As I’m trying to catch up on my reviews from 2011, and now my five six reviews from 2012, I thought I’d better start putting together some mini reviews for those books I can get out of the way quickly! Here are the two short, lighter non-fiction books I read at the end of 2011.
Life Below Stairs, Alison Maloney
Inspired by the success of Downton Abbey, Alison Maloney has composed a brief, easily digestible book about the lives of servants in Edwardian England, around when the period drama is set. The book covers a huge variety of topics and, for me, actually made some of the show’s choices more understandable. For instance, I now understand the purpose and history behind the difference between Miss O’Brien’s clothing and the rest of the maids’, the servant’s ball, and even why Mrs Hughes is a “Mrs” even though she’s not a married woman.
It also highlighted a few of the differences between the show and real life, and the genuine struggles and difficulties that servants had. Life was definitely not as rosy for these folks as it is for the below-stairs servants at Downton. The book has plenty of quotes illustrating this, including one of a poor girl who missed her day off because she was so exhausted from work that she slept through it!
Life Below Stairs also has a few illustrative photos and is a brief overview that will suit fans of the show perfectly, but it’s probably too shallow for anyone who has previously read about the Edwardian period.
The King’s Speech, Mark Logue and Peter Conradi
Like almost everyone else who has an interest in English history, I saw The King’s Speech in film form last year and absolutely adored it, so it was a no-brainer for me to pick up its written counterpart. Pleasantly, the book contains a few surprises even for those who have seen the film, particularly because it tells the story of Lionel Logue chronologically and includes plenty of background. Naturally, no one could or desires to fit all of this into a biopic framed around a speech, but I delighted in the extra details and in particular the genuine letters and photographs that accompanied the text.
One thing that struck me was that, even though this was less than 100 years ago, the social gap between Logue and George VI was massive. Just reading their letters to one another makes that clear – and also emphasizes how unusual and important their intimacy was. I found the book almost more valuable for that, in my mind, than for the extra details about that particular case. It’s a window into a world that hasn’t been gone for very long, but which is still utterly fascinating.
Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the movie and who are interested in social history.
I actually wasn’t a huge fan of The King’s Speech movie… I am not so sure I would like the book, but maybe it would work better for me.
The first one sounds good!
Meghan what do you know about Lady Almina? I saw there’s a book about her but IDK how accurate it is, etc…
I don’t know much to be honest – I think that’s the one written by the current Countess at Highclere, isn’t it? I’ve been curious about it myself. I can’t imagine it will be TOO inaccurate given the Countess will have access to all of her papers and information, but it might be sensationalized a bit to sell more.
If you read the book, let me know how it is!
I like the first one! something like upstairs downstairs – I enjoyed that book very much.
I loved The King’s Speech and will have to look for the book. I bet my mother would love it too.
I saw The King’s Speech on audiobook at the library but wasn’t sure I would like it. I DID like the movie, but my movie/book tastes are usually opposite.
Both of these appeal to me a lot. We have Upstairs Downstairs on our Netflix queue to rewatch this year — I loved that show.
Two interesting reads. I love Downton Abbey and I loved The King’s Speech
Thanks for your mini review, just added the ‘Life Below Stairs’ to my list of books To Read on GoodReads. Looking forward to it, I’d love to know more about the rules regarding how the downstairs was run.