Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants
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Fascinating --Daily Mail, 26th August, 2011
Product Description
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.
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33 of 33 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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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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
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Since Downton Abbey - Series 1 [DVD], and then the Christmas special ofUpstairs Downstairs [DVD], there has been a gradual build-up of books about life 'In Service' appearing. Many of these books are reprints of past autobiographies and memoirs, but Alison Maloney has produced a new book, which is a brief overview of the whole system. I didn't know what exactly I was going to get with this, but it made a quick interesting read. I am from a traditional working class family, and my great great aunt was in service, plus when I was young I also knew an old woman who first started her working life as a household servant, thus I do have a good idea of the things that went on, plus I have read a lot on the subject.
If like me, you already know quite a lot about this subject you may not be that interested in yet another book, but if you don't know much or anything about what being in service meant, then this will give you a good basic understanding. Margaret Powell is quoted a lot here, and her book Below Stairs: The Bestselling Memoirs of a 1920s Kitchen Maid is well worth reading.
For me the pricing tables were helpful, as I can now place how much people earned and the cost of things in today's money, plus there are some good illustrations in here and some of the old adverts that used to appear. This book won't be for everyone, but if you are interested in knowing about life in service, or know someone else who is, then this would make a great introduction to the whole subject.
If like me, you already know quite a lot about this subject you may not be that interested in yet another book, but if you don't know much or anything about what being in service meant, then this will give you a good basic understanding. Margaret Powell is quoted a lot here, and her book Below Stairs: The Bestselling Memoirs of a 1920s Kitchen Maid is well worth reading.
For me the pricing tables were helpful, as I can now place how much people earned and the cost of things in today's money, plus there are some good illustrations in here and some of the old adverts that used to appear. This book won't be for everyone, but if you are interested in knowing about life in service, or know someone else who is, then this would make a great introduction to the whole subject.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 20 days ago by Okeglen
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 1 month ago by Flyinggirl
Downton in real-life
The picture of Highclere Castle which occupies a prominent place on the front cover of this book alerts the reader that this book was designed to tie in with the ITV series... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Gtj Charmley
The real world of Downton Abbey
What fun - a look behind the scenes of "Downton Abbey" and "Upstairs, Downstairs".
We seem to be fixated on the Edwardians - so many TV costume dramas (ranging from... Read more
We seem to be fixated on the Edwardians - so many TV costume dramas (ranging from... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. R. N. Shackelford
The other half.
The sort of book you can read and enjoy in short bursts. Well balanced as it included both highs and lows of a life in service. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Downlong Tom
Life below stairs
I was pretty disappointed with this book, I thought it would have lavish pictures of stately homes, it didn't and it didn't really pack much punch. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kevin Roche
review
A rather charming account of life in the early 20th century. As I have an interest in the topic, I have been looking forward reading it, and I was not disappointed. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Petra
Informative
I think a lot of new interest in the serving classes of the Edwardian period has been resurrected by the success of Downton Abbey, although it was a subject that already appealed... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. Angela H. Smith
Interesting, but too short
Like many, Downton Abbey had me fascinated, so this book seemed perfect for me. I wanted to learn some more about the period and was imagining an 'Imperial War' style of true... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Laura Smith
An often fascinating and revealing read
Away from the world of 'Downton Abbey', Alison Maloney's clear prose pulls the lid off 'Life Below Stairs' in Edwardian Britain in a way that kind of confirms much of what you... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Og Oggilby
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