From the time of its television debut on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre, Downton Abbey has been a phenomenon with American audiences. Each week, millions of viewers tune in to see what will happen in the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and the servants in their employ. The four seasons that have aired in the United States at the time of this writing have seen the Crawleys and their staff survive tragedy and triumph through some of the most turbulent years of the 20th century. Not only has Downton inspired numerous tie-in books, both official and unofficial, but it has also caused a boom in both fiction and nonfiction set during the Edwardian era, especially works with a similar view of the goings-on in a stately home, both upstairs and downstairs.

The Edwardian world is recognizable to us in numerous ways, yet there’s still an air of the glamorous living of bygone days running through Downton Abbey and the many books and shows inspired by it. A good number of our modern creature comforts—indoor plumbing, automobiles, electric lighting—entered the homes of the wealthy during this era. It was a time of profound political, social, and cultural change, as women fought for (and eventually earned) the vote, the map of Europe was redrawn following World War I, and new employment opportunities made life in service less appealing to the lower and middle classes. Critics of the show maintain that it romanticizes an era when aristocrats enjoyed lavish lifestyles at the expense of everyone else. The majority of historical fiction to some extent does romanticize the era in which it is set. Several recent works of non­fiction, however, provide more realistic views of the struggles of servants at the time.

Current fiction set during the Edwardian era tends to stick to the show’s formula—sweeping sagas featuring wealthy families in varying states of financial trouble, which is often exacerbated by the Great War. The young women tend to have a strong interest in women’s rights and often find themselves assisting with the war effort on the home front.

Downton is hardly the first TV show about the Edwardians to make a splash with American viewers. In the mid-1970s, Upstairs Downstairs made its U.S. debut on PBS following a popular run in the UK. That show also follows a wealthy English family and their quirky servants navigating changing times. A two-season miniseries, produced between 2010 and 2011, returned viewers to 165 Eaton Place, now inhabited by a different family. Set during the years preceding World War II, the miniseries featured similar production values to Downton Abbey, with lavish sets and stunning costumes.

In the early 2000s, PBS also broadcast a number of reality television programs that placed modern families in historic settings. Manor House, which aired in 2003, the Edwardian-era installment of the show, provided a fascinating view of the disparity between the aristocrats upstairs and the staff toiling below. The producers did a fine job of ensuring that the cast stuck to their stations—which led to a number of awkward and uncomfortable situations when modern ideas about equality and gender clashed with Edwardian beliefs.

The centennial of World War I and the continued success of Downton Abbey will continue to pique readers’ and viewers’ interest in this era for years to come; your library can be prepared using some of the materials described below. Starred () items are essential purchases for most collections.

Nanette Donohue is the Assistant Manager of Adult Services at the Champaign Public Library, IL, a position she has held since 2013. She is the crafts and fiber crafts columnist for LJ and a former fiction reviewer. If she had come of age in Edwardian England, she would probably have been a housekeeper

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Englund, Peter & Peter Graves. The Beauty and the Sorrow: An Intimate History of the First World War. Knopf. 2011. 560p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307593863. $29.95.

Englund and Graves profile the Great war through the diaries, letters, and reminiscences of 20 people who lived through the conflict. While many are soldiers or medics who served on the front lines, others include bureaucrats and schoolchildren caught up in the momentous events. (LJ 10/15/11)

Fellowes, Jessica & Matthew Sturgis. The Chronicles of Downton Abbey. St. Martin’s. 2012. 314p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781250027627. $29.99.

This companion book to season three of Downton Abbey includes biographical sketches of the major characters, from the earl and countess to kitchen maid Daisy. Fellowes places each character within his or her historical context and includes historical photographs as well as stills from the show.

Fellowes, Jessica. The World of Downton Abbey: The Rivalry and Romance Revealed. St. Martin’s. 2011. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9781250006349. $29.99.

The companion book to the first two seasons of the show provides historical context on 1912 to 1918, including the shifts that took place in upper-class life before and during World War I. Fellowes’s thematic coverage carefully relates the factual information to the fictional world (e.g., the discussion of women’s roles during the war addresses Lady Sybil’s work as a nurse and Lady Edith’s work as a farmhand).

Lethbridge, Lucy. Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times. Norton. 2013. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780393241099. $27.95.

Lethbridge relies on primary sources, including letters, diaries, and interviews, for this social history of servants of the late Victorian era through the close of the 20th century. The years covered represent the decline of the profession, in terms of both rank and prestige, and Lethbridge analyzes the reasons behind this decline, from modern conveniences to growing opportunities for members of the social classes who traditionally entered service. (LJ 9/1/13)

MacColl, Gail & Carol McD. Wallace. To Marry an English Lord: Tales of Wealth and Marriage, Sex and Snobbery. Workman. 2012. 403p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780761171959. pap. $15.99.

MacColl and Wallace’s entertaining look at the world of the Dollar Princesses—American heiresses whose fortunes shored up the crumbling English aristocracy—was an inspiration for Lady Cora Grantham’s character in Downton Abbey. The authors cover everything from upper-class etiquette to gossip-worthy accounts of society weddings, in pages that are illustrated with plenty of photographs of the women and their world. (LJ 10/15/89)

Maloney, Alison. Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants. Thomas Dunne: St. Martin’s. 2011. 192p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781250017659. $23.99.

Maloney makes good use of primary resources in this brief overview of the roles, rules, and duties of Edwardian servants that explains everything from the below-stairs structure of a wealthy Edwardian household to what servants did for fun on rare time off.

Tuchman, Barbara. The Guns of August. Random. 1994. 608p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780345386236. pap. $18.

Though the centennial of World War I has led to a boom in books about the war, a classic history of the era was written in 1962. Historian Tuchman traces each day of the first month of the war in this exhaustive, meticulously researched account of the events and battles that shaped this years-long conflict whose repercussions are still felt.

FICTIONAL ACCOUNTS

Bradford, Barbara Taylor. Cavendon Hall. St. Martin’s. 2014. 406p. ISBN 9781250032355. $27.99.

Bradford is no stranger to the family saga—her popular Harte series follows a wealthy English family through the 20th century—and this Edwardian-era drama follows the lives of the Inghams, masters of Cavendon Hall, and the Swanns, their servants. Glitz, glamour, and drama abound; parallels to Downton Abbey do, too.

Brown, T.J. Summerset Abbey. 2013. 320p. ISBN 9781451698985. pap. $15.

Brown, T.J. A Bloom in Winter. 2013. ISBN 9781451699050. pap. $16.

Brown, T.J. Spring Awakening. 2013. ISBN 9781451699067. pap. $16.

ea. vol: Gallery: S. & S. (Summerset Abbey).

Rowena and Victoria Buxton were raised by free-spirited parents alongside Prudence Tate, their governess’s daughter—an unusual arrangement at the time. When Philip Buxton dies, an uncle who has altogether different ideas about what is proper for young women gains custody of the girls. Separated from Prudence, who is now a lady’s maid, the sisters rebel against societal constraints just as their parents did.

Cooke, Elizabeth. Rutherford Park. Berkley. 2013. 324p. ISBN 9780425262580. pap. $16.

Lady Octavia Cavendish seems to lead a charmed life on her husband’s palatial Yorkshire estate. But beneath the opulence lies a woman who is bored with the constraints of nobility, children who long for a life different from their parents’, and servants with troubles and concerns of their own. A sequel, The Wild Dark Flowers, continues the family’s story in the postwar years.

Goodwin, Daisy. The American Heiress. St. Martin’s. 2011. 480p. ISBN 9780312658656. $25.99.

Cora Cash’s story is a familiar Gilded Age tale—an American heiress with a grasping mother intent on marrying her daughter into the British aristocracy. The nobles were all too willing to take on these American wives, whose money could salvage their rundown estates. (LJ 4/1/11)

McLoughlin, Rosemary. Tyringham Park. Atria. 2014. 471p. ISBN 9781476733104. pap. $16.

The mysterious disappearance of the two-year-old daughter of the Blackshaws, a wealthy family living at the titular estate, brings a number of long-held secrets to light. The Blackshaws’ marriage is troubled; their eight-year-old daughter, Charlotte, longs for her parents’ love. McLoughlin explores a darker side of Edwardian/postwar wealth. (LJ 11/15/13)

Riley, Lucinda. The Midnight Rose. Atria. 2014. 490p. ISBN 9781476703572. pap. $16.

Riley’s multigenerational saga opens in 2000, with 100-year-old Anahita reminiscing about the events of her storied life—her friendship with an Indian princess, her wartime journey to England as the princess’s companion, and her thwarted romance with an English noble. Paralleling Anahita’s story is the tale of Rebecca Bradley, an American actress who meets Anahita’s great-grandson while filming in England. The two discover a tragic secret, hidden for generations, that could change their lives. (LJ 2/15/14)

Rock, Phillip. The Passing Bells. 448p. ISBN 9780062229311. pap. $15.99.

Rock, Phillip. Circles of Time. 448p. ISBN 9780062229335. pap. $14.99.

Rock, Phillip. A Future Arrived. 480p. ISBN 9780062229359. pap. $14.99.

ea. vol: Morrow. (Greville Trilogy). 2013.

Originally published during the 1970s, at the height of Upstairs Downstairs mania, Rock’s trilogy follows the wealthy Greville family as they navigate the changes wrought by the war. As with Downton Abbey, it’s a family saga featuring plenty of drama; unlike Downton Abbey, the portrayal of the horrors of World War I is quite detailed and graphic. The full trilogy spans the years from 1914 through the 1930s.

Solomons, Natasha. The House at Tyneford. Plume. 2012. 368p. ISBN 9780142196694. pap. $15.

The era is different but Solomons’s novel has plenty of appeal for Downton Abbey fans. Elise Landau and her family flee Vienna as the Nazis encroach on the city. The family are unable to secure enough visas to send everyone to America, so Elise goes to England to work as a maid at the English estate owned by the wealthy Rivers family. While adapting to a life of hard work she falls in love with Kit Rivers, setting the scene for an upstairs/downstairs romance. (LJ 12/11)

Weldon, Fay. Habits of the House. 2013. 336p. ISBN 9781250042903. pap. $14.99.

Weldon, Fay. Long Live the King. 2014. 368p. ISBN 9781250049322. pap. $14.99.

Weldon, Fay. The New Countess. 2014. 336p. ISBN 9781250028020. pap. $25.99. (LJ 11/1/13)

ea. vol: St. Martin’s. (Love & Inheritance).

Weldon, who wrote the pilot episode of the original Upstairs Downstairs, returns to the Edwardian era with the tale of the ­Dilbernes, a once-grand family striving to regain former glory. Poor investments and rising expenses have left the Earl of ­Dilberne with no choice but to marry off one of his sons to an American heiress, but this infusion of new money has unanticipated consequences. Weldon’s return to her roots is as enjoyable as those early episodes of Upstairs Downstairs, mixing high drama and historical accuracy with humor.

Wharton, Edith & Marion Mainwaring. The Buccaneers. Penguin. 1994. 418p. ISBN 9780140232028. $16.

Wharton was one of the great chroniclers of Gilded Age excess—several of her novels drew from her experiences as a wealthy woman of the era. Her final novel, unfinished at the time of her 1937 death, follows five young Americans—the original wave of 1870s “Dollar Princesses”—as they husband-hunt among the English aristocracy. Though it was first published in its original form, two attempts have been made at completing the story—one by scholar Mainwaring (published in 1993) and one the BBC adaptation of the novel, which aired in 1995.

GILDED LIVES

Balsan, Consuelo Vanderbilt. The Glitter & the Gold. St. Martin’s. 2012. 304p. ISBN 9781250017185. $25.99.

Originally published in 1953, Balsan’s first-person account of life as a Dollar Princess revealed the pain behind the glamour. Balsan’s mother, Alva, was one of the era’s most ambitious socialites—she wanted nothing less than a duke in her family. Enter the Ninth Duke of Marlborough, who had the title but lacked the finances to maintain his lavish lifestyle. The couple’s eventual divorce was quite the scandal, but the poor little rich girl eventually finds her happy ending.

Carnarvon, Fiona, Countess of. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle. Broadway. 2011. 310p. ISBN 9780770435622. pap. $15.99.

The Countess of Carnarvon, who lives at Highclere Castle (where Downton Abbey is filmed), capitalizes on her home’s fame as the author of biographies of notable women of Highclere. Lady Almina, the subject of her first book, is similar to Cora Crawley—the daughter of a wealthy American industrialist who makes a surprisingly successful match with an English noble and whose wealth maintains the historic home. Carnarvon’s second book, Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey, follows another American who married into the family, focusing on the 1920s and 1930s.

Ridley, Jane. The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince. Random. 2013. 752p. ISBN 9781400062553. $35.

There would be no Edwardian era without Queen Victoria’s son Bertie, who lived life to the fullest while waiting to ascend the throne. Like the era he lent his name to, Bertie was a fan of good living, fancy parties, and quiet yet passionate liaisons. Still, he became a model king whose reign helped move Britain into the modern era. Meticulously researched and unsurprisingly dishy, Ridley’s biography is the definitive work on this fascinating historical figure. (LJ 1/14)

Sebba, Anne. American Jennie: The Remarkable Life of Lady Randolph Churchill. Norton. 2007. 416p. ISBN 9780393057720. $26.95.

The toast of London society, Jennie Jerome married well, but unlike many of her contemporaries, maintained an active social presence following her marriage. She was a liberated woman when such behavior was rare. Her beloved son Winston became one of the 20th century’s great leaders—and Jennie was one of his greatest influences.

Stuart, Amanda Mackenzie. Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and Mother in the Gilded Age. Harper. 2007. ISBN 9780060938253. pap. $17.99.

Consuelo Vanderbilt is most often remembered as a tragic figure who endured a loveless marriage, and her mother Alva as a pushy social climber who encouraged her daughter’s unfortunate match. But there’s far more to the Vanderbilt women than a marriage gone bad. Stuart explores the complicated relationship between mother and daughter, delving into their legacy as activists for women’s suffrage and their contributions to the arts and the war effort.

BEYOND BOOKS

In addition to all four series of Downton Abbey currently available on our shores (Season 4, LJ 2/15/14), the complete series of the original Upstairs Downstairs and the recent Upstairs Downstairs sequel, all of which are available on DVD or streaming video, the following nonprint resources may also be of interest to Downton fans:

The Duchess of Duke Street. (DVD) Acorn Media. 2012.

Widely regarded as the BBC’s answer to ITV’s Upstairs Downstairs, The Duchess of Duke Street follows the rise of Louisa Leyton, a scullery maid–turned–chef in Edwardian London. Though the aristocracy makes cameo appearances, the focus of the series is the women and men in service and Louisa’s determination to improve her station in life.

The Forsyte Saga. (DVD) BBC Home Entertainment. 2003.

The second television adaptation of John Galsworthy’s trilogy (the first was produced in the late 1960s) stars Damian Lewis as solicitor Soames Forsyte, whose sole drive in life seems to be possessing the things he desires, regardless of the personal or financial cost. Spanning the late 19th century through the 1920s, The Forsyte Saga, like Downton Abbey, presents the long view of history through the eyes of a singular family. (LJ 6/1/04)

ITV: Downton Abbey. itv.com/downtonabbey

Though U.S. viewers won’t be able to watch easily videos of the current season of Downton Abbey, there’s plenty of other content on the official UK website for the popular show, including quizzes, casting news, photographs, and interviews with cast members.

Mr Selfridge. (DVD) PBS. 2013.

The era is the same, but the setting is different in this ITV production, which follows the rise of Harry Selfridge, founder of the eponymous (and storied) London shopping emporium. Downton Abbey fans who are curious about what urban life was like during the Edwardian era will find clues here—as well as some of the reasons why young women gravitated toward new industries such as retail rather than lives in service. Like Downton and Upstairs Downstairs, Mr Selfridge focuses both on the wealthy and the working class and presents a view of how the Great War changed lives and society. (LJ 6/1/14)

The National Archives: First World War. nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-subject/firstworldwar.htm

The UK’s National Archives has a variety of primary source material from World War I available online, including service records, cabinet papers, and war diaries from British army units. An online exhibition highlights some of the collection’s most fascinating materials (and is appropriate for use in educational settings).

1918: The Sunshine After Rain. (CD) Archeophone Records.

Archeophone, a record label specializing in music of the acoustic era, has produced a series of CDs featuring original recordings of popular music from the 1900s and 1910s. The 1918 installment of its “Phonographic Yearbook” series features a number of iconic recordings of popular music of the era, including Enrico Caruso’s rendition of the wartime classic “Over There,” as well as some early jazz recordings.

PBS: Manor House. pbs.org/manorhouse/index.html

The website for PBS’s reality series Manor House, which placed modern Brits in a historically accurate Edwardian-era manor, contains historical information about the lives of aristocrats and servants of the time, as well as a quiz to determine your possible occupation during the era and Edwardian-era recipes.

Secrets of Highclere Castle. (DVD) PBS. 2013.

The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon open up their ancestral home beyond what is seen in Downton Abbey in this documentary, originally aired in the United States on PBS. Featuring interviews with the Earl and Countess, as well as their butler, chefs, and gamekeepers, Secrets of Highclere Castle provides viewers with insight into the running of an English estate, as well as a glimpse of its storied history. (LJ 6/1/13)