The House at Riverton

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At 14 Grace was fortunate to start service, as her mother did many years before, at Riverton, where the wealthy Hartford family lived. She watched the three golden haired, blue-eyed Hartford grandchildren, all near her own age, grow up and totally fell under their spell - David, Hannah, and Emmaline. Over the years, Grace took on the role of a lady's maid, helped dress the young women, and was privy to their conversations and secrets. Enter World War I, the Lord of the manor and his son, the Major, both fall in France, and Riverton and the world are changed forever. Hannah marries to escape, taking Grace with her, only to find that there is no escape, only boredom, but does find kinship and romance with her brother's best friend, Robbie - now a poet but Emmaline's love interest as well. The story ends with a scandalous event that no one knew Grace was privy to. Now 98 and failing, Grace is determined that her only grandson will know the truth.

The Great War changed so much, as all wars do, and social classes lost a foothold..the story is haunting as in how secrets were handled in that era, women were handled with kid gloves and not accepted into exclusive male conversations. ...for lovers of Upstairs/Downstairs and viewers of Downton Abbey..

View all my reviews

Stella Bain

Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A woman wakes up in an outside French hospital, set near the front lines of a battle during World War I. She has been injured but has no recollection of her name or her past. As something stirs in her mind, she grabs onto the name of Stella Bain and claims it as her own.


This book provided a look at women who suffered from shell shock, unheard of before World War I, men called it female hysteria - even for those women who worked near the front lines, nurses, and female ambulance drivers. Freud was just discovering that talking and feedback would help those who complained of what we now call Post Traumatic Distress Disorder.

View all my reviews

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by The Countess of Carnarvon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very interesting read indeed, especially if you're fascinated with history like me. This story follows the charmed life of Lady Almina and her family, including her husband, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon - he of famed notoriety and co-discoverer of King Tut's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Highclere Castle, the main home of the Carnavon's, sets on a 1,000 acre country estate in Berkshire and is used in the filming of the well-loved PBS series, Downton Abbey. Almina, illegitimate daughter of Sir Alfred de Rothschild, uses her immense dowry to update Highclere and during World War 1 - outfit it as a top notch hospital for the huge number of returning injured men. In the years following the war, Highclere returns to being a country home, but has suffered the loss of so many men who had found employment and shelter there. Almina raises a son and daughter, but loses her beloved husband at a young age. If you watch the Downton Abbey series, you'll find even enjoyment in this read.

View all my reviews

The World of Downton Abbey

The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love the PBS series Downton Abbey? Season 3 has just ended and I'm entering late playing catch up with Season 1 and 2 on DVDs, trying to piece the relationships together. The World of Downton Abby by Jessica Fellowes has helped tremendously - I have such a great interest in English Country Homes anyway and this book is a treasure giving insight into the characters, the setting and time period, and the real Highclere Castle. Did you know the great house sits within a 1,000 acre estate in Berkshire and since 1679 has been home to the Earls of Carnavon? The turreted castle in an envelope built around a Georgian house, which contains the medieval monastery that first occupied the site. Although the beautiful setting wows me, it's the characters that make the show. Actors and actresses, producer and directors are quoted as per their thoughts on the filming of the series. Great book if you want to explore the world of Downton Abbey.

View all my reviews