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Biography & Autobiography. History. Nonfiction. HTML: Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the setting for Julian Fellowes�??s Emmy Award-winning PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Catherine Wendell. In this transporting companion piece to the New York Times bestseller Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey, Catherine, a beautiful and spirited American woman who married Lady Almina�??s son, the man who would become the 6th Earl of Carnarvon, presides over the grand estate during a tumultuous time for the British aristocracy. Following the First World War, many of the great houses of England faded as their owners fortunes declined in the new political and social world of the 1920s and 1930s. As war loomed, Highclere�??s survival as the family home of the Carnarvons was again in the balance�??as was peace between the nations of Eu… (more)
User reviews
Still, for Downton Abbey lovers this will be a fun read. Unlike the author's first book, this volume is much less reverential about its characters and the juicy gossip of family scandals keeps the reader turning the pages.
This is a fun and quick read for your holiday entertainment.
I recommend it as an interesting and not at all taxing read.
"Lady Catherine, The Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey" is a follow up to her first book, "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey", and a must read for fans of the famous PBS
This book begins more or less where the previous one ends - with the death of The Fifth Earl of Carnarvon, who was made famous by his discovery of King Tut's tomb.
It's a wonderful read, taking the reader inside Highclere, giving a view of the lives of Lady Catherine and her husband, The Sixth Earl of Carnarvon. It's filled with intrigue, gossip, descriptions of the lavish lives the couple led at Highclere, and we meet many historical personages who were their friends and acquaintances, like The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Prince George and Princess Marina (Duke and Duchess of Kent), and the Duff-Coopers, to name a few.
Lady Catherine and the Earl, known to his intimates as "Porchy" deal with the breakdown of their marriage, but their love of their children and family remain, even as they marry others as the decades of the 20th century pass.
Once again, we see how war transorms the Carnarvons, Highclere, and England as World War II dawns.
I recommend this book to everyone who has read the Countess' first book about Lady Almina, and for anyone who is an avid "Downton Abbey" watcher.
The latter half of the nineteenth century saw a number of "Dollar Princesses" arrive in England. They were American heiresses who were considered nouveaux riche at home but their father's wealth could buy them respectability and a title overseas. In turn the impoverished British peerage was grateful for the infusion of money which allowed them to keep their ancestral homes. Catherine Wendell did not quite fit this pattern in that she did not have a fortune. Her father Jac Wendell had invested all he had in a single railroad stock which failed. After losing everything Jac decided to change course completely and pursue a career in acting. Before he could attain success in this new venture he succumbed to pneumonia at age forty-two. At least the family still had her mother's money but a widow had little social standing in New York. Catherine's mother, Marian Fendall therefore decided to move to England and live with her cousin who had married an Englishman ten years earlier. Twelve-year old Catherine, her mother, two older brothers and younger sister relocated to England and it was here that Catherine would grow into an attractive young woman who was much sought after in the years just after the Great War.
Catherine first met Lord Porchester, the son of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon who is remembered for his financing the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen, while traveling around Europe. Porchey, as he was known to one and all, was immediately smitten and soon persuaded her to accept his marriage proposal. She apparently was drawn to him because of his charming personality which reminded her, possibly subconsciously, of her father. They married in 1922 but their happiness did not last long as Porchey, by now the 6th Earl of Carnarvon, indulged his passion for expensive cars, racehorses and beautiful women. Catherine, saddened by her beloved brother Reggie's death in 1928 and her husband's affairs, tried to deaden her pain with smoking, drinking and gambling. In 1935 Catherine filed for divorce which left Porchey free to pursue Tanis (née Guinness) Montagu who would eventually stand him up at the altar. Catherine went on to marry Geoffrey Grenfell but once again she was destined not to enjoy a long, happy marriage. Grenfell was lost at sea while serving during World War II. Porchey had no better marital luck when he married Tilly Losch who spent most of her time in America while continuing to spend his money. Their divorce took eighteen years to complete. Catherine married a third time but we are told nothing more than his name.
I had hoped to learn more about Highclere itself and its place in English history but there is only a brief mention of the designer Sir Charles Barry who also designed and rebuilt the Houses of Parliament. (A PBS special actually gave me more information about the castle than this book does.) The few details of staff life include the tradition that all footmen were addressed as Charles regardless of their given name and valets were called George. Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey is really a litany of the rich and famous. Everyone from Adele Astair to King Zog I of Albania is mentioned but it became boring to read about who was present on a certain weekend at Highclere and how many birds were shot. Porchey (I had to consult the index to learn his actual name which is not given until page 188) comes across a rich, not very introspective playboy. Catherine just seems vacuous at times. She tries to find something to wear to her daughter's wedding just days before VE Day and despite all the war-time shortages is able to find a suitable dress. She describes it to her son who says the color sounds awful so of course she looks for a replacement. The very next sentence describes Catherine as a "supremely confident" dresser so why did she feel the need for her son's opinion.
The narrative often shows abrupt train of thought shifts and includes details of events such as King Haakon of Norway burying the crown jewels before fleeing the Nazis which has nothing to do with the Carnarvons. Several chapters recount various battles of World War II but seem to be more about historic background. The Countess of Carnarvon had access to Highclere archives which accounts for the many photographs which are the most interesting part of this book. There is a brief family tree at the beginning which shows Catherine's relationship to Gen. Robert E. Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence but no family tree for the Earl. A Bibliography and an index are included.
Not unusual for the titled classes of the era, much drinking, marital misbehavior and the Abdication crisis ensues. In other hands, this might have held more glamor and interest. Unfortunately, this is a rather workmanlike effort. Responding to criticisms of her earlier examination of the 5th Countess, Lady Almina, Lady Fiona has striven to include more on the lives of the 'downstairs' inhabitants of Highclere. A nod is given to accounts written by former housemaids, as well as to the contributions of various reigning butlers. Nevertheless, those caught up in Downton Abbey fever may find themselves disappointed by the limited scope of below stair accounts.. Readers will be treated to a Who's Who gallery of the bright and beautiful of Britain in the first half of the 20th century. There are ample pictures, a full index and bibliography. Recommended for Downton Abbey afficionados and Anglophiles.
Obviously, I didn't expect the "real" Downton to be like the show (soapy and
Eep.
The portions referring to Lord Carnarvon V's involvement with Tut's tomb were fascinating to me, but the rest read like faithful journalling, rather than an attempt at storytelling. I took what I intended to be a weekend hiatus, and just couldn't make myself go back. Bummer, all around.
Advance copy received via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.