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.

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!

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

I bought this as a Christmas present. Of course I looked through it before I wrapped it, and was surprised to find that it was more of a summary of the series than it was a cookbook, which I had thought it was. It did have some recipes in it, and I actually wanted to try several of them, but I was disappointed that there were so few. However, the person I gave it to loved it so I was pleased that I had gotten it for her.

A book based on a tv show with recipes is an easy sell for me, I especially enjoy preparing/eating it while watching an episode. Lamentably some of these are hastily put together constructions, though I'm happy to say this isn't the case here. Beautiful period photographs, an unpretentious narrative and recipes that aren't just filler material. Made the Irish Stew tonight as I wanted a simple meal of the kind that you would often find served in homes (why do so many cookbooks assume we want to eat exotic complex dishes?). Preparation was a breeze and in no time at all it was in the oven. The aroma was tantalizing and the dish lived up to it. The meat was most tender and moist, the vegetables cooked to just the right texture, it was the epitome of a rustic home cooked meal. Never had Pearl Barley before and quite enjoyed it. Looking forward to trying out some more recipes!

This book is wonderfully written and includes historical information as well as interesting tidbits about the making of Downton Abbey and the characters in the series. Information about the costuming, writing, directing, all detailed in a month by month outline of life during the period of about 1924. Well written, great illustrations. A very well-done depiction. I felt like I was there while reading this book and really didn't want the book to end. I highly recommend this book.

This book is absolutely beautiful! It came wrapped very nicely in brown paper, and there are pictures from the show in it and many delicious looking recipes. Makes a beautiful gift!

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.

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.

se amate Downton Abbey, non potete non averlo : contiene ricette, curiosità e foto splendide. Oltretutto è anche bello da vedere, con la sua copertina rigida. Mi son fatta un regalo :-D