AUDIOBOOK
About
A stunning first novel that tells a story of love and duty colliding on the arid plains of apartheid-era South Africa
When Cathleen Harrington leaves her home in Ireland in 1919 to travel to South Africa, she knows that she does not love the man she is to marry there-her fianc├® Edward, whom she has not seen for five years. Isolated and estranged in a small town in the harsh Karoo desert, her only real companions are her diary and her housemaid, and later the housemaid's daughter, Ada. When Ada is born, Cathleen recognizes in her someone she can love and respond to in a way that she cannot with her own family.
Under Cathleen's tutelage, Ada grows into an accomplished pianist and a reader who cannot resist turning the pages of the diary, discovering the secrets Cathleen sought to hide. As they grow closer, Ada sees new possibilities in front of her-a new horizon. But in one night, everything changes, and Cathleen comes home from a trip to find that Ada has disappeared, scorned by her own community. Cathleen must make a choice: should she conform to society or search for the girl who has become closer to her than her own daughter?
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful yet divided land, The Housemaid's Daughter is a startling and thought provoking novel that intricately portrays the drama and heartbreak of two women who rise above cruelty to find love, hope, and redemption. Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
"If you loved The Help, try The Housemaid's Daughter…The friendship at its center will
leave your heart singing."
"Told from an interesting perspective and in a clear, sincere voice, this is a compelling story that sweeps readers into the life of a woman caught between two worlds, whose forbidden friendship with her mistress leads to tragedy and triumph. Poignant and gripping storytelling holds readers from beginning to end in this book that is as thought-provoking as it is lyrical."
"In this moving first novel, Mutch's lilting prose summons the stark South African landscape, making readers feel the heat of the Karoo Desert and fear the rising waters of the Groot Vis. More than that, Mutch conveys the joys of dancing and music, the exultation of hope and courage, and the pain of being ostracized for one's skin color. Rich in detail and subtle in its politics, this affecting novel tells a poignant, inspiring story."
"Mutch's sprawling debut spans five decades of South Africa's richest-and most painful-history…A vividly drawn setting and Ada's consistent, special voice drive the story and keep the pages turning."
"A shared love of the piano brings two women together across the racial divide of apartheid South Africa…Mutch's…setting is a fascinating one, and she does an excellent job of showing the horrifying effects of apartheid law on individual lives. The book may hold special appeal for music fans thanks to the numerous classical and South African jazz pieces lovingly referenced throughout."
"A compelling story…Ada's voice is by turns as
lyrical and fierce as the music she plays on her beloved piano…Mutch evokes
compassion for this stark and beautiful land and for the characters who strive
to find their place amidst the turmoil that grips it."
"[An] exquisite debut
When Cathleen Harrington leaves her home in Ireland in 1919 to travel to South Africa, she knows that she does not love the man she is to marry there-her fianc├® Edward, whom she has not seen for five years. Isolated and estranged in a small town in the harsh Karoo desert, her only real companions are her diary and her housemaid, and later the housemaid's daughter, Ada. When Ada is born, Cathleen recognizes in her someone she can love and respond to in a way that she cannot with her own family.
Under Cathleen's tutelage, Ada grows into an accomplished pianist and a reader who cannot resist turning the pages of the diary, discovering the secrets Cathleen sought to hide. As they grow closer, Ada sees new possibilities in front of her-a new horizon. But in one night, everything changes, and Cathleen comes home from a trip to find that Ada has disappeared, scorned by her own community. Cathleen must make a choice: should she conform to society or search for the girl who has become closer to her than her own daughter?
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful yet divided land, The Housemaid's Daughter is a startling and thought provoking novel that intricately portrays the drama and heartbreak of two women who rise above cruelty to find love, hope, and redemption. Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
"If you loved The Help, try The Housemaid's Daughter…The friendship at its center will
leave your heart singing."
"Told from an interesting perspective and in a clear, sincere voice, this is a compelling story that sweeps readers into the life of a woman caught between two worlds, whose forbidden friendship with her mistress leads to tragedy and triumph. Poignant and gripping storytelling holds readers from beginning to end in this book that is as thought-provoking as it is lyrical."
"In this moving first novel, Mutch's lilting prose summons the stark South African landscape, making readers feel the heat of the Karoo Desert and fear the rising waters of the Groot Vis. More than that, Mutch conveys the joys of dancing and music, the exultation of hope and courage, and the pain of being ostracized for one's skin color. Rich in detail and subtle in its politics, this affecting novel tells a poignant, inspiring story."
"Mutch's sprawling debut spans five decades of South Africa's richest-and most painful-history…A vividly drawn setting and Ada's consistent, special voice drive the story and keep the pages turning."
"A shared love of the piano brings two women together across the racial divide of apartheid South Africa…Mutch's…setting is a fascinating one, and she does an excellent job of showing the horrifying effects of apartheid law on individual lives. The book may hold special appeal for music fans thanks to the numerous classical and South African jazz pieces lovingly referenced throughout."
"A compelling story…Ada's voice is by turns as
lyrical and fierce as the music she plays on her beloved piano…Mutch evokes
compassion for this stark and beautiful land and for the characters who strive
to find their place amidst the turmoil that grips it."
"[An] exquisite debut