Margaret Powell's life in service began at the age of 15. As a kitchen maid in one of London's great houses in the 1920s, work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were.
Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids' curlers to the story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlourmaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress' nephew, Margaret's tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation.
Tales Below Stairs is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman, who, though her position was lowly, never stopped aiming high.