Hilarious! After literally deciding "I'm bored" and getting a job in the servant class, she bumps her way up the kitchen career ladder in just a couple years, making almost every mistake that she possibly could along the way. Her poor ability at execution means that the good employers send her away and she's left with (mostly) the bad employers who can't afford anyone else. It's a good thing she didn't actually *need* these jobs. ( )

Former society girl Monica Dickens (great-grandaughter of Charles) decides her life of leisure and gaiety has no point and takes a series of jobs as a cook-general. She has no real qualifications and bluffs her way into various places and is suprisingly competent most of the time. However, it is her howling mistakes that make for the fun of this little memoir. Very enjoyable and lightweight.

This is such a surprising story for its time. Monica Dickens decides to go and find a job--because she's bored! Not only does she find a number of jobs, she sticks with a ridiculously difficult profession even though she has little need to do so. Her determination is admirable, and her insights into herself and others are sharp, uncompromising, and very funny.

it's interesting to compare this to the BBC Upstairs Downstairs series, which I'm currently watching on DVD; the Bellamys' servants had a life of unyielding hard work as well, but fared better than Monica in part because they worked together and relied on each other. Being a cook general was a lonely and thankless job no matter who the employer was.

Interesting reading. Set between WWI and WWII. author is great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens.

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/may06.html#dickensopoh ( )