RHYS BOWEN: Actually my book came out last Tuesday, on the same day as Julia's new book. But since she hadn't had a book out for five years and mine appear with monotonous frequency I stepped aside and let her have last Tuesday. As you probably heard we had a fantastic event at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, with Jenn as our host. You can still watch it on the Poisoned Pen Facebook Page or on their YouTube channel. When I last checked it has had over 2000 views. Not bad!
SO let me tell you a little about the book. FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE is number 19 in the Royal Spyness series. If you remember Lady Georgie coming down to London in the first book called HER ROYAL SPYNESS she is camping out in the family's London house, trying to survive alone for the first time with no money. She makes some bad mistakes, mixes with the wrong people and survives more than one assassination attempt.
But she is still here after 19 adventures as a sleuth. What's more she has married and now has a son. Hooray for Georgie!
This book gives us a glimpse into the life of a British aristocrat at the time, in that Georgie now has a baby. She's been enjoying looking after him herself (with the help of one of the maids who does the unpleasant stuff like dirty diapers so she's never exactly slumming it like us). But all the time she knows she really should hire a nanny. It is expected of her class in society.
In aristocratic famlies the nanny actually raised the child. Not only did she feed and care for him or her but she instilled the correct values to make him a future leader of the Empire or her a mother of future leaders. So she had to be not only a good caregiver but morally sound.
The only time the parents saw their child was when he or she was brought down into the sitting room at tea time, nicely dressed for the occasion, to interact with the parents whille Nanny hovered in the backround. Remember the episode of Downton Abbey when Lady Violet complains about how demanding it was to be a parent. And Mrs. Crawley says "I bet you only saw the children for an hour when Nanny brought them down" and Violet says "Yes, but it was an hour every day."
We know from The Crown that the queen felt a failure as parent because she was never shown how to hold and love her children. I'm so glad that William and Catherine are really hands on parents. Their kids won't grow up nearly as repressed as Charles.
It seems so odd to us, doesn't it? And sending boys off to boarding school at seven. But that's always how it was done. I suppose it was rather like Sparta. Those boys had to grow up strong and resilient because they'd be in the army in India or running something in Africa. My own husband went to boarding school at ten, then worked in Nigeria, then Malaysia, Indonesia. And let me tell you, they are not very good at expressing feelings!
Anyway, Georgie knows she needs a nanny, but when one appears on her doorstep Georgie has second thoughts. Nanny Hardbottle is not the warm and fuzzy type. Poor litte James. Will he survive? Will Georgie survive? She can't get rid of her right away for various reasons, but one of them is that someone seems to be bumping off eldest sons of the aristocracy. Will Darcy be next?
If you've already read the book let me know what you think. An please leave a review on Amazon. It does help.
Would you have liked a nanny when raising your kids?
Rhys, I am so excited to have this book, both the hardcover and the audiobook. Georgie is one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite series! It won't be a surprise to me when she overcomes her fear of that dreadful nanny and sends her packing. (She will, won't she?) She's faced murderers with more strength and evil intent! I promise to review it when I've read it. I usually try to read Reds' new books immediately, but this is a very busy book birthday season.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
Thank you. Enjoy!
DeleteHardly monotonous Rhys! I have your book right on my nightstand--next up!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Rhys! In general, I was very happy to raise my kids myself. But there were times when a nanny would have been very helpful. Like when I wanted to have an hour to myself!
ReplyDeleteYou mean five minutes? I remember sitting on the toilet and hearing Mummy! Are you in there?
DeleteThat too. LOL
DeleteCongratulations on your new book, Rhys . . .
ReplyDeleteChildren are a blessing . . . no, I would not have wanted my children to have been raised by a nanny . . .
Thank you, Joan
DeleteCongratulations! That has to be the best evil-nanny name ever, Rhys.
ReplyDeleteNo nannies for me, although the after-school teenage babysitters were a godsend. The family with four teen children lived across the street, so no driving was involved. All three daughters and the son babysat, in sequence.
I used teen babysitters too. Sand my own girls made good money babysitting
DeleteCongratulations Rhys! I never felt the need for a nanny, although I was working full time plus overtime and trying to balance all the responsibilities. My son's sweetie is working as a nanny for a wealthy family, and has done this work for other families. It's pretty demanding and exhausting and she's quite critical of some of the parents (not her current employers) for the lack of time and attention they have for their children.
ReplyDeleteThey make good money these days!
DeleteI would have liked to have had a live in to help out with daily cleaning, meal prep, etc. But, I never felt the need for a nanny. I guess it would depend on how many children in the family and if both parents are working full time.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Rhys on your new book and for sharing the background. I'd love to hear more about your husbands upbringing - it sounds very British and interesting.
I think his upbringing was hard. Sent to boarding school in the middle of the war. His poor mum must have worried so much!
DeleteSo fun celebrating Georgie #19! And for those of you who watch it, Rhys read a scene to us at the end of the Pen interview that is HILARIOUS! Don’t miss it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us. It was indeed fun
DeleteThat looked like a very fun event...loved the video.
DeleteCongratulations on your new book. I loved From Cradle to Grave. I already reviewed your book and I’ll double check to see if it’s online. It’s on my list of best books of the year.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, I always had babysitters who knew. I didn’t know anyone who had a nanny when I was growing up.
My American relatives, from my age group, hired a nanny to take care of their children. The parents worked 24/7 so they needed someone to take care of their children while they worked. Taking care of children is an important responsibility.
So glad William and Catherine are hands on parents. I cried when I read about Charles’ brother in law Charles Spencer’s experiences at boarding school.
Charle’s own experience was even worse!
DeleteMy brother wanted me to be just the babysitter to his two babies, but we weren't raised with nannies and I sure couldn't help but loving those babies. Still do! And I can't see that loving a little boy would've made them weaker growing up (historically speaking).
ReplyDeleteReally looking forward to this one, Rhys! One of the things I enjoy about working part-time at the library is that I get to share authors/books with a wider group of people, not just friends and family.
Thank you, Flora
DeleteOnce again, your character names slay me! Nanny Hardbottle already conjures a personality of a battleax so I can't wait to read all about her. As to the nanny question, I think I would have preferred a bit more education and guidance personally on raising a child and if a nanny could help, I'd go for it. I do think in the early months when you are so bleary eyed you can't see to find the baby in the crib, much less figure out what to do once you find the child, yes I would have welcomed someone to take those late-night feedings. -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteYou’re right. A good kind nanny would have been a great help in the first months!
DeleteRhys, Nanny Hardbottle is one of your best character names, ever, and you have some doozies. I'm listening to the audio book and absolutely loving it as usual. Not quite finished but I have to say the scene with Georgie and Fig is the best:-)
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of help from my mom when my daughter was a baby, and my mom had a lot of help from her mom, who came to live with us when I was born. And she was known as Nanny by the family!
Congratulations, Rhys!
ReplyDeleteNo nanny for me, but then, no kids either so I don't qualify for a comment.
Nanny Hardbottle? I love this book before even opening it. Of course, it is in my short stack on my bed, which is the place where books go that I will absolutely read, at the top of the list. All the Jungle Reds' books take a direct route to my bed. There are plenty of other books I plan on reading, but they reside in Basket 1 or Basket 2 or Table 1 or Tub 1 and so on. The Books on My Bed, a name I think I'll use in my blog if/when I restart, instead of The Books on My Nightstand. I have to say I love being in bed with my bed books.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have wanted a nanny to raise my kids. I wanted to hug and love on them too much to hand them over to anyone else. I did have a lady come in for a while who was great with the kids and couldn't stand sitting still, so she would do my laundry and some housekeeping, too. That was so I could still work in my husband's business at the time. Then, I started doing the work at home after two years or less. I'm one of those moms who hated to see summer end and the kids go back to school because I loved them being home. Of course, now I'd need several nannies. OK, time for knee therapy appointment.
Sadly , I had to finish the book I had to return to the library before beginning yours.
ReplyDeleteBut today is the day. After my volunteer action, I’ll go home to begin reading From Cradle to Grave.
I’m sure to enjoy it greatly as always
My book came yesterday and I can't wait to see how Georgie manages to run the nanny off! Sending young boys off to boarding school sounds brutal. Did Darcy get trundled off too?
ReplyDeleteCongrats Pat D on your book as well.
DeleteHmmm...would I have wanted a nanny? Sure, everyone can use some help. We didn't have a nanny growing up, but we did have the wonderful Viola Barrett, who did everything from cooking to babysitting to housekeeping. There were five of us, so once my parents had to go to zone defense, she was a big help. Her influence was not---philosophical, you know? I'm not sure what I learned from her except partience, and oh, to put sweet pickles into deviled eggs and sugar in tuna salad.
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to Georgie #19! In answer to your question: Heck no! We had three sons, for better or worse. Why should a nanny have had all the fun? Lenita
ReplyDeletelol why should a nanny have all of the fun? Love that
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