If You Like Downton Abbey...: Downton History and Castles

The inspiration for Cora Grantham came from this book. In fact, Jullian Fellowes, the write and creator of Downton Abbey read this book previous to creating the show. This novel talks about how wealthy American families shipped their daughters to England and essentially swapped money for titles. Downton Abbey picks up where this book ends: talking about what happens after the marriage takes place.

Follow Lady Carnarvon, whose life runs similar to that of Lady Cora Crawley on Downton Abbey. The story of Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration for Downton Abbey, and its famous inhabitants is chronicled here. This book also comes in an audiobook and ebook.

Having discussed the fifth Countess of Carnarvon in Lady Almina. the current Countess now takes on the life of Lady Almina's daughter-in-law, Catherine Wendell, the sixth countess. Follow the life of Lord Porchester and his wife, Lady Catherine, as they take over Highclere Castle after the death of Porchie's father. This book is also available through audiobook and ebook.

This book combines information about castles with multiple glossy pictures of over 120 English castles. Partnered with the pictures, this guide offers maps, contact details, and opening times. The information provided is light enough to keep you engaged, but deep enough to hook your interest to keep reading.

Manor houses, estates, and castles frequently dealt with pressing financial, staffing, and construction issues. While house staff dealt with the normal every day up-keep of the house, the family who lived upstairs was not kept out of the loop. In fact, much, if not all, of the decisions lay on their shoulders with the welfare of everyone on the estate and sometimes in town depending on the success of the house. This DVD sheds light on the many different pressures that faced families to keep these homes running.

It may be more famous now than any time in its 1,300-year history as the setting of Downton Abbey, but England's Highclere Castle has its own stories to tell. In its heyday, Highclere was the social epicenter of Edwardian England. See how all the inhabitants of Highclere lived, from the aristocrats above to the army of servants toiling 'below stairs'. Also find out from the current inhabitants, Lord and Lady Carnarvon, what life in a fairytale castle is like today.

Interested in finding out more about this book? Check out this blog post by one of our librarians at the library's Info Café blog and learn more about Lady Almina, her husband, and their beloved home.