If You Like Downton Abbey...: Novels like Downton Abbey

Those interested in the lives of servants as a whole, but not necessarily tied to a certain time period, may find pleasure in reading Baker's Longbourn. In this novel, Baker adds an interesting twist to a beloved story, Pride and Prejudice. Even though Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey are separated by around 100 years, the trials and tribulations the servants go though are markedly similar. Follow along as Sarah and the rest of the house staff deal with the Bennet household.

Young Elise Landau lives in 1938 Vienna where she realizes that it's not safe to be Jewish. With a sister bound for California and parents leaving as well, Elise heads off to England and finds a job as a parlor maid. Elise soon finds herself drawn to the reckless son of her employer. Torn between wanting to be with her family, yet still be safe, Elise eventually becomes acclimated with her new life, only to realize that her life is going to change drastically.

Cora Cash and her mother travel overseas to find her a husband and, most importantly, a title. Coming from a very wealthy family quickly means that Cora finds herself engaged and married to a Duke! Back in England after the wedding, Cora quickly realizes that money may be nice, but it cannot buy her happiness and she must come to rely on herself.

If you're looking for a more humorous take on Downton Abbey, check out Mitford's two novels, The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. In these coming-of-age novels based on Mitford's upbringing on an English estate. These novels satirize British aristocratic life and follow the lives and adventures of the Radletts of Alconleigh, a VERY unconventional family. Read about their affairs and somewhat misguided marriages as WWII comes.

In the first installment of the Montmaray Journals, Cooper begins to unravel the history and lives of a family with a royal title, but not necessarily a royal lifestyle. On the island of Montmaray, Sophie FitzOsborne lives with her impoverished royal family. In 1936, Sophie and her family struggle to hold onto each other and their way of life and learn they have to evolve to survive. Check out the second book, The FitzOsbornes in Exile, and the third book, The FitzOsbornes at War, to learn more about this family.

In Wharton's last novel, she details the lives of five wealthy American who are denied admission into New York Society because their family's money is seen as too "new". In order to combat this problem, the girls travel to England and grab quick marriages that benefit both them and their new husbands. Follow along as all five girls, especially Nan St. George, try to find their place in life.

This novel portrays what life was like for both masters and servants prior to when Downton Abbey began. This book takes place right at the Season's end in 1899 and follows Lord Robert, the Earl of Dilberne, and his family as they

For the fans of the suspense and intrigue in Downton Abbey, Arlen has woven together a novel that showcases the grandeur of Edwardian life and just how quickly that life can change. Lady Montford is busy planning her annual costume ball when her husband's nephew is found dead, thus throwing everything into ruins. As a result, her and her housekeeper dive into the mystery and discover that not everything is at it seems.

Those interested in the relationship between social classes may find interest in Brown's Summerset Abbey. In this novel, sisters Rowena and Victoria Buxton were raised alongside Prudence Tate, their governess' daughter. With free-spirited parents, the girls thought nothing of this relationship. After Philip Buxton dies, all three girls are taken to Summerset Abbey to live with their uncle where they are forced to live apart and come up against strict social constraints and class structures they had previously never dealt with.

A documentary filmmaker gets more than she bargained for as she interviews Grace Reeves and uncovers the truth behind a young poet's murder in the 1920s. Young Grace, a maid at Riverton House, is closely tied to the daughters of her employers, Hannah and Emmeline Hartford. The three girls are the only ones to know the truth surrounding the poet's death. As a maid, Grace is privy to secrets that she must keep. As the novel progresses, the reader waits for Grace to share what she knows and discovers that the truth is something they never expected.

This book details the life of Anna, a young Russian countess, who flees Russia after the Russian Revolution and begins a new life as a servant for the Westerholme family. Forced to hide her history and having to adjust to her new role as servant, Anna finds herself struggling with her attraction to Rupert, the Earl of Westerholme. Anna has to decide how to deal with her increased feelings and her desire to stay safe.

Click the above link and be transported into a blog post about Longbourn by one of our librarians. Learn more about the servant side of Pride and Prejudice and what they faced.

In this blog post, our librarian explores the world of the FitzOsbornes as the struggle to survive war through all three novels. Click through to read more about each book to decide if this series is something you are interested in.