This coffee table book takes the reader into the world of the PBS Masterpiece show Downton Abbey with many, many on-set pictures of the cast and crew as well as taking us into the world of the lords, ladies, and servants who filled Britains country houses at the turn of the century.
The inspiration for the series came from an Academy Award-winning film called Gosford Park that Julian Fellowes wrote, which had as its setting a large country house in November 1932. The film focused on a shooting party and their servants were the primary characters.
Having watched the series on PBS, I can honestly say I did not expect to like it; it seemed very stuffy, very stiff-upper-lip. But as I continued watching and getting involved in the lives of the three daughters of Lord and Lady Grantham (Sybil, Mary, and Edith) and as I saw the scheming between Thomas and OBrien in the servants quarters, I grew to love the characters and the show.
If you are a fan of the show, pick up this book and begin reading. You will be surprised at how historically accurate the show is, from costumes to set design. The book also includes snippets of the shows wry dialogue and interviews with some of the main characters actors. Highly recommended.
