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The Real Downton Abbey: An Unofficial Guide To The Period Which Inspired The Hit TV Show (2011)

by Jacky Hyams(Favorite Author)

3.22 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1843584042 (ISBN13: 9781843584049)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

John Blake Publishing, Limited

review 1: I am a big fan of the TV.show, Downton Abbey. I have been interested in reading about real life below stair servants and staff ever since. This book gives a lot of good information about the lives of staff during the Edwardian era. which is the very late 1800s to around the start of World War One. It also gives information about the rich aristocratic families who owned these Stately homes. I liked how they started with the lowest position and worked up to the butler and head housekeeper and described each one of their duties, hours worked and pay. It was interesting to read that there was snobbery between the upstairs staff and the below stairs staff. the book went on to describe many topics of living during those years, the long hours worked, the food the rich ate and wh... moreat the staff had for food. the outfits the rich wore often changing four or five times a day. what the rich did for entertainment. the gossip amongst the staff of what happened upstairs. the scandals that occurred with the rich. and many other topics. A good read. I learned quite a bit about this era. and those big houses and the staff and rich who lived there.
review 2: We know that the "reel" world of Downton Abbey is nothing like the real world was at that time. The show gives us some glimpses into trials and tribulations like the dangers of childbirth and the illnesses that swept through areas but this book by Jacky Hyams takes us further behind the green baize door.It's true on either side, the toffs have their own hassles and problems in life. But it's the servants who really do the heavy lifting and often have little to show for it. Hyams examines all aspects of life for the Edwardian era and beyond. It's interesting and gives you a better basis for the series.My favorite fun fact: hostesses entertaining the King at a house party had to not only make sure the monarch's latest mistress was in a nearby room, there had to be a roast chicken on the nightstand in case His Majesty got hungry during the night. Who knew? less

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