Book Review: The Chronicles of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes

The Chronicles of Downton Abbey: A New Era

by Jessica Fellowes
Published: November 13th 2012
(314 pages)

The Great War has ended, but Downton Abbey is far from peaceful...
"Americans can't get enough of 'Downton Abbey,'" said The Boston Globe. As Season 3 of the award-winning TV series opens, it is 1920 and Downton Abbey is waking up to a world changed forever by World War I. New characters arrive a...

The Great War has ended, but Downton Abbey is far from peaceful...
"Americans can't get enough of 'Downton Abbey,'" said The Boston Globe. As Season 3 of the award-winning TV series opens, it is 1920 and Downton Abbey is waking up to a world changed forever by World War I. New characters arrive and new intrigues thrive as the old social order is challenged by new expectations.
In this new era, different family members abound (including Cora's American mother, played by Shirley MacLaine) and changed dynamics need to be resolved: Which branch of the family tree will Lord Grantham's first grandchild belong to? What will become of the servants, both old and new?
The Chronicles of Downton Abbey, carefully pieced together at the heart and hearth of the ancestral home of the Crawleys, takes us deeper into the story of every important member of the Downton estate.This lavish, entirely new book from Jessica Fellowes focuses on each character individually, examining their motivations, their actions, and the inspirations behind them. An evocative combination of story, history, and behind-the-scenes drama, it will bring fans even closer to the secret, beating heart of the house.

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I should have read The Chronicles of Downton Abbey when it was published after season 2. It was jarring to read about characters that weren’t there anymore. Still, I liked the focus on characters and more information about their backgrounds that we haven’t seen on the show. It goes beyond character biographies and talks about what everyone’s daily life would have been like from the ladies maid to the duchess. I learned a lot. I loved the pictures of historical objects that the characters would have used. It’s full of gorgeous screenshots and beautiful photos. Awesome book.

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