A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey: Seasonal Celebrations, Traditions, and Recipes (The World of Downton Abbey)

I am a later comer to Downton Abbey having just watched the Series 5 January 2015. There are so many threads of real life shown in the upstairs and downstairs characters that I felt drawn in immediately. My grandparents would have been of this generation in the USA but much poorer and struggling every day to make it through. I am impressed by the three hardback books by Julian and Jessica Fellowes. All are well written, the photography is beautiful and a follower of the series will love seeing the scenes once again. I felt so left out of the plot that I signed up for Amazon Prime and watched every Season except 5, which isn't available yet in that venue. I read somewhere that Dame Maggie Smith will perform her last Downton for next Season. She is absolutely a class act and I will miss her but we all must move on. If this series could last through the WWII it would be wonderful. The kindnesses and quality of behavior and actions portrayed during this time frame, 1912 to 1924 should make us all realize what human civilization has lost. Where is the modesty, sincerity, steadfastness, honesty, reliability today? Few and far between, I fear. I want to thank the creators, writers, production crew, actors and actresses and all others associated with Downton for a job more than well done.....an excellent production that no other will exceed any time soon, or ever.

A beautiful book for a Downton fan, or a way to introduce someone into the world of Downton. The book is filled with beautiful pictures from the series and accompanying material pertinent to the events in the photos. We gain more insight into lives of our favorite aristocrat family and the times that the drama is set in. I admit that I have only been able to skim parts of the book at this time, but that is enough to remind me why I love this drama and all of the factors that it explores. I am so impressed by the richness of the photographs that are part of this volume. A true feast for the eyes. I am fascinated by the fashion changes over the years and the photos of our ladies fashions allow for careful study of patterns, accessories,etc. and all of the pieces of the ensemble. So amazing to study. This book is a "must" for the library of a Downton fan. Another piece of the family's life in our collection.

Downton Abbey super-fans rejoice! This book, by the niece of Julian Fellowes (creator and writer of "Downton") is a treasure trove of lore about the show, the house, the actors and crew, and the historical period they bring to life. In addition to exquisite indoor and outdoor photos of both the production and the backstage work, in addition to in-depth information about Highclere Castle (the main set for the "upstairs" scenes), and the fascinating history of the Carnarvon family (who have owned Highclere for centuries, and still live there!), in addition to interviews with cast members and the people behind the scenes that make the Crawley family's world come to life, there are expert explanations of the sort of daily experiences and manners such a world would have entailed--even including period recipes (most of which could be made in modern kitchens!)!! The book is billed as the "Companion Volume to Series Five." I hope Series Six, now in production, includes another such "Companion"!

The fourth Downton Abbey picture book (Behind the Scenes was the 3rd) this one is just as good an addition to your collection as the others. Beautiful photography, including behind the scenes pictures, from 1st up thru the upcoming 5th season- this time out the pictures and text are divided month by month. You'll also find extras such as background historical information and appropriate seasonal recipes (I think that's a new feature and I'm not completely sure they're Americanized but if not they won't be too much of a problem to adapt). Good book to own even if you don't care for the series- would make a great gift for someone too.

Really enjoyed reading about life in a large Victorian household like Downton Abbey. Historical information and newsy style is a fun read. Helped fill the void waiting for Season 5 to start.

This book was purchased as a gift for my Mother's 60th Birthday. As a longtime watcher of the show, she was absolutely thrilled! It is a beautiful book with gorgeous pictures of the cast, settings, and lovely recipes. Buy it for the DA fan in your life today! They'll love it.

Beautifully written. Love this book ordering one for my daughter in law

As usual, I can not get enough of the life and times of Downton Abbey and this book is full of color photos and all kinds of interesting tidbits. I now have started quite a collection of Downton books and this one, I think, is really beautiful. The only complaint, if you want to call it that, is that some of the printing seems to be very light in color, so you can't read by candlelight!

Un magnífico libro de principio a fin. Si bien no deja de ser un brochure publicitario extendido, para la temporada 5, tiene contenido bastante interesante sobre el detrás de cámaras de la serie, bellísimas fotos e ilustraciones y una redacción bastante dinámica, lo que lo vuelve muy entretenido (puede leerse en un par de sentadas). Lo mejor es que cambia la estructura de los libros anteriores sobre la serie y este nos presenta doce capítulos (uno para cada mes del año) que incluyen información histórica sobre cómo era la vida real en una mansión como Downton durante los años veinte: recetas de la época, apuntes sobre viajes, la sensación literaria/cinematográfica del momento, las innovaciones tecnológicas, los viajes etc., según el mes del año en turno. Las recetas de cocina son deliciosas, aunque no siempre fáciles de preparar (yo intenté hacerlas todas desde el principio y me rendí en mayo). Sin embargo, el english plum pudding fue un éxito en mi cena navideña.

Tolle Bilder und wunderbar beschrieben.

A gorgeous book, beautifully illustrated, arrived 5 days early, which is great. Lots of detail about how the year played out in the mid 1920s. Everything from the way the Downton Abbey series is filmed to the glorious costumes. Ever wondered what scenes were filmed at Highclere and what scenes were filmed in studios in London. All questions answered in this glorious book. Explanations of the London Season, how to behave at the grandest occasions, even how to curtsey to the King and queen. The book arrived in good condition, a tiny amount of damage on the book corners but nothing that would detract from enjoyment. All in all, well worth the money and excellent value for money. Thank you for a very good service. Recommend it to all fans of Downton and those who are curious about how a great estate was run.

I really enjoy this book.

Pour les fans de la série, cet ouvrage apporte des précisions et quelques recettes servies, possiblement, à la table de la famille Crawley.