The Secret Countess cover art

The Secret Countess

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Secret Countess

By: Eva Ibbotson
Narrated by: Sian Thomas
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £5.02

Buy Now for £5.02

About this listen

Eva Ibbotson's charming and warm-hearted tale, The Secret Countess, was originally published as A Countess Below Stairs.

Anna, a young countess, has lived in the glittering city of St Petersburg all her life in an ice-blue palace overlooking the River Neva. But when revolution tears Russia apart, her now-penniless family is forced to flee to England. Armed with an out-of-date book on housekeeping, Anna determines to become a housemaid and she finds work at the Earl of Westerholme's crumbling but magnificent mansion. The staff and the family are sure there is something not quite right about their new maid – but she soon wins them over with her warmth and dedication.

Then the young Earl returns home from the war – and Anna falls hopelessly in love. But they can never be together: Rupert is engaged to the snobbish and awful Muriel – and anyway, Anna is only a servant. Or so everybody thinks . . .

©1981 Eva Ibbotson; (P)2009 Macmillan Digital Audio Fiction Growing Up Historical Historical Fiction Russia War
All stars
Most relevant
Brilliant book, gorgeous narration. Spoilt by being abridged, they've taken the loveliest and funniest bits of Eva Ibbotson style out.

Shame its abridged

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As always, an enjoyable Ibbosson story but sadly it felt so short. Enjoyable all the same.

such a shame it is abridged

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The only thing I disliked was the ridiculous chirpy back announcement cut straight onto the end of the last sentence. This is just bad production - PLEASE leave a few seconds for our reflection. “Audible hopes you have enjoyed this” indeed!

Charming story superb.y read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is one of my favourite books, a real shame I can't find it as an unabridged audiobook anywhere. Simple story but very comforting.

Would have been 5 stars if unabridged

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book but was sad it was an abridged version which I hadn't realised. don't really see the point of abridging it anyway. it lost some of the lightness and humour but still a pleasant listen

nice but abridged

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews