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93rd out of 354 books
—
607 voters
The Real Life Downton Abbey: How Life Was Really Lived in Stately Homes a Century Ago
by
Jacky Hyams (Goodreads Author)
Fans of Julian Fellowes' hit showcan stepback100 years to the world of the pampered, privileged upper classes and take a look at exactly what goes on behind the magisterial doors of their favorite stately home
Using the characters and setting of the popular television show as a point of reference for the reader, this is a closerlook at the Edwardianperiod. They were the sup...more
Using the characters and setting of the popular television show as a point of reference for the reader, this is a closerlook at the Edwardianperiod. They were the sup...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
January 6th 2012
by John Blake
(first published January 1st 2011)
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It does seem that these days you need to throw in the words “English Manor” or “Downton Abbey” if you want to sell a book or video. The hit PBS series Downton Abbey has done so much to promote interest in another time and era just like Upstairs Downstairs did in the 1970’s. Many viewers are suddenly interested in reading about and watching the English manor life of the early 1900’s. This book, The Real Life Downton Abbey, tries to tell you how life really was for both the upstairs and downstairs...more
I always mean to read more of these kinds of books, the books that tell me what it was really like in the historical periods I like to watch and read fictionalized versions. And yet . . . I don't feel like this one really taught me anything new. (Though, granted, I guess it might have if I hadn't already read The World of Downton Abbey and Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey" this year.)
It was also written with too modern a view...more
It was also written with too modern a view...more
I thought this novel would give me more information about the Masterpiece Theatre series, a more in depth analysis of the characters and plot of the previous seasons. It is an indepth look at how life was during the era, looking at it from the perspective of the royalty vs. servants, as it's title implies. Chapters are designed from these two perspectives, i.e. what did the servants eat vs. royalty, medical care, uniforms,etc. It was interesting and seemed well researched. I will look at the nex...more
This book was ok to me. It seems pretty thorough in going through each character on the show Downton Abbey, providing the actual details of the average person in that lifestyle during that time period. It compares the television character's life to actual, specific people of that time period. I did learn alot but at times it lacked cohesion and just seemed like a list. Perhaps that was because I have an emotional attachment to the characters on the show as I am a fan. I do recommend this book th...more
Finally finished this book. It's not a difficult read by any means but lately I have only been reading during my daily commute. Even then I could have finished earlier but reading it in this fashion made me lose interest after a while. I guess what I'm saying is you might enjoy this book more than I did if you simply sit and read it rather than nibbling at it like a carp.
Anyway, it's a fun read filled with lots of fun facts and vignettes. I really liked it when Hyams would specifically point ou...more
Anyway, it's a fun read filled with lots of fun facts and vignettes. I really liked it when Hyams would specifically point ou...more
I thought this book lacked organization, or perhaps I just didn't understand/see the reasoning behind how the material was presented. The book could've been shorter, as there were many cases of the same information being dispensed more than once.
The part about the Titanic was very interesting, as well as the tracing of the beginnings of the NHS. As I suspected (the author did point this out), the servants at Downton Abbey fare far better than most country estate in-service staff.
The part about the Titanic was very interesting, as well as the tracing of the beginnings of the NHS. As I suspected (the author did point this out), the servants at Downton Abbey fare far better than most country estate in-service staff.
The Real Life Downton Abbey: How Life Was Really Lived in Stately Homes a Century Ago.-- Although there was a bit of repetition, and no conversations to US dollars, this was an informative read about the English Edwardians and the people who served them. The excesses were detailed and juxtaposition next to the lives of the servants. This look at English life was fascinating. 257 pages
Skim read the first fifty pages in an hour last night and not bothering with the rest. This book can't decide what it wants to be and was clearly published in a rush to capture the wave of interest after Downton Series 1. It's neither a guide to the show, nor a good popular history of service in Edwardian Britain. Read Alison Maloney's 'Life Below Stairs' instead.
A very interesting look back at the way servants/staff was treated by the aristocrats not to mention each other. The one character at Downton that is truly realistic is "Dowager Countess Violet" aka Maggie Smith. A good book for anyone who likes the Edwardian Time Period.
I really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately, the author's style and comments really turned me off of the book in the long run. He's snide about the upper class -- he refers to them constantly as Toffs throughout, and regards them as parasites. The lower classes aren't too well regarded, pretty much being too terrified to really do anything to improve their lot. There are far better books that tie into Downton Abbey out there, but this is not one of them. Overall, a not recommended and ju...more
I found this book insightful and full of fascinating facts and statistics, however it seemed to read more like a general look at the history of the time period as opposed to a study of one, or a few, stately homes of the time.
Very lightweight. But if you are a fan of downton abbey, this book provides a lot of interesting historical details and why's about the Edwardian times and both the aristocracy upstairs and servants downstairs
This book answered all the questions I had about the "Downton Abby" lifestyle and more. If you want a peak at "the rules" they lived by,and there were many, you have to read this.
The show presents the servants lives as the gold standard as opposed to reality. This book proved to me that I could never live either as a servant or their employers back in the day.
Great little book on the mechanics of life and etiquette during this time period. It would be handy to have if you were writing a story set in this era and wanted to get the details right!
This book was very interesting and a "must" for all Downton fans. It explains a lot and also makes me understand where some things we do today come from.
This book is very informative. This way of life, for both those upstairs and downstairs, seems unfathomable to me. I felt the author tried too hard in parts of the writing, but I generally enjoyed the book.
Extremely British. I was halfway through the book before I realized that the phrase "mod cons" meant "modern conveniences". Explains the downstairs hierarchy - not a bit the working peoples' democracy we might imagine.
Anyone else watch this series?
I am OBSESSED!!!!!!!
I am OBSESSED!!!!!!!
Feb 27, 2013
Chele Lee
added it
great guide for those that want to go into domestic service in the early 1900's
Interesting.
This was a fun, informative book. Great for all Downton Abbey fans. It is written by a British author so occasionally a British term or two. Each chapter covers a different section of life in a wealthy home usually starting with how the lord and lady and their family were expected to behave then the upper servants down to the lowly kitchen maid, poor Daisy.
didn't really finish the book. read what I wanted to know. book was so-so.
Very interesting to learn about all the ins and outs of life in a British country house.
May 18, 2013
Ellen
marked it as considering-reading-these
May 16, 2013
Giulia Naccarato
added it
May 16, 2013
Mina
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Hadyn Thomas
marked it as to-read
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History, especially the 20th Century, is a real passion for me. Yet I didn't start writing about it until quite recently because my career as a journalist and editor took up all my waking hours! I started out as a feature writer, in Sydney Australia, on magazines like Woman's Day, Cosmopolitan and Rolling Stone and my career as a columnist and movie writer took me all over the world for many years...more
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