Is anyone else enjoying this dramatic romp their the British countryside?
It just happens to cover one of my most favorite periods of history. I studied world history at the graduate level back in my twenties, and came to be quite enamored with those years leading up to and including World War I, “the Great War.” At one point I was seriously considering writing a book called: 1919, because this year seemed pivotal in so many ways as we all transitioned from the old to the modern world.
In Downton Abbey, Elizabeth McGovern who plays Lady Grantham so well, is an American who married into an old British family in the late 1800s. This woman is quite the midlife crisis queen, mostly around her tough relationship with her thorny mother-in-law, played eloquently by Maggie Smith, and her three troublesome daughters.
Yes, I know, it truly is a simple story, but I do enjoy the ins and outs of it all.
Looking forward to the second season!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t particularly like the English and all that upstairs/downstairs stuff. We’re Americans … no masters and servants for us, we’re all supposed to live on the same floor, aren’t we?!?
But I must admit, you’re not the first person to recommend “Downtown Abbey” to me. Maybe I should try it. I do like “Doc Martin.” Is it anything like Doc Martin?
Tom:
The British class system fascinates because it is so amazingly UNAmerican, I believe.
Strange worlds interest me. Sorry but I’ve never heard of Doc Martin… – Laura Lee
Tom
You must realise that this is more than 100 years ago … the normal English person lives much the same as normal Americans .. on one floor. This is about the class system that was around at that time (and then only to the filthy rich!!) It is just a fascinating period of history that even I (an Englishman living in Australia) can appreciate. It is superbly acted and photographed like a lot of these BBC period series. Go and see series 1 and 2 and follow the life history of that family with the superb Maggie Smith acing as only she can do. Most of these old country estates are falling into disrepair due to the huge upkeep costs and those that are still going are basically operating as a tourist attraction or museum .. check out the link to Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) below … …. But to answer your question .. no it’s not like Doc Martin .. that series is made in a small fishing town in south west England .. probably the County of Devon or Cornwall .. anyway I hope you enjoy the series but start at the beginning otherwise it is hard to understand the full story. .. -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highclere_Castle
Michael
Thank you for the background and link to Highclere Castle. – LLC