If you enjoyed Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs, discover the reality of domestic service in the true story Below Stairs by Margaret Powell.
Below Stairs (Pan Real Lives)
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Review
'Anyone who enjoyed Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs will relish this feisty memoir' --Dame Eileen Atkins
'A nurse worked hard, but a skivvy worked harder - brought to life in this wonderful book' --Jennifer Worth, author of the Call the Midwife trilogy
'Despite Powell's cheerful voice, her depiction of life as a kitchen maid shows that it was far from rosy...her memoirs are spirited and heart-warming because of her, not because of her subject.' --Daily Express' Christopher Silvester
'Witty, wise and wonderfully cynical, Margaret's story is in a class of its own.' --Lancashire Evening Post
'A nurse worked hard, but a skivvy worked harder - brought to life in this wonderful book' --Jennifer Worth, author of the Call the Midwife trilogy
'Despite Powell's cheerful voice, her depiction of life as a kitchen maid shows that it was far from rosy...her memoirs are spirited and heart-warming because of her, not because of her subject.' --Daily Express' Christopher Silvester
'Witty, wise and wonderfully cynical, Margaret's story is in a class of its own.' --Lancashire Evening Post
Book Description
Arriving at the great houses of 1920s London, fifteen-year-old Margaret’s life in service was about to begin… As a kitchen maid – the lowest of the low – she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and even bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids’ curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlourmaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress’s nephew, Margaret’s tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation. Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants, Below Stairs is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman, who, though her position was lowly, never stopped aiming high. 'Enormous gusto, salty humour, wisdom' Evening Standard 'Shrewd, unabashed, wickedly funny, a unique front-line report of her life's experiences' Jack De Manio, BBC
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
76 of 78 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This first part of Margaret Powell's memoirs was originally published in 1968. With the interest that has been shown in such things as Downton Abbey, and the Christmas special of Upstairs, Downstairs it was about time that this book was back in circulation.
Margaret Powell was born in 1907 and this book tells of her life growing up in Hove in a working class family, the need she had to leave school as early as possible to bring in money thus preventing her from higher education. After a few jobs at 15, Margaret went into the world of domestic service. If like me you come from a working class family then it is likely that you have had now deceased relatives that also were in the same position, and have probably heard stories such as Margaret's of growing up and going to work.
From starting off in the lowest maids position Margaret eventually did become a cook, a highly important position. In this memoir we are shown how life really was, with no thrills added, what things had to be put up with, and the sheer drudgery of life. As the book progresses we do see a change in the way that the domestic staff are treated, which I know some may not think is much, but it was definitely a massive improvement. If you want some idea of what being in service meant, and not some glamourised tv drama version, then this book should interest you immensely.
Margaret Powell was born in 1907 and this book tells of her life growing up in Hove in a working class family, the need she had to leave school as early as possible to bring in money thus preventing her from higher education. After a few jobs at 15, Margaret went into the world of domestic service. If like me you come from a working class family then it is likely that you have had now deceased relatives that also were in the same position, and have probably heard stories such as Margaret's of growing up and going to work.
From starting off in the lowest maids position Margaret eventually did become a cook, a highly important position. In this memoir we are shown how life really was, with no thrills added, what things had to be put up with, and the sheer drudgery of life. As the book progresses we do see a change in the way that the domestic staff are treated, which I know some may not think is much, but it was definitely a massive improvement. If you want some idea of what being in service meant, and not some glamourised tv drama version, then this book should interest you immensely.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Many people talk about the `good old days', well, if you were a servant in the 20's there were very few good days. This book offers a startling and quite shocking insight into the real lives of those unlucky enough to slave from dawn to dusk in subterranean conditions for a pittance. I don't blame Mrs Powell for sounding off about the unfairness of life then. All credit to her, she made her own way from being a kitchen maid to cook, then wife and mother and then turned what could have been everyday memories into a bestseller. Thoroughly recommended.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Moy15
Format:Paperback
I saw an article in my daily paper about the author and a small preview of the book and decided to buy it. It was an easy read and enjoyable.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Anne Wilson
Format:Paperback
Found this an interesting take on social history.
A bit downbeat at times, but in the authors defence she does apologise for 'having a go' most of the time....
Makes me grateful for being born a couple of generations later than the author: think I would have found life in service just as irritating at times as she did!
A bit downbeat at times, but in the authors defence she does apologise for 'having a go' most of the time....
Makes me grateful for being born a couple of generations later than the author: think I would have found life in service just as irritating at times as she did!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Emily
Format:Paperback
It's true what it says on the front cover of this book that people who enjoyed "Downton Abbey" and "Upstairs Downstairs" will love this book. It's a real life autobiography of Margaret Powell, a working class woman who grew up in a very poor area and was sent into domestic service to earn a wage to support her family. Not only does Powell tell her story with humour, but the detail which she describes conversations etc sounded like it only happened yesterday. A bit like listening to your nan talking about the war! Overall, this was a really interesting insight into the back-breaking work of a kitchen maid in a wealthy house, working her way up to the position of cook! I'm definitely reading the follow ups Powell wrote to this when they are published.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is quite wonderful. A superb accound of Margaret Powells life when she was a servant in days gone by. Funny, witty beautifully written - a unique look at below stairs life. I recomment this book to anyone! I promise you, you will really enjoy it. Lovely to see (after the come back of upstairs downstairs and the success of downton) a renewed interest in the wonderful Margaret Powell and the re-issue of her much loved book.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The review title pretty much sums it up. This is a real account, written by a real person who lived the life of a domestic servant in the early twentieth century. I do feel that other reviewers who criticise the lack of 'scandal' or complain that Ms Powell didn't push herself to have a better life are completely missing the point.
It is not a novel, designed to draw the reader into an intricate plot with twists and adventure. It is not the tale of 'rags to riches' or a romantic novel about the poor little servant girl who meets her Prince Charming and strolls off into the happy ever after. It is just one person's story about a world which no longer exists and which I believe, is a great little nugget of history which anyone can access. Seriously, if you or I were to write an honest account of our daily lives, how much of it would you consider to be of real interest except as a documentation of working life in the early 21st century?
Almost 100 years on, we have grown used to a society where boys and girls alike are educated to believe that they can reach the best of their potential in a career that provides both a healthy wage and job satisfaction (whether or not that is the reality in adulthood) Life for our grandmothers and great-grandmothers simply wasn't like that! You left school to start pulling your financial weight in the family home and most jobs were offered to those who asked provided the employer had the space, money and need for them - with employment law in its adolescence, CVs and references were rarely required. Margaret Powell's life was what it was; she would not have been encouraged to 'go for it' and even if she had the moral support from her family, she certainly wouldn't have had the financial backing to do so.... Read more ›
It is not a novel, designed to draw the reader into an intricate plot with twists and adventure. It is not the tale of 'rags to riches' or a romantic novel about the poor little servant girl who meets her Prince Charming and strolls off into the happy ever after. It is just one person's story about a world which no longer exists and which I believe, is a great little nugget of history which anyone can access. Seriously, if you or I were to write an honest account of our daily lives, how much of it would you consider to be of real interest except as a documentation of working life in the early 21st century?
Almost 100 years on, we have grown used to a society where boys and girls alike are educated to believe that they can reach the best of their potential in a career that provides both a healthy wage and job satisfaction (whether or not that is the reality in adulthood) Life for our grandmothers and great-grandmothers simply wasn't like that! You left school to start pulling your financial weight in the family home and most jobs were offered to those who asked provided the employer had the space, money and need for them - with employment law in its adolescence, CVs and references were rarely required. Margaret Powell's life was what it was; she would not have been encouraged to 'go for it' and even if she had the moral support from her family, she certainly wouldn't have had the financial backing to do so.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
below stairs pre owned book
all round excellent service, very good quality pre owned book. The story was so touching and gave an excellent insight to how it must have been for the author as was true story. Read more
Published 22 days ago by M. hamilton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast delivery
Thank you for a fast delivery and a great read I shall buy more books like these I couldn't put the book till start to finish
Published 1 month ago by Coull
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
It brings out the way things once were - we could thankfully never go back. They were very hard times
Published 1 month ago by Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars
Valuable & rare insight into being 'in service' - really wonderful...
A wonderful book and a must read! Forget the endless period fiction you can buy - you wont get better than this for a real and honest social history from someone who was there! Read more
Published 2 months ago by London_nurse
4.0 out of 5 stars
Areal life "Downton Abbey" or "Upstairs Downstairs"
First published in 1968, this is an account of Margaret Powell's life in domestic service. The book begins by recounting Margaret's childhood with her parents and being almost... Read more
Published 2 months ago by E Thomas
2.0 out of 5 stars
A past era
Not impressed by this book. I felt she moaned far too much even though I can appreciate the difficulties she found herself
in as did many other females at this period. Read more
in as did many other females at this period. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Square eyes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Below Stairs
I thought this book for very informative and a good story also. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this true story of a real housemaid.
Published 3 months ago by Christine Gould
3.0 out of 5 stars
below stairs
quite interesting looking back at work in service, although I enjoyed the book, found it hard to keep going, not as good as I thought it might have been
Published 3 months ago by reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read
this book bt margaret Powell is brilliant. love the way she looks back on her working life.
plus the way she chat's about it and what we are like in today world. Read more
plus the way she chat's about it and what we are like in today world. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Simon S Gull
5.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyable!
i found this book really interesting and enjoyable. it gives an insight into the servent world through the eyes of someone who lived it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by clotty
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