Tea By The Nursery Fire: B Format Paperback – September 13, 2012

Life in the 3rd floor nursery. Love, affection, class. Character, loss, education. An affectionate recounting of life as a nursery maid in the late 19th-early 20th century. The bizarre combination of privilege and obligation that trapped upper class parents and their children is contrasted with the very different but equally rigid circumstances of the servants.

I must say, Kindle has introduced me to so many writers of whom I would never have heard were it not for this service. I prefer books (fiction and non-fiction) written prior to the fifties, although some children's books written through the early sixties are good.In any case, this book was a story of a pure heart, never looking out for herself, always looking to others and their needs. I cannot say I am of that ilk, but I know those who are, and, for me, this book tells their story.It is simply written, I believe mainly for young children, but certainly this "woman of a certain age" enjoyed it immensely. I will look for a physical copy to put on my bookshelves to read with little ones when they come to visit. I believe in having children read or be read to using physical books first, as it, I feel, gives them a greater respect for the written word as a whole, and books, in particular.

This is the kind of book that puts flesh on the bones of history. The book was written with love by Noel Streatfeild about her father's family nanny, but the love that shines through--as it should--is the devotion of Emily Buckwell to her nurslings. It begins in the 1870s, and its perspective is strictly that of Emily, whose life's work is to provide her instinctive 'cuddles' to her charges. From the day and night nurseries, it is surprising how much drama comes into the tale, in spite of Emily's efforts to keep everything stable, serene, not 'overexcited'.I don't consider it a 'spoiler' to say that with careful reading outside the book, I figured out that Noel Streatfeild is Victoria, second daughter of the eldest son. I found it a page-turner, and being a fan of Downton Abbey does help.

I loved the book-it was an interesting look into the late 19th century, early 20th. It was, of course, biographical, not fictional like most of Streatfield's books. In lieu of that, there is some subtly adult material (all very properly described, nothing indecent, but: death, sickness, a niece out of wedlock, an alcoholic co-worker, etc), and therefore not for very young children. Most of Streatfield's books are geared for 10 year olds, give or take a few years. Although the reading is easy enough, I would give this book to a world-wise 13 year old or older.

This was interesting reading that gave a glimpse into life in a past era..a life where people knew their place and accepted their lot in ice, the haves and the have nots. The break down in that strict class structure as the result of Second World War was beginning to have an impact by the end of the book - fascinating.

Like all of Noel Streitfield's book, this is a gentle story of every day lives in a time and place most of us never experienced. It can read as deeply or shallowly as one wants; there is a nice story along with some surprising lessons to be thought over.

I loved this. Read like any Noel Streatfeild book, yet it was a true story of the life of her father's nursery maid. Will stay in my mind forever - I feel very fortunate to have read it.

Sweet book. It would have been nice t o get some more of how the Streatfeild family was connected.

Having read practically every children’s novel written by Noel Streatfeild as a child I then had mixed emotions last year on reading the original adult novel The Whicharts which was later reworked for children as Ballet Shoes. This year I decided to try another book by this author, a biography of a nanny in Victorian Britain which was the last book the author wrote in 1976 at the age of 80. When reading the below review, this should be borne in mind as if I can write anything comprehensible at that age, I’ll be exceptionally proud of myself.Tea by the Nursery Fire purports to tell the tale of the nanny who started work at Longton Place as a nanny to the children, Noel’s father and his siblings in the 1890s, although of course this was not long before Noel herself was born. Despite this unnerving discrepancies and having devoured the author’s autobiographical trilogy which began with The Vicarage Family, I was fully aware that the setting should have been that of a clergyman and Longton Place was not, the first two thirds of the book was an interesting view of life as a servant at a time when it was still possible to become a family retainer.The last third was quite an abrupt end to Emily’s story with whole decades passing by in a flash as the first family of children grew up and produced offspring to care for on high days and holidays only.The tale itself walked a line between the hard life of a girl of twelve, sent away to become a servant to make room for the ever growing brood of children her parents produced, and the enjoyment a servant could gain from taking a post that allowed her to use the skills of mothering she had learnt at her mother’s knee.I have to confess the writing was fairly consistently clumsy and depended greatly on this reader’s nostalgia for her children’s books, partly because it isn’t clear whether this book was aimed at those child readers themselves, or those of us who are slightly older although I’m glad to say it steers well clear of being patronising.As a snapshot of social history, it works well enough but the tone being told through family stories passed down when Emily was in old age, lacks any real insight into the subject herself which is a great shame as the story without it feels as though it has been painted with very light brush-strokes.Not my favourite of Noel Streatfeild’s books by a long way but not a bad little book for some insight into the tales those who worked across the turn of the century told to those they loved.

This is just a rambling story about nothing much. I thought I was buying a book about a real nanny, not a work of fiction, I will pay more attention in future! I did finish it, but I have forgotten it already, very dissapointing .

A rather plainly written book (I googled it and apparently this one is "edited" so perhaps was not finished and put together from notes or something). There are lots and lots of characters without too much description at all so it's a bit tricky to keep track of who is who and what is what. Don't expect any descriptive prose or adjectives - it's very bare. It would probably be better as a film. It was ok though and I did read right to the end, so it wasn't that bad.

Such a mistake to re read this book tonight. A window into another world, a lost land- a glimpse of my grandparents’ life and times.Every simple chapter is beautifully written , so evocative and poignant.The last lines left me in tears ( again) and would make any reader think of their own parents and grandparents and the heroic, stoic, decent , honourable lives they led; against all the odds, in the face of injustice and inequality, Nanny and the millions of working class Britons of those times and later ( the WW2 generations too ) are an inspiration to us now .I love this book.

'Tea by the Nursery Fire' tells the fictionalised, presumably, true story of legendary Streatfeild nanny Emily. I found it a little saccharine and without much conflict.Emily's rosy nursery microcosm is one where the worst that can happen is a ripped dress and spoiled milk pudding. But, inevitably, times are changing. It is the start of the 20th century, the gentry are losing their power in local society, and the milieu of the domestic servant is beginning to vanish with them. And, of course, war is looming. Will Emily's world and that of the family she works for survive?It isn't particularly well-written - lot of cliches. But excellent value for money if you are looking for pure escapism.