The Long Weekend: Life in the English Country House, 1918–1939

English historian Tinniswood has written a fascinating history of life in the English country house between the world wars. A weekend retreat for the elite, the homes were used for social gatherings, hunting parties, and as symbols of social status. The years following World War I saw the steady decline of these estates, as high taxes and other factors put a strain on their owners. Tinniswood focuses in each chapter on an individual aspect, ranging from social manners and daily life to the design, interior decor, and renovations (electricity and swimming pools were must-haves). In addition to the tantalizing descriptions of the architecture and furnishings, the book is sprinkled with colorful personalities such as the fabulously wealthy politician Philip Sassoon, who entertained artists and celebrities at his sybaritic mansion, Port Lympne, and interior decorator Sybil Colefax, whose clients were sometimes baffled to find that their furniture did not match and their library curtains were hung inside-out. Steven Crossley's refined narration is perfect for the subject matter, sounding like he just stepped out of a scene from Downton Abbey.