Last year, the telly-watching public was gripped by "Downton Abbey" - the most successful British period drama in years and the number - one most-watched new drama programme of 2010. Captivated by the secrets, the scandal and the servant-master divide of an Edwardian household, viewers religiously watched in their millions. In "Life Below Stairs", bestselling author Alison Maloney responds to the public's desire to know more, going behind the scenes to reveal a detailed picture of what really went on 'downstairs', describing the true-life trials and tribulations of the servants in a gripping non-fiction account. Thoroughly researched and reliably informed, it also contains first-hand stories from the staff of the time. This charming and beautifully presented volume is a must-read for anyone interested in the lifestyle and conduct of a bygone era.
Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
Fascinating --Daily Mail, 26th August, 2011
About the Author
Alison Maloney is a journalist and author whose books - for both adults and children - have included the Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller The Mums' Book. As well as a long stint on The Sunday Post newspaper, she worked as a children's book editor for two years. Alison lives with her husband, also a writer, and two children in Kent.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Domestic servants are now rare indeed, but over one hundred years ago domestic service was the largest form of employment in the UK. In the 1911 census there were 1.3 million people who worked below stairs, usually in middle class homes. As other job opportunities became available, such as working in factories or as typists, the idea of working in service became far less attractive - unsurprisingly, as it entailed extremely long hours and little personal freedom. By the end of WWI, the end of the golden age of domestic service was over.
This book gives a good overview of this era - looking at the relations between the servants, their jobs and status, life in a country house, etc. On the downside, if you have read other books on this subject, there is really nothing new in here. The book is liberally peppered with quotes from books such as the excellent Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 1901-1910 in Their Own Words: 1901-1910 in Their Own Words, Not in Front of the Servants: A True Portrait of Upstairs, Downstairs Life (National Trust classics) and Keeping Their Place: Domestic Service in the Country House. In a way it is just a collection of quotes which have been repackaged. So, if this is the first book you are reading on the subject, you will almost certainly enjoy it, but otherwise you have probably read it before.
This book gives a good overview of this era - looking at the relations between the servants, their jobs and status, life in a country house, etc. On the downside, if you have read other books on this subject, there is really nothing new in here. The book is liberally peppered with quotes from books such as the excellent Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 1901-1910 in Their Own Words: 1901-1910 in Their Own Words, Not in Front of the Servants: A True Portrait of Upstairs, Downstairs Life (National Trust classics) and Keeping Their Place: Domestic Service in the Country House. In a way it is just a collection of quotes which have been repackaged. So, if this is the first book you are reading on the subject, you will almost certainly enjoy it, but otherwise you have probably read it before.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Factual background to a life in service during the early 20th century
19 Sep 2011
By Janie U
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This book is very well presented with the information being gathered together in chapters in a way that makes it very easy to read.
It has less than 200 pages so is quick to read - not a bad thing as the author is prone to repetition occasionally due to the overlap between the subject areas.
Throughout there are many quotes from memoires and also from people who have researched this period in depth, including several involved with "Downton Abbey". This successfully makes the book feel very human.
I would suggest that anyone who is interested in this period is not going to find out much that is new in this book. Although there is an extensive section for further reading and, having been tempted with snippets from these books during the read, there are a few pointers for more in depth information.
If you do not know much about this time and, having watched the recent TV programmes, would like to know a bit more then this is a very good place to start.
It has less than 200 pages so is quick to read - not a bad thing as the author is prone to repetition occasionally due to the overlap between the subject areas.
Throughout there are many quotes from memoires and also from people who have researched this period in depth, including several involved with "Downton Abbey". This successfully makes the book feel very human.
I would suggest that anyone who is interested in this period is not going to find out much that is new in this book. Although there is an extensive section for further reading and, having been tempted with snippets from these books during the read, there are a few pointers for more in depth information.
If you do not know much about this time and, having watched the recent TV programmes, would like to know a bit more then this is a very good place to start.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Expat
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an appalling book. While claiming to be "true lives", it has all the realism and grit of old episode of Blue Peter. No historical research has gone into this beyond reading a few books and watching bad television period dramas. Stereotypes are liberally mixed in with trite sayings (how many times are the housemaids to be described as "up with the lark"?), and any "nastiness" is brushed under the carpet as not the norm. If you yearn for he days of jolly, humble, well-meaning servants, without any attempt at looking into the lives of real people, this is the book for you.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 10 reviews
2.6 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Life Below Stair,s by Alison Malony
Most enjoyable book. To think people were expected to work like this and some were such a young age an long hrs.
Published 23 days ago by G.CROSTON
3.0 out of 5 stars
interesting snapshot
Life as told by the workers themselves. The working conditions of the below stairs staff are something todays workers could not even begin to imagine. Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. Hogg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life Below Stairs
Very interesting book. How the other half lived! Lots of snobs even below stairs. Have read this book twice now.
Published 1 month ago by nasherc
4.0 out of 5 stars
Social History
This sort of social history should be essential reading for young folk, almost all will have had family members in the past who worked in service, it would help to inform just how... Read more
Published 2 months ago by DianeDevon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ime Pleased
After reading Life Below Stairs I was pleased after reading the book.
As it took me a few pages of I was getting in to how the servants had bad times and good times. Read more
As it took me a few pages of I was getting in to how the servants had bad times and good times. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Life Below Stairs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
Really good read, I would recommend this book to other readers. Its really tells it as it was in Victorian days.
Published 4 months ago by kim
5.0 out of 5 stars
It arrived on time, it was complete and it wrapped easily.
It arrived on time, it was complete and it wrapped easily.It arrived on time, it was complete and it wrapped easily.
Published 5 months ago by Richard Pitt
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
Always keen to look into our recent history where this books gives you some interesting insights of the Edwardian life.
Published 8 months ago by Lina
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Read
Not a bad narrative with some quite interesting facts. Quite a short book being easy to follow. It is easy to form the view that TV programmes such as Downton Abbey and Upstairs... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Okeglen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Understood and enjoyed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am fascinated by this subject and i'm sure we have all been inspired by the programme 'Downton Abbey'. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Flyinggirl
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland > Ireland
- Books > History > Cultural History
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
