Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey - The Countess of Carnarvon

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey

By The Countess of Carnarvon

  • Release Date: 2011-12-27
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4
4
From 426 Ratings

Description

The real-life inspiration and setting for the Emmy Award-winning Downton AbbeyLady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon.

Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war. Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home. Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman.

This rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle.

Reviews

  • Great History

    5
    By Food at
    Great. Well written. Smoothly read. Amazing detail.
  • Time and Place

    4
    By Fpiano
    The reviews for this book are a little baffling. Either tripe or treasure. It's really a perfectly nice light biography that has good information about the conventions of these people and those around them. It's also a very good history of life on the home front during World War I. The author can probably be forgiven for leaving out some of the more scandalous aspects of these people since they are her predecessors at Highclere. On the positive side she probably has unique knowledge of the place and people. The book did end very suddenly. Almina died in the 1960s in poverty. This is left out completely. Why didn't her relations step in and help? Very curious.
  • Better than D. Abbey

    5
    By I eat books
    Amazing read. If you like Downton Abbey, this book will transport you!
  • Lady Almina and the Real Downton Anby

    5
    By Cwrj
    A simply wonderful book. Full of joy and tragedy, regarding the Great War. Everyone should take the time to sit down and be introduced to these wonderful people and the extravagant lives they led. Kate
  • Fascinating

    5
    By Malted2480
    I expected to read a very dry account of facts. Instead, I devoured a very substantial meal of meaty stories and colorful narrative. This book is fascinating.
  • The Countess of Carnevon

    5
    By The real Downton Abbey
    Lady Almina and the real Downton Abbey caught my attention about page 22. I knew I wanted to read it all and dream about Highclere and a life of high society even if it was in the 1800' s. Thank you for a trip to Highclere. Maybe one day I can drive by. And see the castle from afar. Sharon W. Tuscaloosa, Al. USA.
  • Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey

    4
    By Chilequile
    A must read for English history buffs and Downton Abbey fans. Lady Almina was a force to be reckoned with. Skillfully written and historically documented, this book tells the powerful story of Lady Almina, the Fifth Countess of Highclere. Her efforts on behalf of the wounded soldiers in the Great War are remarkable. Her efforts are tireless. So too remarkable are the efforts of the Fifth Earl in his pursuit of uncovering Egyptian antiquities. Yet there is love and mutual respect between the Countess and the Earl that is palpable. A great book that leaves the reader wanting more.
  • Great book!

    5
    By DaKoda1
    If you like Downton Abbey you will love this book. Very well written and full of interesting information about the Carnavon family, their amazing castle and those who worked so hard to make their lifestyle possible. Now I have to try and find another read as good as this one!
  • Worth the read

    3
    By JPS7719
    This book was interesting but dragged on a bit. It felt like a term paper with facts lined up in order, but lacked dynamic energy. If you are a downton fan, it's definitely interesting to see the parallels.
  • Tripe-Trout/Tripe-Trite/Trout-Tripe

    3
    By GillianZyland
    Well, she may have meant a "Trope". Tripe is one, isn't it? But it depends -- is this all about baiting fishes? If so, maybe it's a Trite Trout Trope. Ergo, depending on your point of view, that really could be absolute Tripe. (You'll just have to read the book to make up your mind. ;)

Comments