1932. Dunfermline, Scotland. Marion Crawford, a bright, ambitious young teacher, is ready to make her mark on the world. Until a twist of fate changes the course of her life forever.
1936. Windsor Castle. At first this ordinary woman is in a new world, working as governess to two young princesses Elizabeth & Margaret, in a household she calls home but where everyone is at a distance. As the course of history changes, she finds herself companion to the future Queen, and indispensable to the crown. And slowly their needs become her needs. Their lives become hers. It’s then she meets George, and falls in love for the first time. Now Marion faces an impossible choice: her sense of duty or the love of her life.
This book is based on fact & I loved the mix of fact & fiction. The timing of the book couldn’t be better as the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth have just taken place. I loved it & although it’s not a short book, over 500 pages but it felt shorter as the pages flew by & I read well into the night to finish it. I loved the author’s books & this is one of her best. An emotional read & my heart went out to Crawfie
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Marion’s Crawford (known as Crawfie in the Royal household) sacrificed so much of her life for those she loved. My heart went out to her. She was accepted to attend Glasgow University and she was excited to fulfil her ambition to help under privileged children, but instead she caught the attention of the royal family and found her path led her in a completely different direction. As a governess for the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret she could help nurture their young minds, affording them opportunities that they otherwise would not have. Unfortunately she was taken advantage of by someone she trusted and her life took an about turn. I was left feeling rather emotional upon finishing this novel. I was so sad that she never got to cherish so many special moments, and that she was consumed with guilt for a large portion of her life, not living completely in the moment. Faultless writing, in multiple points of view ensuring the reader an entertaining, emotional and highly enjoyable, and might I say educational read. A story based on true events, but still fictional, as, like most things, only those directly involved will ever know the true story. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This is a fictionalised account of Marion Crawford who was governess to Queen Elizabeth and her sister Margaret. Marion wrote a book about the princesses and was turfed out her grace and favour cottage and the royal family never spoke to her again.

Although I enjoyed the story I'm now left wondering which parts were true and which were not. No one really knows if Marion wrote the book for her own gain or whether she was coerced into it by either her husband or a magazine or both.

In the story I didn't like Marion's husband right from the start and wonder at her being so naive when she was a clever person. Her mother was horrible too according to Fern's book.
Most of what was real in the book can be found online with no trouble. The rest of it as Fern said is fiction. I feel different from all the five star reviews and feel this was hastily written for the jubilee year in the hope that it will sell more copies.

I have to say I have loved all Fern Britton's other books.

This was a delightful story about the Royal family and Marion Crawford who was governess the the two princesses. The story has two parts. The first part is a detailed story about the princesses and those that cared for them. The second part is very sad with Crawfie being manipulated and then disgraced and her husband who she had waited eleven years to marry, was a drunkard and a wastrel..

Fern is a wonderful author as shown by this novel. I really enjoyed it especially as I did not know very much about Elizabeth growing up nor about Crawfie’s involvement. It was written so well I became completely enthralled by it. An excellent book - thank you Fern, you do not fail to deliver.

This was a fictional account of a true story and I loved it! It wouldn’t have been my usual choice but I was curious about it as it had been written by Fern Britton. It was beautifully written and gives the reader an insight into what life might have been like for the young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Marion Crawford was their young Scottish governess throughout their childhood and she was a likeable, if somewhat gullible, character. She developed a close relationship with them and gave up her own life to devote herself to their care. Unfortunately, it all goes horribly wrong and I was left feeling incredibly sad about how life develops for Marian. We will obviously never know the true story, but I finished this book feeling as though I can now form my own opinion,
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to enjoy this book,

I love Fern Britton’s style of writing about Cornwall but this book is very different. All I can say is Wow I couldn’t put it down. The book is about Marion Crawford who ended up as governess to the two princesses, princess Elizabeth and princess Margaret for eighteen years. It was meant to be a temporary post before going to university.

Marion’s ambitions get swept away as the Queen ignores her requests to leave to go to university. Marion’s mother is very manipulative and pushes her towards George, a man not worthy of her love and whose greed causes her life to change. A really interesting read that I would recommend

Fantastic book well worth 5stars. Based on true story it follows the story of a governess to the then Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. It follows the ups and downs of her life both within royal circles and her private life. You are left to decide was her end life deserved or not. This reader thinks not! Thanks Fern and to your publishers. Thanks also to NetGalley.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This was the story of Marion Crawford, in 1936 she worked for the Royal Family, a Governess for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.

It was an enjoyable read but, felt sad Crawfie, as the princesses named her, naively, started a relationship with George, and married him but later realised he wasn’t what she expected, and was the cause her life was ruined.

This book was an insight to life within the palace.

Recommend this book.

This was my first Fern book and I loved it!
The Good Servant is a beautifully written fiction-based view of an authentic story. It portrays real events involving Marion Crawford who worked as a governess for the Royal Family around 1936 accommodating both Princess Elizabeth and Margaret for almost 18 years. I sincerely enjoyed this story. All the historical details and the royal atmosphere and aesthetics were very interesting and beautiful.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of The Crown or any other royalty inspired movies.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC.

I've read all of Fern Britton's other books and enjoy them. This is a total departure since it's not set in Cornwall and is historical fiction based on a true story. The book is being released at an extremely relevant time since it is about the Queen's governess and covers the early 1930s through the death of King George V, the abdication of Edward VIII, World War II and the ensuing peace. All of these events are viewed through the lens of Marian Crawford (or "Crawfie") and Fern Britton has clearly done a lot of detailed research. The book takes us behind-the-scenes and tells the story of someone we don't hear much about who always tried to be a good servant who puts the Royal Family first and makes a number of heavy sacrifices.

I became very invested in the plot and enjoyed the historical aspect and the different angle. I wanted to know what was going to happen and the book kept me turning the pages. It also led me to do some of my own research since I found it very interesting and thought-provoking. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance copy of The Good Servant in exchange for an honest review.

Fern has surpassed herself with this novel. What a fascinating story and so timely as we celebrate 70 years of the Queen's reign.
Although fiction, this novel is based on a true story. Marion Crawford, or Crawfie as she was affectionally known, was governess to Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret and privy to many important stories, occasions and gossip during her tenure. Fern has painted a portrait of a naïve young Scottish woman who spent her child bearing years looking after the Princess' whilst postponing her own marriage.
I I would love to learn more about Marion, but ultimately the reader is left eo question some of her motives.
Highly recommended.

Another fantastic book from Fern Britton. Great characters and what felt like a well researched plot.
Look Forward to the next book.

I’m so sad, this wonderful book about Marion Crawford…Crawfie, who gave so much for the royal family and was treated abysmally by them, an innocent lady of the times, easily manipulated by those around her. Obviously this is a fictional account of what happened however, based on fact, so I think gives a fair interpretation of what went on. It has made me wonder how many other servants of the royal family received similar treatment?

It’s a really interesting read, beautifully written, different for Fern Britton but thought provoking and leaving you wanting to find out more about poor Crawfie

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Equally Sparkling…
A sweeping fictional account based upon the life of a real person, Marion Crawford, a Scottish educator who became a Royal governess to two princesses and companion to the future Queen. As lives entwine and needs change, Marion meets and falls in love with George but soon faces a seemingly impossible choice. With meticulously crafted characters and an immersive storyline this is a wholly enjoyable read which is quite apart from this author’s usual fiction but equally as sparkling.

I love Fern’s writing and I have devoured all her Cornish books. This is a new departure, but just as good. It is a fictionalised account of Marion Crawford’s time as governess to the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and the subsequent problems at her retirement. I knew something of the story but reading this was so fresh and absorbing with the descriptions of the times. Written sympathetically I felt it was researched really well. Totally enjoyable and topical in this 70th year of our Queen’s reign.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC in return for a totally honest review.

This is a fascinating chronicle of the dramatic events that befell the UK during the mid-twentieth century. Involving the death of King George V, the abdication of Edward, WWII, then the death of George VI followed by the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II. All as seen from the other side of the divide by the Royal governess of the little Princesses. It is in one part a biography of the life and times of the governess Marion Crawford, a socialist Scot from the highlands, given responsibility for the education and development of the children into adulthood while also relating to her ill-fated relationship with charming spiv posing as a respectable Amy Major who she married after her retirement. The story also intertwines with events in relation to the work of Sir Alan a royal courtier. A charming story that ends rather tragically due to Marion’s worldly naivety which causes her to end her life in a lonely friendless old age.

Not what I was expecting when I started this book. A fictional account of a factual character who I knew very little about, this is a different style of book for the author.

The Good Servant is a fictionalised story of real events involving Marion Crawford who worked as a Governess for the Royal Family in 1936 looking after the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret for 18 years .I really enjoyed this book but was sad that Crawfie as she was nicknamed was so innocent and naive that she became involved with George who she eventually married but was not what he seemed and ruined her life really .It was lovely to get an insight into Palace life especially so close to the Jubilee .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

I have read Fern Britton books before, so was intrigued to discover a very different read to her usual genre.
I was totally hooked right from the beginning- what a story about love, loyalty, and naivety and the monarchy.
I would thoroughly recommend to others. Thank you for this ARC.