A Kingston Lacy Childhood

by PAMELA WATKIN, Viola Bankes

Reminiscences of Viola Bankes

Genres: Biography

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise! Local history books are sadly apt to be a bit dry, but this one is genuinely good. The insight into the dreadful attitudes of the Edwardian upper class to the emotional health of their children is quite shocking. The next time I visit Kingston Lacy I will be looking at it with new eyes.

[Nick Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely taken with this book. Despite the obvious priviledge of the family this is pure social history of an important part of the 20th century. The family aren't landed gentry but do own huge swathes of land and live in a way which is better known through TV shows like Downton Abbey. Here however the character of Viola, the narrator, comes through in such a way as to make this far more real and connected with the people of the 20th Century than ny drama show ever could.

Absolutely fascinating.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginatively written and so descriptive. I enjoyed the author's style and felt I was right there with the family. The down side was the author's dysfunctional parents and their lack of warmth for each other and for the children. I found reading those parts to be painful reading. Overall, though, the book was just not long enough (a compliment to the author)

[Serendipity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant insight into life at Kingston Lacy. I work as head housekeeper at Kingston lacy sister house Soughton Hall. So this book was fascinating for me to read about the history of our great British Houses!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating reading. An excellent insight into growing up at Kingston Lacy.