Secrets of the Manor House

Amazon.com This somewhat poignant PBS special recalls the manor tradition that has inspired class-conscious British serials from Upstairs Downstairs to Downton Abbey. The narrative concentrates on the early 1900s, when dukes, earls, barons, and other aristocrats owned as much as 50 percent of the land. Just as they formed part of a hierarchy, their servants followed suit, with housekeepers and butlers at the top and kitchen and scullery maids at the bottom, but the program gives both sides their due by speaking with royals and staffers, like Lord and Lady Palmer of the 109-room Manderston House and their butler, Geoffrey Dymond (other properties include Petworth House, Dunham Massey, and Cragside). Today's manor life, however, seems sedate compared to the Edwardian era, when costume balls were all the rage, but the high times took a hit during land reform. Though an influx of American money revived some fortunes, like that of the Churchill family, which produced the future prime minister, servants also sought to better their situation, either by protesting for change or by moving abroad (sadly, many lost their lives when the Titanic went down). And then World War I arrived, and the aristocracy never recovered. The speakers, a combination of authors and academics, define terms like entailment, the prevention of land-selling by heirs, and primogeniture, the custom by which a first-born son inherits the estate--a key Downton Abbey plot point--making this release a good bet for historians and costume-drama fans alike. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Product Description The early years of the twentieth century rank among the most peaceful in European history. In Britain's grand homes it was a time of glamour, high society, and unfettered optimism. The British aristocracy enjoyed life on vast estates as they had done for centuries. Retinues of servants, beautiful houses, and fabulous costumes: the parties were extravagant, the scandal was infamous. It's no surprise that some of the most popular dramas to hit our screens have been set against this rich and colorful backdrop. In reality, however, the picture was less than golden, the historic order was starting to crumble. With World War One looming, and new technology, money, and ideas coming over from America, the British aristocracy were being threatened by deepening undercurrents of change as the nation stood at the brink of an upheaval so monumental that few could imagine it. Nowhere was this threat of change felt more acutely than within the confines of the British Manor House.
ASIN: B0077PBPYQ
VSKU: DBV.B0077PBPYQ.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Samuel West|Susannah Ward
Binding: Dvd
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case will show wear, and may be in library packaging. Ships fast!