Since the moment we first entered Downton Abbey in 1912, we have been swept away by Julian Fellowes’s evocative world of romance, intrigue, drama and tradition. Now, in 1925, as Downton Abbey prepares to close its doors for the final time, Jessica Fellowes leads us through the house and estate, reliving the iconic moments of the wonderfully aristocratic Crawley family and their servants as they navigate the emerging modern age.
Travelling from Great Hall to servants’ hall, bedroom to boot room, we glimpse as we go Matthew and Isobel Crawley arriving for the first time, the death of Kemal Pamuk, Cora’s tragic miscarriage, Edith’s affair with Michael Gregson, Mary’s new haircut, Thomas and O’Brien’s scheming, Anna and Bates’s troubles with the law, and Carson’s marriage to Mrs Hughes.
Alongside are in-depth interviews with the cast, who have worked on the show for six years and know it so well, as well as a complete episode guide for the first five seasons and a teaser for the sixth. Packed full of stunning location shots and stills from all six seasons of the show including exclusive behind-the-scenes photography, this celebratory book is the ultimate gift for Downton Abbey fans the world over.
4.5 stars After reading this companion, I have reached the end of my experience reading these official companions to the television series. So far. Who knows if there will be more published in the future.
This third and final companion is unsurprisingly beautiful. Where the second companion had a few blurry photos, this companion made up for that with the large, clear, and quality photos that were included. I did not notice a lapse in quality in this companion and it was similar to the first in which they were both extremely well done.
As well, I liked how the sections in this book were divided by setting locations whether it be the different rooms featured on the Downton estate or the other locations set in the show. While it was uniquely separated into sections, the story of the show still neatly was told and unfolded.
The one critique I could have for this book is that it's promoted as a companion to "all six seasons". It appears as if it's a companion that goes over the show from start to finish. However, the majority of the sixth season including the conclusion weren't discussed and the final season was more or less touched on very vaguely. In fact, the pictures from the sixth season were captioned as "teasers". I think this book's release could have been adjusted so that the full series could have been included from premiere to finale.
Aside from that minor criticism, I think this is a beautiful book and would make for a wonderful gift or addition for any Downton Abbey fan. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a book for someone to randomly pick up if they weren't a fan of the show but for those that are, I think it would be a pleasant surprise.
As we prepare for the last episode of Downton Abbey this companion book is a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Visually and verbally Jessica Fellows reminds us why the series is so popular. We are taken on a tour of the estate and are treated to interviews and insights to the cast. It may cover material we are familiar with but is still a nice behind the scenes look at the family, servants and home that has become part of our Sunday night viewing these past 6 seasons. Be warned Downton Abbey: A Celebration includes teasers of scenes that have yet to be aired in the US.
The final season of the wildly popular television series 'Downton Abbey' is drawing near. To prep yourself for the further drama of the Crawley family and their servants, fellow Downtonites can revisit the fabulous plots, locations and characters by reading the final companion volume to the series, 'Downton Abbey – A Celebration', by Jessica Fellowes. This is her fourth large and lavish book spotlighting the phenomenally popular, award winning television series. And, it truly lives up to its title—a jubilant fête worthy of her uncle Julian Fellowes’ vision of portraying the changes in the British aristocracy through the Crawley family and their servants from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 to the Jazz Age of 1925.
The cover boasts “Companion to All Six Seasons” which could be a bane or boon to the reader depending on if they abhor spoilers or not. They are a middlin’ amount. Much less than you would find in a Google search on the subject or happen across on Twitter—and no information on the finale episode which will air in the UK on Christmas day and in the US in March, 2106. Notwithstanding the distractions, we are cleverly guided through Downton Abbey – A Celebration by visiting the rooms of the abbey arranged by sections and chapters. Beginning upstairs through the Great Hall, drawing room, dining room, library and family bedrooms to “Behind the Green Baize Curtain” downstairs to the Servants Hall, the kitchen and servants attic where they sleep. This physical approach of touring the rooms seems very fitting; each described and placed in historical and social context while we revisit key scenes played out there with the characters. Who could forget the Dowager Countess Grantham asking “What is a weekend?” in the dining room during season one, Matthew Crawley proposing to Lady Mary on the steps of the entrance in season two or when Anna is arrested in the Servants Hall and taken to jail in season five? Each, a riveting moment in the drama that bonds us to the characters and the home in which they live.
Moving outside of the great manor house the book also encompasses the entire Downton estate including the grounds, farm, cottages, Dower House and the village to “Beyond the Boundaries” to London, Yorkshire and Scotland—covering many (if not all) locations visited by the Crawley family and their friends during the series. Filled with hundreds of full-color photographs, several cast interviews, pertinent quotes from the screenplay and an introduction by the Great Man himself, Julian Fellowes, readers will find the helpful episode guide an invaluable aid to refresh their memories on the who, what, when and where, and help them win at Downton Abbey Trivial Pursuit when it is created. And, you know it will be.
Ms. Fellowes’ writing is fluid and engaging. With so many facts to convey, nonfiction writing can be a challenge. You can feel her passion for the subject with the detail and energy that she brings to the text.
“On rare occasions, others have been lent the rooms for their own privacy, too. Fortunately, only Mrs. Hughes knows there’s a grating in the wall that means any conversation in here can be eavesdropped on – something that she found came in handy when Vera Bates arrived to threaten her husband. Mrs. Hughes offered the room for them to talk in – and through the grating she heard Vera tell Bates she will go to the papers with the story about the Turk* dying in Lady Mary’s bed, and that Anna will feature in the story as the woman who helped to move the corpse.” (128) in the section on Mrs. Hughes’s Sitting Room
*The Turk mentioned in this quote is Kemal Pamuk, a handsome Turkish diplomat who expired in Lady Mary Crawley’s bed, requiring Countess Grantham, Lady Mary and Anna the maid (Bates’ girlfriend) to carry the body in secrecy back to his room. Any true Downtonite knows that Mrs. Hughes would never permit anyone on the staff, or upstairs, to be Pamuked by anyone, so Vera is toast!
Filled with sumptuous images and photographs, Downton Abbey – A Celebration is a comprehensive, beautifully designed edition perfect for holiday gift giving to history buffs, period drama and Downton Abbey fans. WARNING! Be sure to buy two copies, or you will never gift it away.
A Beautiful and Comprehensive Celebration of Downton Abbey (TV Series)
I had this book in my TBR pile for some time and finally read it in preparation for seeing the new movie.
It truly is what it says in the title - it is a detailed, informative, and celebratory love-fest of the popular TV series.
The chapters are divided by various rooms and settings used throughout the series, this book is a virtual tour of Downton Abbey, its surrounding villages, and other settings that feature prominently in the series. Readers learn some history of these rooms and settings (their interior/exterior locations), some details about their furnishings, and what memorable scenes from DA took place there.
In addition, to Downton Abbey and various locations, this book highlights the major (and some minor) characters that we follow throughout the six series. With the important events and developments of each character summarized. I especially enjoyed the quotes and thoughts from the actors and actresses who played these characters.
There is so much to love and appreciate in this book - the history, informative details, the sumptuous and plentiful photographs, and last but not least, an episode guide with brief synopsis! Which I greatly appreciated since I there were a few episodes...ahem seasons...I was less keen on rewatching. Truly an outstanding companion to the TV series and a must for Downton Abbey fans.
Aivan loistava päätös tälle kirjavuodelle! Ihana, ihana kirja, joka ehdottomasti päätyy suosikkihyllyyni. Teos sisältää mielettömän upeita kuvia ja juuri sopivasti taustatietoa sarjan tapahtumista ja hahmoista. Hyvänä lisänä tarjotaan myös historiallista faktatietoa Downton Abbey -sarjan aikakaudesta ja kerrotaan hieman laajemminkin esim. kuvauspaikkojen taustoista ja historiasta. Kirjan lopusta löytyy muistin virkistämiseksi jakso-opas kaikista kuudesta tuotantokaudesta. Upea kirja, yksi vuoden parhaista!
This is a great coffee table book. The pictures are beautiful and I loved reading the interviews with all the cast. A great closer to the Downton Abbey series. I shall miss it.
I've seen the Downton series twice completely, my favorite show. I love these companion books. Big, beautiful, coffee table books, gorgeous photos, personal interviews with the cast. Delightful to read.
Brilliant companion book to celebrate the impact of this series has had. Read this in preparation for the Downton Abbey movie being released later this month. This wonderful book takes us through a tour of the house both upstairs and downstairs with character profiles peppered throughout. Glorious photographs help to invigorate Jessica's words and mean that this is a sumptious book which fits totally within the ethos of this television show. This has made me want to rewatch the show so badly. Just brilliant!
This has some gorgeous pictures from the series and articles about different rooms in the house or other sites used interspersed with articles about the main characters. I learned more about the characters' back stories (or was reminded about them.) One interesting aspect was that the author asked each of the actors what they had in common with the character they portrayed.
The final part of the book was a recap of each episode (up to Episode 8 of the final season) Unfortunately the font was very light and hard to read against the grey and yellow backgrounds. This was the only section of the book that I found hard to read.
As a huge fan of Downton Abbey, this was the perfect Christmas gift for me. It's taken me a while to get through, but only because I was treasuring each page. This book is full of information about the characters, quotes from the actors, historical information about the period and show, but most importantly, it was full of gorgeous photography. I felt quite emotional at times, Downton really was my favourite show and I'm going to miss it immensely. At least my DVD's and books will keep the Downton spirit alive forever!
I had to wait until I finished watching the series before I finished this because I was coming across some "spoilers" to season 6. A beautiful book that gives the reader a little background on the characters & the people who played them. Also the places where so many of the scenes were shot. Just an all around beautiful book!
Een schitterende toevoeging voor de fans van Downton Abbey. Een boek met extra informatie en prachtige foto's! Alleen zaten er hier en daar jammer genoeg wat fouten in wat denk ik door de vertaling komt
This big beautiful book is a must have for a Downton Abbey fan. Beautiful pictures and information on all six seasons of this marvelous television series. Everything you forgot and everything you want to remember is right here in this publication.
Rare for me, I opened this coffee-table book and read through it completely and intently. Written by the wife of Downton Abbey's director, it's billed as the official guide to the television series and is probably best read after one has watched all six seasons or most of them. It's also useful as a preface to the recently released movie sequel. The author provides a guided tour of the settings used in the English soap opera and introduces each of the main actors, sprinkling in a few of their quotes and outlining their roles and storylines. She throws in some political history for context, but most American readers would want and need more. She also talks a bit about her husband's life and various incidents that influenced his conception of the D.A. saga. Her vocabulary and insider tone suggest that the Fellowes are either part of the British aristocracy or rich hangers-on. I presume this is spelled out more clearly in her other spin-offs from the series. An appendix summarizes each episode in detail, a useful resource for viewers who might have missed some shows and are trying to fill in the blanks. Only so much text can be crammed into a photo book, but I would have liked more material about the actors, and a floor plan of Highclere Castle, the estate used for most of the filming, as well as a map of the Berkshire district. This book whetted my appetite to learn more about British social history of the 1920s and what has become of its landed gentry. I'd also like to learn more about the architecture displayed in the volume. The photography is first-rate but mostly posed. I would have liked more action shots from the daily shootings, and more commentary on the technical challenges of the project.
Since the moment we first entered Downton Abbey in 1912, we have been swept away by Julian Fellowes' evocative world of romance, intrigue, drama and tradition. Now, in 1925, as Downton Abbey prepares to close its doors for the final time, Jessica Fellowes leads us through the house and estate, reliving the iconic moments of the wonderfully aristocratic Crawley family and their servants as they navigate the emerging modern age. Travelling from Great Hall to servants' hall, bedroom to boot room, we glimpse as we go Matthew and Isobel Crawley arriving for the first time, the death of Kemal Pamuk, Cora's tragic miscarriage, Edith's affair with Michael Gregson, Mary's new haircut, Thomas and O'Brien's scheming, Anna and Bates's troubles with the law, and Carson's marriage to Mrs Hughes.Alongside this will be in-depth interviews with the cast who have worked on the show for six years and know it so well. Packed full of stunning location shots and stills from all six series of the show including exclusive behind-the-scenes photography, this celebratory book is the ultimate gift for Downton Abbey fans the world over. I absolutely adored this series and have kept rewatching it time and time again.And I loved the film released in 2019 and I hope there's a sequel to it. There's nothing I didn't love about this show. Great dialogue, characters, costumes and storylines-it had them all in spades.
While The World of Downton Abbey focuses on the historical background of the show, The Chronicles of Downton Abbey goes in depth on each character, Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey delves in detail about the creation and production of the show, and A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey goes in depth on seasonal events and celebrations, traditions and recipes that would have been a part of life at an estate like Downton Abbey for both the family and the staff, Downton Abbey: A Celebration is an official companion to all six seasons of the tv show. It goes in depth about the house and the family, the servant's quarters, the estate and village and the areas beyond the boundaries. While each area is discussed, important moments from the show that take place in those areas are discussed as well as historical background. Profiles of characters with interviews of cast members who portray them are sprinkled throughout the book. There is also an episode guide at the end. It is very informative and includes lots of great photographs. A great read for any Downton Abbey Fan.
I was an avid fan of Downton Abbey and this book brought back so many exciting plot lines from the show. This is an in depth look at the characters and how their living situations would have been as well as the mores and customs of the times. Of course, over the time period of the show many changes were also taking place in the world and Fellowes tells how this would have affected the owners and staff at Downtown also. Tidbits of facts about the time period were very interesting. For instance, mail was delivered many times a day so quite a conversation could have taken place between households during that time. And the distances of some of the great manor kitchens from the actual dining room was amazing, making for mostly tepid meals no matter how hot they were upon leaving the oven. This was an immensely enjoyable read.
This is an excellent companion to the six seasons of the hit British time period drama series. Written by Jessica Fellowes, author, journalist and public speaker, as well as the neice of series creator Julian Fellowes (who writes the foreward), stunning series photography surrounds her descriptive work profiling cast, historical events, and plots season by season.
Encompanied within the timeline are the main characters' biographies and how they fit into the plot, naturally changing over time as they evolve with the modern era. Given that the show is fiction, naturally, every effort has been taken to create authenticity to the time period of 1912 to the early 1920s.
Each episode is summarized to conclude the book, as well as an afterwords by Gareth Neame, executive producer, reinforcing that "Downton" was and always will be a worldwide fan favourite.
5.0/5.0 - A beautiful (coffee table?) book to accompany one of my favorite tv series, which I am in the middle of rewatching again. The book is organized beautifully, as a well run house might be. Its major divisions include rooms/areas of the main house, upstairs and downstairs characters along with their actor's profile, locations beyond Downton including the village, London, and other great homes. The writing is interwoven so well so that it flows with the plot lines, and is supported by costume details and behind the scene photographs. Perhaps, if there were one criticism, it would be that it was written prior to the sixth season, so what you get is more of a foreshadowing than actual details. Book 201 of 2020
I really loved Downton Abbey around seven years ago. I was obsessed. I acquired this book, put off reading it, admired Downton from afar, and basically accepted this was no longer very relevant to my interests. Happily, the new movie came out, my interests were reignited, and I made this my nighttime read (a couple of pages or a section before bed). It went pretty well! It brought back a lot of old memories. The photos are lovely and the historical details were really interesting (probably my favorite part of the book). My only complaint is that I would have liked to have read more about casting and more from the performers and crew in general. Overall, a lovely book for a Downton fan and a great refresher.
As the title says this is a companion book to all six seasons of Downton Abbey. The book gives not just a synopsis of each character's life and back story but also gives information about filming locations. I like that for each character there is some information about how the actors and actresses have grown to know their characters so well. While the book is about a fictional tv series it provides some history behind the people, places and customs of the time period. I have loved Downton Abbey and so this was a fun book to read and relive the memories of the series. I especially am glad the book includes at the end an episode guide.
Fans will enjoy this book. Many photos. I did however find it an odd combination. Parts told about society at the time the show was taking place (interesting). Parts told bits about the locations (interesting). A few comments from the actors were included ( I’d have liked to know more). Lots of the stories from the show were retold. I already know all the stories. The book could have been societal history or a backstory on filming or a plot recap. Instead it was all three in an odd way. I was less interested in a recap, thus four stars.
We all know someone obsessed with Downton Abbey and this is the perfect gift for them. Filled with photographs and interviews, this is great complementary material to the iconic series.