I've spent more time on this novella than I probably should have both because of my inherent laziness and my tendency to over-research everything. I've read hundreds of pages on the 1880s - from fashion, shopping, and wages to music and theatre, not to mention household management and servants. A lot of the details in this book are as historically accurate as was possible and, if you are familiar with the period, you will have no difficulty recognising some of the situations, names and even occasional words and phrases. There are also literary references thrown around that I am not going to spoil for you.
This is the first book I've published and I hope you enjoy it. I've tried to write a definitive lady-to-maid story I personally could enjoy reading and it's only you, dear readers, that can judge if I've succeeded.
I have created a My Books folder on top, which I intend to update in coming months.
You can order the book from Amazon (e-book and paperback) and from Smashwords. Please leave a review if you like it and don't hesitate to contact me directly or leave comments here.
Well done Camille! I hope it's a success. The hard work you have put into it is obvious, as is your talent as a writer. Well you have just had one sale at least... and I have some bedtime reading! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I knew I could count on you to leave the first comment! I hope you like the finished product as much as you did the half-baked and unedited one-) And please leave your review if you have a minute. Thanks!
DeleteI aim to please...:-)
DeleteI am making myself not rush through it (not easy...), but what I have read is going well! I got it on Smashwords, so shall put a review there, hope that is OK. Good luck again!
Excellent, take your time. Thanks!
DeleteHi Camille, took me a while but you have another review for Amazon Kindle edition. Agree that it would be far better to aggregate the reviews sigh... I will confess I still haven't found the Easter Eggs mentioned in the comments for Chapter 6, any more clues...??
DeleteHi, thank you so much for your review! Well, there are several references to Pygmalion (including two quotes that are literal (the "deliciously dirty" one and at the end when Susan shows up at the hotel and, like Eliza, declares that "she's a good girl" a, also the housekeeper mentioned in chapter 1 is called Miss Higgins). A touch of Guy de Maupassant (The Necklace, of course, but also Bel Ami). Small (barely noticeable) Anna Karenina. Diary of the Chambermaid rather prominently (in particular the scene where Evelyn donates her old clothing to Susan). And Dr. Victor F. is, obviously, Frankestein. Hoping it's not too deep!
DeleteBravo! I got Pygmalion, though not all the details, and I spotted Victor (just double checked my comments from chapter 6 so it is so lol). I touched on the necklace at school in French so that was too traumatic to remember. And then just not as widely read!
DeleteToo deep? No, a bit of fun and testament again to your skill and knowledge! Hope you enjoyed the writing process as much as readers enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to your next work :)
Hii camille don't you update the story here? Want to buy it but don't have additional $4 for now
ReplyDeleteHello, thanks for your interest, but I think it would be unfair to those that did purchase the book. Don't worry, there will be a lot more free content here going forward as you save up your $4-))
DeleteHoping soon there is new free content that is NOT TG as I never read TG...
DeleteHi Camille
ReplyDeleteVery good as usual. I enjoyed it enormously.
Well worth the purchase price.
Regards
Charles
Thank you, Charles, I am very happy you liked it. Hate to pest you, but you mind sharing your view on Amazon? I am not sure I'm 100% happy with the only review there currently. Although it really fits the theme of this blog, it might confuse some "outside" readers.
DeleteHmm, now even that sole review is gone. I guess the mysterious author read my comment here and deleted it. He shouldn't have, I loved it, I just thought it was a bit cryptic for people that don't frequent this blog.
DeleteCamille, you have to admit that initial review was very odd and very fast; I think it was posted just a very few hours after the book became available yet the writer was indicated as a verified purchaser.
DeleteStill, it's a good story and I'm sure will attract more positive reviews very soon. I can't imagine that any regular visitor to this site wouldn't enjoy it.
Indeed, it must have been my evil twin, Violet Langtry!
DeleteSo how does what's in the e-book relate to what's been posted on the blog?
ReplyDeleteWhat's been posted here represents roughly 40 percent of the finished book. Numerous stylistic and grammatical changes were made to the first seven chapters as part of the edit and I also added a couple of scenes and altered a few things. Plotwise it's the same story, of course.
DeleteIs what was the prologue here the final scene chronologically?
DeleteNo, it does not end there. There is also a lengthy epilogue, telling us what happened afterwards.
DeleteThe online preview indicates you still use both "Lady Ashburton" and "Lady Georgina" for the same person,I thought you fixed that...
DeleteIt's been fixed now in the updated version I've uploaded. I did get rid of all the "miss" earlier, but that one actually slipped my mind somehow.
DeleteCamille, thank you so much for the final series of chapters to this story -- that due to the delay took on an enigma of their own.
ReplyDeleteI found it heart-warming at the end when Evelyn took pity on her prior benefactor, now Susan, who was at the bottom of the barrel society-wise, and from the protracted toll of fatigue upon her body.
The unintended consequences of that ruse of Susan to leave the country but then be assessed as missing, and losing her home as a direct result, was a realistic segue to her total descent into penury.
And that chancy encounter of Susan meeting Evelyn in New York gave the story its icing on the cake. 'Great job, Camille, and thanks again for the suspense!
Byna ~ :D
You are very welcome. I am glad you liked it. If you got a moment, could you leave a review please?
DeleteI really enjoyed reading “A Most Remarkable Performance.” I’ll try to write this review without spoilers. Your attention to the detail of fashions and morays of the time was great; that helps so much to add to the pervasive atmosphere and tone. I loved how the suspense built as Georgina found herself increasingly entrapped. Conversely I was fascinated by Evelyn’s attitude and goals which felt completely believable. Most of all I enjoyed Georgina’s steady descent; each level just a bit more than she anticipated. I am very much looking forward to your next novel.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Next one is coming up! If you could leave a review at Amazon as well so that people that dont frequent this blog can also see it I'd be eternaly grateful.
DeleteGood book.
ReplyDeleteHi Camille-long time fan of the blog, bought the book, enjoyed it and left a review on Amazon!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Glad you loved it and thanks for leaving a review!
DeleteHi Camille,
ReplyDeleteI just left a review on Amazon as well.
Monica G.
Thanks for that, much appreciated!
DeleteCamille Mam is there any update on molly series , Will we able to see more humiliation of molly who has now completely turned into a puppet figure of her respective mistress
ReplyDeleteHello, nothing to report on yet. Watch this space!
DeleteSo are there going to be any more stories posted here or is it straight to amazon from here on out?
ReplyDeleteThere will be a lot more content here, do not worry.
DeleteI hope this blog won't be inactive.
ReplyDeleteCamille, you have a review on Amazon UK honey.
ReplyDeleteBillA
Thank you so much. I wish Amazon could make it more user-friendly by consolidating reviews from different markets. They don't make it very easy, do they?
DeleteDear Camille, this Book is wonderful though I would like to read even more detailed dressing scenes with an even more demanding and arrogant mistress who takes the ministrations of her lady's maid for granted.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask what your next projects are?
I'm eager to know what coming next from your talenting hands!
Thanks. I will keep note. But honestly I thought I was a bit overdoing it already! I have another Victorian-era story in the work that will provide enough skope for dressing and undressing, but my next one is a modern tale. I've just posted the first chapter.
DeleteFor me it was far away from overdoing but this of course just my very own opinion. Despite victorian time with its sumpteous fashion is a very approbiate era to place a lady & maid Story in it, I would like it also place such story in modern time. Of course the lady's maid is maybe a very rarely Type of servant but it still exists. The victorian lady depends on her maid because of the fashion she wasnt able to dress or lace herself. It was also a sign of wealth to show in public that madame can afford a maid because of back buttoned gowns, blouses and tight laced corsets.
DeleteWouldnt it be even more exciting to read in a story about a modern elegant lady who is being dressed by her personal maids thougth she is well cabable to to it by herself? Madame didn't lift any finger in Aid to dress herself just ordering her maids and complaining about their laziness and bad skills.
A lady who rings the bell for her maids just to turn up her blouse collar or to take on or off her gloves, wouldnt it be a wonderful reading?
My dearest Camille, may I ask you about this other story of Victorian-era with a wide scope of dressing and undressing? Is there something in progress?
DeleteMany thanks in advance.
It's still officially "in progress". Should be there one of these days, sorry for taking so long!
DeleteCongratulations, Madame. The story is very well built and documented : we are really transported at the end of 19th. I love the 2 main characters: Evelyn, of course, and the way you depict her so naturally superior... Georgina is my pleasant surprise: I thought my taste was definitely for the "forced downgrades", but we understand very well her journey to commoners life... catching myself as a reader to hope she reaches her goal. Mr Noble's list is priceless... Naturally attracted by the Mistress character, you made me get into the mind of Georgina/Susan! Thanks a lot!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, glad you loved it! Evelyn is a reluctant mistress and that's what makes this arrangement so interesting in my opinion.
DeleteI just bought today and read it from cover to cover in (pretty much) a single sitting. Great work - I really enjoyed it. I'm glad that it concerned a protagonist that wanted to become a maid. For me, this makes it much easier to identify with the character. I also liked that it was not pornographic (though obviously erotic). It reminded me a bit of the work of Sarah Waters (Tipping the Velvet etc) with all the period detail as well as focus on working class life. I can quite easily imagine this being made into a film - here's hoping!
ReplyDeleteVery pleased it was to your liking. Yes, for me too wanting to becoming a maid is key, although I do think that for some plots it doesn't really work this way. As for making a film, one can hope indeed!
DeleteIf that's not too much hassle, would you consider leaving a review on Amazon?