The Governess Takes Center Stage in These Six Historical Fiction Novels

A deliciously unhinged slice of victoriana, this is one of my favourite governess stories to date.

When the Pound family welcome their new governess to Enscor House, they have no idea what they are letting themselves in for. On the outside Winifred Nottey is the perfect Victorian governess: polite and dutifully tutors and cares for her charges. But on the inside Winifred is deranged, dark and hell-bent on revenge. And she has a plan for Christmas day that isn’t quite the jolly celebration they are expecting.

An absurd story of feminine rage, revenge, dark humour, brutal murder, a high body count, and perfect Victorian politeness, I loved every minute of this book. Winifred is an unforgettable anti-hero that is now amongst my favourites of all time. I highly recommend reading  this one now before its upcoming adaptation.

All alone in the world, Elspeth takes up the position of nanny and governess on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea. Her new charge, Mary, is a troubled child who hasn't spoken a word since the sudden death of her twin brother, William, and the disappearance of their former nanny. No one will speak of what happened, and in a desperate attempt to help her charge, Elspeth searches for answers. But the islanders remain defiantly silent and close ranks to protect their own. Then there is the strange whistling that Elspeth hears at night. Is the house haunted? Or is there a more human explanation?

This unsettling gothic tale is one you need to read in the daytime. A sensational debut, it is a heart-rending exploration of loss and grief expertly merged with the chills of a ghost story. 

West Yorkshire, 1904. Newly graduated nurse Ruby May has taken a position as governess for the children of Charles and Lilian England. As Ruby settles into Hardcastle House she begins to sense that something isn’t quite right with Mrs England, a distant and cold woman who shows little interest in her children or husband, Charles, a charming man who welcomes her warmly.

Ruby is suspicious of Mrs. England, and strange events soon reveal that things aren’t quite what they seem, forcing Ruby to face her demons in an attempt to stop history repeating itself.

A slow-burn story, it has an iciness running through it that I felt deep in my bones thanks to the vivid imagery of the bleak landscapes and the sense of menace pervading the halls of Hardcastle House. Haunting and suspenseful, this is a must-read. 

After learning she is to become governess to the daughter of Sir William Prichard, Marta travels to Fyneshade, an ancient, bleak and decaying house located in the wilds of Derbyshire. Isolated and eerie, it is the kind of place where the walls bleed malice and the air is thick for foreboding. And all is not well with Marta’s pupil, Grace, who she finds is unteachable.

This is a story of dark secrets, betrayal, temptation and the supernatural where the monsters don’t only lurk in the shadows, but in our own minds. Marta is the antithesis of the innocent, meek and trusting protagonist we often see in gothic fiction. She knows how to use her dark craft to play the game, making her more than a match for untrustworthy staff and a family hiding a murderous secret. Bewitching and disquieting, this is one I still think about years after reading.

Newly widowed Margaret Lennox accepts a position as governess at Hartwood Hall in the hope that the isolated country house will be the new start she needs. But it isn’t long before Margaret feels that something isn’t quite right at her new home and begins to wonder if there are dark secrets being hidden at Hartwood Hall.

Margaret is a compelling, intelligent and fierce protagonist but we also get the idea that she’s running from something, both literally and figuratively. I loved the bond she shared with her young charge, Louis, who is a strange, sickly, isolated but sweet child. Claustrophobic and haunting, this Victorian gothic mystery is a magnificent debut.

This is a fictionalised account of the lives of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret based on the true story of Marion Crawford, a young woman who came from nothing and became the governess to a future Queen. But this was no ordinary governess. Sassy and innovative, Marion was a trailblazer who exposed the young Princesses to fun and normal things like bus rides and shopping at Woolworths.

Woven into the narrative is a backdrop that features some of the most dramatic events in history including the Abdication, the Coronation and World War II. Meticulously researched and wonderfully written, this is an intimate glimpse behind the pomp and ceremony of England’s first family and the life of a governess.