The World of Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs Downstairs

by Mollie Hardwick

From the front "The television series 'Upstairs, Downstairs' -- a brilliant portrait of British life during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries -- continues to enchant audiences all over the world. With this book author Mollie Hardwick gives us a closer, more detailed vew of that fascinating period. She weaves the story of the Bellamy household into the historical and cultural background of England from the turn of the century to the Great Depression. This book chronicles this time -- of contrast, of social upheaval, of progress - - in an immensely readable text that is richly illustrated with hundreds of old photographs, posters, drawings, and television stills.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1976

About the author

Mollie Greenhalgh Hardwick was an English author who was best known for writing books that accompanied the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs.

As well as writing many Upstairs, Downstairs, Thomas & Sarah and The Duchess of Duke Street novels, she was also the creator of the Doran Fairweather novels and wrote three Juliet Bravo books. Hardwick also wrote many books and plays based around the Sherlock Holmes novels. She married fellow author Michael Hardwick in 1961.

Series:
* Upstairs Downstairs
* The Duchess of Duke Street
* Thomas and Sarah
* Juliet Bravo
* Doran Fairweather

Reviews

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're interested in British history covering the 1890s through the Great Depression, you may find this fascinating. Aside from Upstairs, Downstairs (if you've never watched this show, some of the parts about the main characters won't mean much to you), this also provides good historical background for Downton Abbey. This 1976 release features stills from the tv show, and even better yet real photos from that time period - honestly, my favorite part. I'm glad I just happened to stumble upon this at the library.

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has seen all of the "Upstairs, Downstairs" episodes at least twice, I really enjoyed this book. Mollie Hardwick gives the history of what was going on in England at the time when "Upstairs, Downstairs" was depicted. She tells what the downstairs staff may have been doing on their personal time, what the upstairs family was doing in accordance with the times, etc. It really enhanced my memories of the TV show.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book described how a typical upper class Victorian British household was run. Interesting, especially after having seen the BBC series.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the subtitle says this is a history from 1897 to 1930 and the Bellamy/servants place in it. This is one of my favourite shows watched it repeatedly. The book is written in a friendly narrative and parallels the show's place to the history. The book mostly concentrates on politics, social history, and entertainment. This is the period in which entertainment entered into the home with the telephone and radio. So much happened in this period from the Victorian era of pom and circumstance along with strict social attitudes to the time of machines for the home, and aeroplanes. I read the book over a day and found the illustrations/photos fascinating.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you didn't watch the show you wouldn't understand the parts about the family. However, the history that goes along with the show was good.

[Alethea Hammer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good basic sociological history of England during the era in which the series was set. Fun for fans of the show.

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume connects the history of the fictional Bellomy family and their downstairs servants with actual events in the real world including the Boer War, the Titanic sinking, the Great War, the advent of the automobile and so on. Especially interesting are the comments on social class mores in early 20th century Britain. The book ends poignantly with the Bellomy's elegant furniture being moved out of their urban mansion in the 1930s at the height of the great depression and the end of the Upstairs Downstairs era.