Mary starts writing articles for different women's publications, using a pen name (her late mother's maiden name). She knows her father and their connections wouldn't approve of her minor independence.
The Maitlands are related to the Kimbers, the aristocratic family of the neighbourhood. They don't fraternise. The Kimbers barely tolerate their lower-class relations, inviting them for a Sunday lunch once a year. While they grudgingly commend the elder Maitland's behaviour (after all, he was born a Kimber), they cannot stand a "frightful harpy of a grandmother" who loves nothing better than snooping around the big house, given a chance.
(To be fair, the grandmother is pretty obnoxious. She's rude, entitled and ignorant. It's not quite clear why the Maitlands cannot restrain her offensive behaviour)
There is also an inverted snobbery on part of the Maitlands and their common neighbours.
"Oh, the difficulties of being the poor relations! The Kimbers presumable wouldn't have minded her attending high school, but the neighbours might have thought the Maitlands were getting above themselves. You trod a fine line when you were related to the neighbourhood's most important family".
The book gives a fascinating insight into the lives of women at the beginning of the XXc. It's not just Mary. Her step-mother is very conventional, she married a widower next door to take care of him and his children. There is poor aunt Miriam, a shy spinster and a victim of her bullying mother.
Lady Kimber has married twice and did splendidly well in the eyes of the society. She has status, money, a big mansion, her opinion and patronage are sought after. Basically, she has everything, that is, except love. Embittered and unrelenting, all her ambitions in life are centred on her only child - daughter Eleanor, who must marry the cousin to keep the title and everything that goes with it in the family.
There is disgruntled Miss Rawley, who has been living in her brother's household and looking after him. Even on his death, she doesn't gain independence. She's allowed to live in her late brother's house, which goes to her nephew.
The nephew, Greg Rawley, is exasperated by the will. He had high hopes of selling the property. Being a gambler and a wastrel, he is in debt to the most dangerous dealer, and the interest is soaring high. How can he pay off his gambling debts, if he cannot sell the house. Both Greg and Miss Rawley detest each other, but they must abide by the will.
Dr Nathaniel Brewer is unwittingly involved in settling the family disputes. He is an inspiring character, who wants to set up a community clinic in a deprived area of the city. There are many obstacles and limitations.
This part of the story deserves a special mention. It is quite appalling to see what the attitudes were to the "deserving poor" who should not be educated, even in the most basic things like personal hygiene, as it would give them ideas.
Struggling to find the funding for the clinic, Dr Brewer has to deal with people who inform him: "PIP would be happy to receive an application from your clinic, on the understanding, of course, that these education sessions cease immediately. I would remind you that I stands for Ignorant. So, which is it to be: funding, or education disguised as chit-chat?"
When Mary's Dadda asks her about the meetings she wants to attend, she says: "To discuss putting working-class girls into service with middle-class families, so they learn better habits of behaviour and hygiene.
"That smacks of socialism to me. There are good reasons for social differences", replies her father.
When Mary meets Dr Brewer, she is won over by his progressive ideas and drive to help the vulnerable. The problem is, Dr Brewer is married.
And then a charming cousin of Mary, Charlie Kimber, comes into her life. He is easy-going, funny, and a complete opposite of his haughty and arrogant Kimber clan. He is clearly smitten by Mary.
The family on both sides is shocked, when Charlie proposes to Mary.
She's seen as a social climber.
The pressure to conform is increasing. Will Mary be able to stay true to herself?
Mary's personality is developing from an obliging, obedient daughter to a gutsy heroine who's fiercely intelligent and capable to fight not just her parents, but the society's expectations. Her strength is born out of a devastating turn of personal circumstances.
Her bid for independence is based on her non-stagnant way of thinking and her determination to strike out on her own.
The ending felt a bit rushed, but I'm hoping it means there is a sequel coming.
Crammed with drama, tension and emotion, it's a fascinating story of love, loss and conflicting loyalties. A real page-turner.
This review is part of the blog tour for The Poor Relation.
Many thanks to Susanna Bavin, Allison & Busby Ltd and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!
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