Rose
My Life in Service to Lady Astor

In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the
Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the
infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament,
entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you
would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no
one expected was that the iron-willed Lady Astor was about to meet her
match in the no-nonsense, whip-smart girl from the country.

For thirty-five years, from the parties thrown for royalty and trips across the
globe, to the air raids during World War II, Rose was by Lady Astor's side and
behind the scenes, keeping everything running smoothly. In charge of
everything from the clothes and furs to the baggage to the priceless
diamond "sparklers," Rose was closer to Lady Astor than anyone else. In
her decades of service she received one 5-pound raise, but she traveled the
world in style and retired with a lifetime's worth of stories. Like
Gosford Park and Downton Abbey, Rose is not only a captivating insight into the
great wealth 'upstairs' and the endless work 'downstairs'; it is
also the story of an unlikely decades-long friendship that grew between
Her Ladyship and her spirited Yorkshire maid.