>The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons is one of those atmospheric novels that transports one to another age and creates a desire for the story to never end as we are caught up in another time.  Elise Rosa Landau is one of the privileged Jews in Vienna.  Her Mother is a famous opera singer and her father an accomplished writer.  Hitler is coming to power and life as they have known it is on the brink of disaster.  Her parents are hoping for a visa to escape to America, but Elise must get out of Vienna some other way.
Elise posts a refugee advertisement in the London Times:
Viennese Jewess, 19, seeks position as domestic servant.  Speaks fluid English.  I will cook your goose.  Elise Landau. Vienna 4, Dorotheegasse, 30/5.
She receives a letter in return from the housekeeper of Tyneford House who has been instructed by Mr. Rivers to offer Elise a position of house parlor maid,  He will sign the necessary visa application statements, providing that she stay at Tyneford House for a minimum of a twelvemonth.
This is the beginning of a new life for Elise and her family.  A life of tragedy and grief but also love.
The emotions of the characters, rich descriptive details of the beautiful coast of England and captivating story of life struggles for all classes during World War II create a wonderful novel.