“… and the Crawleys are still here.” These lines spoken by actress Shirley
MacLaine summed up the feelings of millions who have been following the story
of Lord Grantham's family, their friends, and their servants. While the story is more soap opera than
history, the show does give viewers a bit of insight into life in the early 20th
century. Whether you’re taken by the
class dynamics, the shifting social mores, the incredible costumes and sets, or
the whole family saga, we have books that will add to your enjoyment. They're also a good way to pass the time if you're on reserve for the DVDs of the first two seasons!
World of Downton Abbey features wonderful color
photos, additional information on the cast and characters, and an overview of
British society at the time. The
informative text is by Jessica Fellowes, niece of TV series writer and creator Justin
Fellowes. There is some production
information, but the book is more concerned with story and setting which makes
it a treat for Downton fans. In fact, it
was so well received that a second book, Chronicles of Downton Abbey, came out
in 2012. Also by Jessica Fellowes, this
book picks up after the “Great War,” as the Roaring Twenties begin.
Filming for the series is done at Highclere Castle, home of
the Earl of Carnarvon. The real family
has a fascinating story of its own: the
Fifth Earl sponsored Howard Carter in his Egyptian excavations that resulted in
the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. His second wife, Lady Almina, was an
heiress who opened Highclere as a hospital for wounded officers during WWI. (Downton Abbey’s Cora is very loosely based on
Almina.) Her story is told in Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey
which was written by Fiona Carnarvon, the present Countess of Carnarvon.
If you’re interested in the real story of those in service
at the time, then try Below Stairs:
The Classic Kitchen Maid’s Memoir That Inspired “Upstairs, Downstairs”
and “Downton Abbey” by Margaret Powell.
Her personal story of life as a kitchen maid in a London house in the
1920s caused a sensation when it was originally published in 1968. It remains
one of the most memorable books about the era as seen from a member of the
working class.
Unsurprisingly, the popularity of the series is inspiring
other novels set in the same time period.
Ashton Park by Christian author Murray Pura is the first in a series
about another family of a Great House, set during World War I. As to jacket copy says, “Join the lords and
ladies, servants, and household staff of Ashton Park as they face the perils of
war and affairs of the heart.” Just in
case you don’t see the similarities, the line below it reads, “If you’re a fan
of Downton Abbey, you’ll enjoy your visit to Ashton Park.”
Downton viewers who tuned in early may have been attracted
to “Call the Midwife,” a new series based on the memoirs of former nurse
Jennifer Worth who worked in the East End of London after World War II. At the time, about half of the births were
home births; living conditions were dreadful; and medical care was scanty at
best. Worth’s book Call the Midwife
became a bestseller, and it was followed by two more. Worth was praised by the Literary Review as “a
natural storyteller” and her book as being “gripping, moving, and convincing
from beginning to end.”
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