You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
125 reviews for:
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle
Fiona Carnarvon
3.45 AVERAGE
125 reviews for:
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle
Fiona Carnarvon
3.45 AVERAGE
How you'll feel about this book really depends on what you're expecting. If you're just looking for a third person history of Highclere or if you want to learn more behind the history of Downtown Abbey, this works pretty well and is engaging enough to keep reading. If you're looking for something more plot driven, like Downton Abbey, I would suggest skipping this and reading something such as Longbourn instead.
I absolutely loved this book. I was drawn to it via its title and the connection to Downton Abbey (my latest obsession), and once I started listening to it, I didn't want to stop.
The story of Lady Almina is a fascinating one, set in one of the most turbulent periods of recent centuries, one rife with change. It's clear that this book was a labor of love for the current Countess of Carnarvon, and it shows in the marvelous attention to detail that she paid to her research into Almina and all those she interacted with throughout her life.
An excellent window into the early twentieth century and how the world was beginning to become the one we know today.
The story of Lady Almina is a fascinating one, set in one of the most turbulent periods of recent centuries, one rife with change. It's clear that this book was a labor of love for the current Countess of Carnarvon, and it shows in the marvelous attention to detail that she paid to her research into Almina and all those she interacted with throughout her life.
An excellent window into the early twentieth century and how the world was beginning to become the one we know today.
There's no discernible plot or storyline, and it's mainly the story of what happened at Highclere Castle during World War I, but it was well-enough written and would be enjoyable for serious fans of Downton Abbey.
There were some frustrating attempts at foreshadowing that didn't work, and Almina was judged very lightly, but that's not enough to spoil the reading.
There were some frustrating attempts at foreshadowing that didn't work, and Almina was judged very lightly, but that's not enough to spoil the reading.
Riveting!! Could not put this one down - what a fascinating lady living in a world to which most of us could never relate. Also a very fun companion to any Downton Abbey viewers, which I'm assuming most readers are if they've picked up this book to begin with!
I did not have high hopes for this book because it got mediocre reviews. I was instead pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the ways she narrated the historical events going on during the time of Alimina. It was brought to life for me. I also was amazed at the number of discoveries were made in her presence. I loved this book and any fan of Downton Abbey will find this book a fascinating account of the history of the time.
I feel silly that I read this because of a TV show, because this book is *so much* better than Downton Abbey. The real stories of Highclere Castle (some of which you see reflected in the show) are fascinating. There's a real narrative ark here, from Lady Almina's marriage into the family and viewing it all as sort of an outsider, to her coming into her own as countess, to the expansiveness of the Edwardian era, to Almina turning the castle into a hospital during the War, to Lord Carnarvon discovering King Tut's tomb, to his death. It makes me think about that period in an entirely different way—especially the horrors of World War 1. If we'd read books like this in school I would have been much more of a fan of history!
In the prologue the author says the book is not a biography. It should be though. It's nearly a biography but leaves out vital things like when Almina dies and means that the chronology is often confusing. This makes an interesting potentially four star book, a three star book as it's frustrating.
I chose this book because we enjoy watching Downton Abbey. I enjoyed this book because of it's details on world history.
Not much about Highclere was that new to me, after watching the PBS show about the castle that Downton Abbey is based on. It was still interesting enough, and I enjoyed the photos.
However, the sections on the war, particularly from a British perspective, were new to me. In America, I do not think we learn much about the first world war. The hospitals and medical technology of the day was also interesting to read about, although it could get to be tedious in parts.
The discovery of the tomb in Egypt was also informative. The frequent travels to Egypt, the customs and the culture, the politics involved in the research.. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all of it, and will look for Howard Carters book about the dig to learn more at a later date.
This book is about so much more than Downton Abbey, and was an educational & enjoyable read.
Not much about Highclere was that new to me, after watching the PBS show about the castle that Downton Abbey is based on. It was still interesting enough, and I enjoyed the photos.
However, the sections on the war, particularly from a British perspective, were new to me. In America, I do not think we learn much about the first world war. The hospitals and medical technology of the day was also interesting to read about, although it could get to be tedious in parts.
The discovery of the tomb in Egypt was also informative. The frequent travels to Egypt, the customs and the culture, the politics involved in the research.. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all of it, and will look for Howard Carters book about the dig to learn more at a later date.
This book is about so much more than Downton Abbey, and was an educational & enjoyable read.
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Abandoned. Too many names. Too much traditional history book for me to get into.