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Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle | The Countess of Carnarvon
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowes's Emmy Award-winning PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war. Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home. Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman. This rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle.
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review
wanderinglynn
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Panpan

I had been looking forward to this but was somewhat dismayed by the author's prologue: “It is not a history . . . It is neither a biography nor a work of fiction, but places characters in historical settings . . . ." Okay, so not history, biography, or fiction. And the author calls real people who actually existed "characters." So then what exactly is this?

In addition to doubting the veracity, I also found it not particularly well written.??

wanderinglynn IMO, this is a hot mess of no actual historical research & no real work beyond trying to capitalize on the popularity of the fictional world of Downton Abbey. It's interesting that it does show some of the life & times of late 19th/early 20th c England but only as far as the reader can trust the veracity of what's written, which after what I read, wasn't very much. But it‘s off my TBR bookcase, so YAY! 🎉 This is my February #roll100 roll 2 book 2y
90 likes1 comment
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wanderinglynn
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#weekendreads

1. Starting the tagged today. Also still working on The Agony & the Ecstasy.

2. Hm, it‘s been a while since I‘ve had one that I couldn‘t put down.

3. Working through ch. 2 of The Artist‘s Way, I have a new jigsaw puzzle started, start drafting a new blog post that‘s been swirling around my gray matter, a few weekend chores, daily walk/exercise to keep up with my #BFC2022 goals, & whatever else may pop up and interest me. 😀

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wanderinglynn
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#weekendreading

It‘s Saturday night here. I finished Snapped a little while ago. I‘m making good progress on The Agony & the Ecstasy (only 15 hrs/33 hrs to go!). And I‘ll start Lady Almina tomorrow.

Andrew65 Looks a great weekend. 2y
mhillis Nice! 2y
75 likes2 comments
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bookishbitch
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Oops, this was supposed to be yesterday's tbr photo. Anyone else Downton Abbey fans? Fascinating lifestyle to me, though I would hate the societal expectations of living it. Also I would likely get lost in a home that big. #tbrpile

Linsy Yep! I‘ve watched all the extras too. Had my eye on this book for a while... 3y
11 likes1 comment
review
Crystal83
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book!!! It was so interesting. This was an amazing woman and story about her!!!

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Maggie_Reads
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I watched all six seasons of Downton Abbey for the third time, then finished up by watching the movie. Loved them all and can‘t get enough. Now onto the books that are about the real life inspiration for the show. I‘m four chapters in to Book 1 and I‘m really enjoying it.

ljuliel I read the one on the left. It was very good. Haven‘t tried the other yet. 4y
Maggie_Reads @ljuliel The 2nd book is about her daughter-in-law. (edited) 4y
12 likes2 comments
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ofclumsywords
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Pickpick

After binging Downton Abbey for the first time & then going to see the movie I was so excited to hear there were books! This book didn‘t disappoint in giving a more in depth view to the real family who lived in the castle. The only thing I wish was different was a little bit more information on the lives of the servants downstairs. All in all it was really good & gave a better view into the life of the Carnarvon‘s. 4/5🌟

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Mdargusch
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Lady Almina seemed to have what I consider the #perfectlife as Countess of Carnarvon as she was the real life inspiration for Downton Abbey. This book is written from archive materials and includes photos, letters, and diary entries from her life in Highclere Castle. #getmovin

Pamwurtzler I think I need this! 6y
emilyhaldi Sounds good!!! ❤️ this pic 6y
britt_brooke Beautiful photo! 6y
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen Great photo 6y
Reviewsbylola Wow 😍😍😍😍 6y
ladym30 Lovely photo! 6y
SledgeReader @Mdargusch I LOVED this book. 😍😘😍😘😍😘 6y
104 likes9 stack adds8 comments
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Leelee08
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This has been in my TBR pile for months, I just haven't got around to reading it. I love Edwardian history and Downton Abbey-like reads. This true story of the real Downton Abbey should be fun! #itshistory #anditsaugust

rubyslippersreads I loved this! 7y
Jaimelire This looks good 7y
DrexEdit This was a good read! Hope you enjoy it! 😊 7y
LeeRHarry This was a Christmas gift from my aunt from a couple of years ago....mmm still on my TBR 😏 7y
annalibris I liked this one very much. The current countess has also written another one on Almina's daughter-in-law, called "Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey." Also very good. 7y
75 likes9 stack adds5 comments
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anneofgreentables
Pickpick

Very interesting read about a house with history, a determined lady, and a different time.

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Moonglotexas
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Pickpick

It's an interesting read, more focused on the war than I expected. Lady Almina spends a considerable amount of her life as a nurse.A large chunk takes place without our lady lead and outside of England, but enjoyable!

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Shazzer
Pickpick

I just spotted this in library. Very interesting woman. For fans of the show I would suggest reading it.

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MacBeth
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I'm only several chapters in but it's the real-life Downton Abbey!!! Lady Almina's husband is THE Lord Carnavron from the opening of King Tut's tomb. "She was a wife, a Society hostess. She was a triumph." Loving this story so far!

1 like1 stack add