The Long Weekend (Adrian Tinniswood)

Adrian Tinniswood’s The Long Weekend is a brilliantly paced read on the golden era of the English country house between the two world wars.  Tinniswood’s historical work touches on all facets of life in the 1920’s and 1930’s for Britain’s political class, nobility, and socialites -- from the architectural look of the country house to the lifestyle of those who resided in it. Details about the lives of the Astors, Windsors, and Churchills and their estates are given proper coverage…and of course, Edward VIII’s many, many ladies.

The era and lifestyle of many of those who resided in these homes would closely resemble that of the popular British show Downton Abbey, and Tinniswood’s well-researched work closely overlaps the time of the show, extending beyond its ending to cover the golden era’s decline and the fate that many of these homes faced in later years.  Unlike the Granthams of Downton fame, however, many of the residents of these country homes were not there full time, living primarily in London or in some cases even the United States, utilizing these properties for weekend or holiday use.

The author crafts together a fast-paced but intellectual read (290 pages can be trotted through with ease), full of detail of both sophistication of the elite and the sophistry of affairs, double lives, and of lifestyles that were frowned upon in an earlier time.  It’s arguably one of the finer books on the subject of English 20^th Century life and certainly well worth your time to read over a long weekend…or a short vacation!

MY RATING - 5

Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey (Emma Rowley)

Like everyone on the planet (it seems), I am obsessed with this British TV import. While the USA has certainly churned out its fair share of great, "make you think" shows, I've really been into Brit entertainment lately (Broadchurch was one of my favorite shows of 2013).  Maybe it's the accent...who knows?

Emma Rowley's Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey does exactly what its name implies.  This is a must-read for those who love the show as much as I do, as it takes you backstage to see how the show is filmed. Much of the reason why Downton Abbey is so successful is because it is meticulous about making sure every detail is correct.  They even go so far as to have a historian on set, because in a house that big it really mattered how things were done.  No detail is too small, from making sure the footmen serve dinner on the correct side and that the Marcel wave isn't introduced too early to be historically inaccurate.  From the costume designers to the makeup artists to the prop masters, everyone ensures that this is a true period piece.

Rowley spends just as much time going behind the scenes with the servants as with the family.  As fans of the show know, the house could never run as smoothly as it does without Mr. Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Patmore, and the rest.  It's interesting to learn that the servants' quarters are filmed not at Highclere Castle, but at a studio a fair distance away.  But of course, you would never know that just by watching the effortlessly edited show.  These little tidbits make Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey a blast to read for faithful viewers.

MY RATING - 5