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The Wet Nurse's Tale Paperback – August 3, 2010

by Erica Eisdorfer (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 184 ratings
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A debut novel set in Victorian England with a delightfully cheeky heroine who will have everyone talking.

Susan Rose is not your average Victorian heroine. She's promiscuous, lovable, plump, and scheming. Luckily for Susan, her big heart is covered by an equally big bosom, and her bosom is her fortune- for Susan becomes a professional wet nurse, like her mother before her, and she makes it her business to know all the intrigues and scandals that the upper crust would prefer to keep to themselves.

When her own child is caught up in a family scandal, Susan must use all of her street smarts to rescue her baby from the powerful mistress of the house. The scheme she weaves is bold and daring, and could spell ruin if she fails-but Susan Rose has no intention of failing.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Berkley
  4. Publication date
    August 3, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    5.13 x 0.8 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0425234479
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0425234471
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

aI really loved this book. Erica Eisdorfer managed to completely vanish into the voice of her really appealing narratorathe plucky, somewhat randy, always sympathetic, and certainly never boring professional wet nurse, Miss Susan Rose.a
aElizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love"

About the Author

Erica Eisdorfer was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, and graduated from Duke University. She was the book reviewer for WUNC, an NPR affiliate, for eight years. Eisdorfer has managed the Bull’s Head Bookshop, the trade bookstore on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for twenty years. She lives in Carrboro with her husband and two daughters.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley; Reprint edition (August 3, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425234479
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425234471
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.13 x 0.8 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 184 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Erica Eisdorfer

Erica Eisdorfer

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Erica Eisdorfer was born in Durham, North Carolina. She and her two brothers spent a lot of time in trees. Due to birth order and bossiness, she was always the admiral, the head chef, the teacher, the mayor and the president in the tree game of the moment. Finally her brothers realized that they didn't have to take it anymore and went off to play with their trucks, leaving her alone forever. It was then that she began to love reading.

She attended public schools in Durham, NC in the sixties. She recalls the smell of curing tobacco at recess. She recalls her parents hosting a "flower power" cocktail party for their friends. She recalls her second grade teacher who, when they were recently united by a social networking site, told her that when she (the teacher) had applied for the job at Hope Valley School, she (the teacher) was asked two questions, to wit: a) are you on a mission? b) are you taking birth control pills?

For the past 25 years or so, Erica Eisdorfer has managed the Bull's Head Bookshop at UNC-Chapel Hill. Luckily for her, the gigantic Davis Library is mere steps from her office. Often, she takes books home for research on wet nursing, eclipses, baseball, women rabbis of the 70's, utopian communities...whatever project she's working on at the moment.

She lives in Carrboro, North Carolina with her husband and two daughters.

http://thewetnursestale.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
184 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

TAMSYN
5.0 out of 5 stars Rare to find a book this brutally honest but still uplifting
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2023
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The author lays bare the brutal realities of sexism, abuse, alcoholism, and poverty in Victorian England, but still gives us a spunky heroine who makes her own luck.
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Colleen T.
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Story!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2011
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I really enjoyed this! It was refreshing to read a book with a character so open, real and raw that you cannot help but feel for her at every turn. When Susan Rose's heart bleeds yours does right along with her. And when she triumphs, no matter how small, you cheer for her every step of the way. She is not perfect, as none of us are, but she is caring, strong and tough as nails when it comes to those she loves dearly.

Susan Rose is a young, large woman working in the Great House of her town along with some of her many siblings. There really isn't much else for a girl in her position to do as she is poor, uneducated and has an abusive, alcoholic father who cares more for the wages she can bring home then her happiness. Her mother is extremely loving, however, and has kept her family fed by being Wet Nurse to many children over the years. When the lonely, odd son of the Great House seeks comfort in Susan's embrace, her future is set on a course with some happiness and much heart break. She herself becomes a Wet Nurse and finds a calling she did not prepare for. She wants what most women want in this world: happiness, children and the love of a good man who will love her for exactly who she is. But how can she, Susan Rose, find that?

This book was a quick read and I enjoyed the author's writing style very much. Susan herself is the narrator of this journey and the book reads just as she would speak outloud to her "Reader" who she addresses directly throughout. I was sad to see this book end but will definitely keep my eyes out for future books by this author.
3 people found this helpful
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carla albano
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing commentary on classism versus the sacred role of nursing
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
Erica does a wonderful job of reminding the reader that classism knew no color or religious boundaries. The fact that the elite were able to forego and delegate a most intimate opportunity to bond wit their infants is horrifying, and Erica brought us a compassionate wet nurse who withstood unbearable abuse over and over, yet she unconditionally loved each baby who suckled at her breast. I can’t wait for your next book.
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FirefightersgirlinFL
3.0 out of 5 stars Slow start...
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2021
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I nearly gave up due to the slow start and confusion regarding people stepping in to share why they chose a wet nurse. But I did stick with it and am glad I did. 3+
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Reader Reader Pumpkin Eater
5.0 out of 5 stars A light, fun read for lovers of historical fiction
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
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This is such a fun story to read and I was sorry to see the end of the book. I love historical fiction with strong female characters, in real life situations of common people, rather than royal court intrigue types of stories. Told in the voice of an unapologetic promiscuous woman in a time when a woman's promiscuity could put them in prison, the protagonist is so likeable and funny, despite the trouble she gets herself into. Of course there is some tragedy in her life, as in all lives really, but she's a strong woman and finds her happiness where she can get it. This one will certainly be re-read many times. It's well written, with some tongue-in-cheek humor. I would love to see a sequel, or anything else by this author.
2 people found this helpful
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IamOneill
4.0 out of 5 stars Settle back with a nice cup of tea
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2012
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It's the kind of read, the type where you just ease into the story. A book where you can put your feet up, have a cup of tea and just disappear for a few hours. A tale that Is easy to follow and read, but not without depth or complexity. The author has obviously researched the time period and as a result the storyline is free of anachronisms. It was just a pleasure to read a well written story and to gain insight into a little known 'occupation'. It also gave a glimpse into our not all that distant past - but a time so incredibly different to the one we live in (and I'll take our time thanks very much).

I took off a star because there was one aspect of the storyline which I thought required a little too much suspension of disbelief.

So, if you enjoy Downtown Abbey, The Handmaids Tale or just a well written book then I think you'll enjoy this one. At $9.90 this was more than I would normally pay for a Kindle book but I felt it was worth every cent. I am not into historical or period dramas, but liked this one. Better to pay a few dollars for quality than to download rubbish for free.
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B. King
5.0 out of 5 stars My plea - Don't be put off because it's recommended by Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2011
Verified Purchase
I am so pleased that I did not see that Elizabeth Gilbert had recommended this book, otherwise I would not have purchased it. This story is in an utterly different style and class(read better)to Ms Gilbert's excessive self-indulgence, I'm afraid Erica Eisdorfer did herself an injustice by associating with Eat Pray Love. Eisdorfer pulls you in from the get go, and offers a somewhat unique perspective to the Victorian era. If you are not easily offended, you won't regret reading this tale. If you are in the mood for something a little different and have been intrigued by the comments, then look no further, you've found your next read. Definitely recommend for book clubs. Enjoy!!
3 people found this helpful
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Stardom
5.0 out of 5 stars An EXTRAORDINARY story... An EXTRAORDINARY READ!!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2011
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IMMEDIATELY, this writer pulls you into the lives of the working class poor of a past England. You become a privy to the simple desires and complicated sacrifices of a young woman lacking in beauty but blessed with witty intelligence. And with the turning of every page, you are newly faced with the daily frustration of being tossed about according to the whims of the wealthy. What makes this story truly unique is the entertaining cleverness of this atypical heroine, who refuses to simply accept her fate, but rather use every pound of her substantial frame to carve one more to her liking. I LOVED THIS BOOK and hated seeing the back cover!!!
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Christine Boos
4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and so honest!
Reviewed in Germany on January 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
What a delightful novel thanks to Susan, the main character! I liked her no nonsense way of living and thinking. I also enjoyed her fierce love for her child(ren), which led her to do some things I wouldn't do.... However, obviously we don't live in Victorian times, so I definitely don't judge some of her actions, I actually admire her courage and her striving for better conditions. Written in the first person, the novel is witty and also full of wisdom... Between each chapter is a reference letter explaining why a wet nurse was needed . I found this very interesting socially speaking even though these letters had nothing directly to do with the plot. The conclusion is not a surprising one, I liked it, but probably won't please all readers. I had a lovely time meeting Susan portrayed vividly by her own words.
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MissFitz
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2017
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A wonderful read, a great storyline, I would recommend it to anyone who like Historical fiction
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SMT
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2016
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A brilliant, bawdy, busty romp! and a great piece of historical fiction.
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