Lady Catherine And The Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon

Lady Catherine And The Real Downton Abbey

by The Countess of Carnarvon

Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 2014

ISBN: 978-1444762105

Downtown Abbey, the BBC series smash hit has captured the hearts and the imaginations of many people worldwide. Most notably, the famous Downtown Castle has become the most prominent character, and like many actresses and actors, has played the part wonderfully. Highclere Castle, the artist playing the role of Downton Abbey, is a castle of rich history with it’s inhabitants being connected to some of the most notable and important parts of history.

The Countess of Carnarvon, the 8th Lady of Carnarvon, writes a compelling account of her family’s history, specifically through the lens of Lady Catherine. The story begins in the midst of a tragic death on the eve of one of history's most important finds: the discovery of King Tut’s tomb.

Howard Carter, the archeologist responsible for finding the tomb of King Tut, was employed by George Herbert, the 5th earl of Carnarvon. Though shortly after the famous discovery, the earl of Carnarvon tragically dies. His son and new daughter-in-law soon find themselves amassing a great responsibility of running the ever-famous Highclere Castle.

Catherine and Henry, the new Lady and Lord, find themselves with the burden of the financial problems of their predecessors. One of the many charms of Highclere Castle was that it was the home to many important art pieces, including a piece by Leonardo Da Vinci. To solve the financial burden, they found themselves having to sell their valuable works of art. Eventually they settled most of their debts and were able to live at Highclere happily for few years until they divorced.

The Countess of Carnarvon succeeds at detailing the events of Lady Catherine, before and after her marriage. When reading the novel, one gets the immediate feeling of being plunged into a different and old world. The history of Highclere Castle, on the other hand, becomes a character of its own in the novel. During World War II, the castle became a safe haven for children and soldiers. Not only that, but the Countess of Carnarvon does a great job in bringing to life the struggles and anxiety the war brought up.

Though the novel commences with the story centered on Lady Catherine, it also shifts into a documentation of the separate lives she and her ex-husband lived. The book is a great read if you're looking to find yourself in a different time and place, surrounded by a different group of people, and envisioning their reactions to shocking events throughout history. .

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Fiona Carnarvon lives at Highclere with her family and rather a lot of horses, dogs, and other animals. She is also the author of the international bestseller Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey. This is her second book.