“The sun is rising behind Downton Abbey, a great and splendid house in a great and splendid park. So secure does it appear that it seems as if the way of life it represents will last for another thousand years. It’s won’t.”
Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most critically acclaimed television show” for 2011, Downton Abbey has taken the world by storm. The massively popular show was originally intended as a one-off miniseries; it did so remarkably well that the second season is now airing in the U.S. (having already aired in the U.K.) and a third season is in the works.
To complement the show, Jessica Fellowes (the niece of Downton scribe and executive producer Julian Fellowes) has written The World of Downton Abbey. Both a behind-the-scenes look at the show and its characters and a remarkably detailed exploration of British history at the beginning of the 20th century, The World of Downton Abbey is an impressively researched book every fan should have. Written with the cooperation of many members of the television show’s production crew, the book is both gorgeous, thanks to numerous photographs from the set, and well-written and engaging.
The book is divided into several chapters that delve deeper into the different aspects of life in England in the years leading up to and during the First World War. Chapters such as “Family Life,” “Society,” “Life in Service” and “House & Estate” provide a closer look at the day-to-day process of keeping a large country home like Downton functioning and thriving. Using the characters as examples, Jessica Fellowes explains how a young man like William or a young woman like Anna might get their start as a servant to a great family, while also outlining the history that brought American heiresses like Cora to England so they could marry into the aristocracy.
Other chapters (“Change” and “War”) focus on the vast and numerous changes that accompanied World War I. Here, the history is particularly important as it helps clarify the issues behind the storylines in the television show. The rise of socialism, the Irish troubles, and the general weakening of the power of the older generations all offer ample inspiration for the writers and the actors. Perhaps the most fascinating realization from The World of Downton Abbey was the realization that, in many ways, the world of Downton and the lives of its inhabitants act as a metaphor, mirroring our own rapidly changing world:
Life at the turn of the twentieth century was not so different from our own a hundred years later. Just as ongoing developments in technology influence the way we communicate, travel, life and work now, the Edwardians labored to adapt to the fast, furious arrival of abundant inventions. (pg. 72)
Throughout each chapter, there are sidebars filled with pictures and more details about specific characters or positions within the Downton world or a closer look at one aspect of the television show. Fellowes often includes notes about real people who inspired certain characters (for example, the real newspapers magnates who gave life to Sir Richard Carlisle) or insights about the skills and education a servant might need to perform their job. Additionally, the book is peppered with quotes from producers, actors, and the television show itself, offering an intimate glimpse of how this intricate and well-staged world comes together.
The World of Downton Abbey is as lavish as the Earl of Grantham’s drawing room and as practical as the maids’ uniforms. Brimming with information, details and histories, it is an indispensable companion to the enormously popular television show. It’s an absolute must-have for any Downton Abbey fan.
[Photo Credit: Goodreads]




