The Wit and Wisdom of Downton Abbey

by Jessica Fellowes

"Come war and peace Downton still stands and the Crawleys are still in it."

Downton Abbey is loved the world over for its fabulous costumes, beautiful scenery, wonderful characters and intricate plot lines, but what keeps millions of us coming back time after time is the stellar quality of the writing. With each stroke of his pen Julian Fellowes seems to gift us with a cuttingly dry quip from the Dowager Countess, a perfectly timed word of wisdom from Mrs Patmore or a touchingly nostalgic pronouncement from Carson. Here in The Wit and Wisdom of Downton Abbey, Jessica Fellowes has gathered together her favorite quotes from the complete Downton Abbey oeuvre to take each of us back to the most memorable moments from the show and ensure we are armed with the very best ripostes should we ever need to chastise an impertinent lady's maid.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Historical, Downton Abbey, British Literature, Film, History

128 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2015

About the author

Niece of Julian Fellowes

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun but not as fun as I thought it would be. It's kind of a scattered format. The quotes are arranged by topic and are drawn from all seasons, so the context is mostly a mystery. I think it would have worked better to arrange by season and then topic, or at least note which season each quote was from. If arranged by season, an introductory paragraph about the season's events would have provided better context for the quotes.
Even so, quotes from Lady Violet and Mrs. Patmore are great whether there's context or not, and there were many lines that made me smile or laugh out loud.
It's OK, not awesome.
I'm not completely unmoved by it, though--I now have a strong urge to go back and watch the whole series from the beginning.

[Brie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely little book! Very short and sweet, but a wonderful way to get back into the Downton Abbey world. This book is a collection of quotes and exchanges from the show. I think it comes as no surprise that the best part is the section of conversations between Isobel and Violet. It really brought a smile to my face.

If you are a Downton Abbey fan, definitely pick this up. It's a fast read, but very entertaining!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overflowing with so many of my favorite quotes from the series - particularly from the Dowager Countess - I loved every page of this little treasure. It reignited my love for the show (even if that love has never gone out), and I adored every second of it.

For every lover of the Downton magic.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will we ever be able to explain the phenomenon that is the television series Downton Abbey? Watched by millions and showered with awards, I find the reason for its success as elusive to pinpoint as Jane Austen’s lasting appeal. It means so much to so many. In two hundred years time will people be watching and reading about this period drama as passionately as we do Austen’s novels?

Quite possibly so. Their common link is the witty writing. Clever bon mots and cheeky retorts never go out of fashion. They make us smile, laugh-out-loud and reflect upon what makes us tick as humans. They are a window into our souls.

The Wit and Wisdom of Downton Abbey, by Jessica Fellowes is a collection of those fabulous zingers that make this series so “light, bright and sparkling” to Austen fans and the bazillion other viewers around the world. Creator and writer Julian Fellowes must love Austen as much as this Janeite. He certainly recognizes how her prose can sing with humor and social reproof using the same technique in his own dialogue. Whenever anyone complains about anything I am tempted to use a little Lady Catherine, oops, Lady Violet on them…

“Don’t be defeatist dear. It is very middle class.”—Dowager Countess Grantham

This slim volume of witty and wise one liners has been compiled by Jessica Fellowes. Being the niece of the creator does give you the inside scoop. However, Jessica is a tour-de-force all on her own. Author, journalist, and public speaker, Fellowes is formerly a celebrity interviewer at the Mail on Sunday and deputy editor of Country Life magazine. Readers familiar with her work will know that she has also written four lavish coffee-table books on the series: The World of Downton Abbey (2011), The Chronicles of Downton Abbey (2012), A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey (2014) and recently Downton Abbey: A Celebration (2015). She opens this beautifully designed book with an insightful introduction offering a “cocktail of an answer” as to way the series works so well. The book is structured into five chapters: Life; Love and Family; Work; Play; and Downton Abbey. Not only does it contain many (if not all) of my favorite quotes from characters ranging from the dry Mrs. Patmore to haughty Lady Mary Crawley, it includes full-color photos from the production.

“After four Seasons, one is less a debutante than a survivor.”—Lady Rosamund

My number one choice this season as a stocking stuffer for my Downtonite friends, The Wit and Wisdom of Downton Abbey will help you remember why we love this series so much and prime you for the final season (sob) which premieres in the US on MASTERPIECE Classic on Sunday, January 3, 2016.

“Daisy? What’s happened? I said you could go for a drink of water, not a trip up the Nile.”—Mrs. Patmore

Laurel Ann, Austenprose.com

[Beki Eikum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just a book of quotes from the show, but it gave me the feeling of visiting old friends. Rewatching the show takes a long time, so this was a great option.

Here are some favorites…

Violet: That is the thing about nature.
There’s so much of it.

Cora: I am an American. I don’t share your English hatred of comfort.

Robert: They do say there’s a wild man inside all of us.
Violet: If only he would stay inside.

Mrs. Patmore: You couldn’t be harder on those potatoes if you wanted them to confess to spying.

Isobel: You and I differ when it comes to the importance of things.
Violet: does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?

Anna: Why are you smiling?
Bates: Because whenever I see a problem, you see only possibilities.

Robert: Tom is our tame revolutionary.
Strallan: Every family should have one.

Mary: honestly, papa. Edith‘s about as mysterious as a bucket.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved watching the Downton Abbey and when I saw this book on my mother's bookshelf I knew I just had to read this book. 

This book is a collection of the most unforgettable quotes from the television series. Each one of the chapters relates to a specific theme such as "Life", "Love and Family", "Work", "Play", and "Downton Abbey". Additionally, I appreciated the beautiful multi-colored photos from the show. Finally, this would be a great gift for all Downton Abbey fans. 

Here are a few of my favorite one-liners, humorous remarks, and lovely sayings:

Mrs. Hughes -

"My advice, Daisy, is to go as far in life as God and luck allow."

Violet -

"I couldn't have electricity in the house. I wouldn't sleep a wink. All those vapours seeping about."

"You are a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do!"

"I am not a romantic. But even I will concede that the heart does not exist solely for the purpose of pumping blood."

"No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house. Especially someone they didn’t even know."

"God knows who the next heir will be. Probably a chimney sweep from Solihull."

Daisy -

"But if it's electric, aren't you worried it's going to run away with itself and sew your fingers to the table?"

"No farmer is his own boss. He takes his orders from the sun and the snow and the wind and the rain."

Anna -

"What I see is a good man, m'lady. And they're not like buses. There won't be another one along in ten minutes' time."

Matthew -

"War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter, and the things that don't."

Mrs. Patmore -

"It's a long time since anyone wanted to share my seat on the bus, never mind my heart and home."

"Get those kidneys up to the servery before I knock you down and serve your brains as fritters."

"Fold it in, don't slap it!  You're making a cake, not beating a carpet!"

Carson -

"We are about to host a Society wedding. I have no time for training young hobbledehoys."

Violet is my all-time favorite character of them all.

[Melinda Medlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book via a Goodreads giveaway. For years I have been a fan of the show and especially love the witty banter that is a part of the writing. This book highlights the best of the humor, romance, and reflections. While this book, roughly the size of a pocket reference guide, is ideal for fans of the show, it would be entertaining for anyone who enjoys humor, history and/or Edwardian aspect of society. It was a quick read and utterly delightful.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small, slim volume is filled with bits of dialogue from the PBS television series organized loosely by chapters on Life, Love and Family, Work, Play and Downton Abbey. Because Julian Fellows is such a brilliant writer I could easily recall the scene and circumstances from just three or four lines of dialogue. Beautiful photos of many of the characters make this a visual treat as well. A delightful treasure of pleasure for any Downton Abbey fan. Thank you for the gift, Colleen Gengler.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book has many of the witty one-liners avid fans of the show will remember. Divided into chapters of subjects, and interspersed with photos from the show, the cleverness of the dialogue is allowed to really shine.

I was given a free copy of this book as part of Goodreads First Reads, and all opinions are my own.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of quotes and photos from Downton Abbey. This would make a wonderful little gift for the Downton lover in your life. Even those unfamiliar with the show are certain to enjoy many of the quotes, but some context would be helpful.

I received this as a Good-Reads first reads giveaway.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable little book that is filled with all the funny and most memorable lines from the hit show Downton Abbey. There are also lots of pictures of the beloved characters and scenes. I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey and I'm so sad it has ended. This book made me smile remembering all my favorite moments from past seasons.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from good reads first reads. It was a great trip down memory lane for a wonderful series that I will miss deeply at the end of the last season. It packs in everything that made you fond of it in the first place.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and touching by turns. Bite-sized snippets of the most universally delightful and thoughtful shows of the early 21st century. If you don't have time for a full season binge, this book will satisfy your Lady Violet craving.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light and wonderful sampler dessert of the many hilarious, poignant and cheeky quotes said by various characters in our very beloved Downton Abbey.

Arranged non-formally, it is a good quick read when you are missing the show.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of Downton Abbey, this book of categorized quotes is a fun reminder of some of the great lines from the show.

[Michelle Olms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An short and sweet book of quotes from the series. (Although, to save time, they could have selected only Cousin Violet's lines and I'd have enjoyed it just the same.)

[Susan Pola Staples · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book. It's a collection of pithy, ironic, sarcastic and poignant sayings from Upstairs and Downstairs

[Gigi]

While the writing is good, it was the actors who brought the words to life. Not as heartwarming, funny, sparky, etc. in black and white. I didn't hate the book, but it wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be. I must add that, in reading the section entitled The Sparing Partners, I got amused by hearing Dame Maggie Smith's (Violet) and Penelope Wilton's (Isobel) voices in my head. Those were the best quotes in my opinion.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Downton Abbey is loved the world over for its fabulous costumes, beautiful scenery, wonderful characters and intricate plot lines, but what keeps millions of us coming back time after time is the stellar quality of the writing.We are gifted with a cuttingly dry quip from the Dowager Countess, a perfectly timed word of wisdom from Mrs Patmore or a touchingly nostalgic pronouncement from Carson.It takes each of us back to the most memorable moments from the show and ensure we are armed with the very best ripostes.I could go on forever with my favourite quotes.
"Life is a game in which the player must appear ridiculous."

"My dear,all life is a series of problems which we must try and solve,first one and then the next and the next,until at last we die."

"The business of life is the acquisition of memories.In the end that's all there is."

"I loved Rose's definition of ordinary life: dancing and shopping and seeing one's friends."

"We all have chapters we would rather keep unpublished."

"Well,in my experience,second thoughts are vastly overrated."

"Hope is a tease,designed to prevent us from accepting reality."

"Principles are like prayers.Noble of course,but awkward at a party."

"It's easy to be generous when you have nothing to lose."

"The aristocracy has not survived by its intransigence."
"The Monarchy has thrived on magic and mystery.Strip them away and people may think the Royal family is just like us."

"I think accepting change is quite as important as defending the past."

"Life's altered you,as it altered me.And what would be the point of living if we didn't let life change us?"

"Sometimes a hard sacrifice must be made for a future that's worth having."

"It always happens when you give these little people power.It goes to their heads like strong drink!"

"The presence of strangers is our only guarantee of good behaviour."

"No one can accuse me of being modern,but even I can see it's not a crime to be young."

"You are a woman with a brain and reasonable ability.Stop whining and find something to do!"

"Don't be defeatist,dear.It's very middle class."

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more than just a bunch of random quotes from the show. It has a very brief introduction by the "author" who is Julian Fellows niece, but the remainder of the book is all quotes which would have been written by Julian himself. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and rereading the quotes was fun although I didn't even remember all the characters. Sometimes only a first name is listed with the quote.

[Alessandra Bassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assolutamente gustoso: ironia e intelligenza, battute fulminanti, concetti paradossali e giudizi di varia natura. I personaggi sono indimenticabili e il loro pensiero sulle faccende quotidiane, presenti, passate e future è sempre un interessante specchio: su tutte trionfano le parole argute e sagge della nonna Violet, la contessa madre.

[David Henkhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing. Fun way to keep the memory alive.

If I had one request...I would have appreciated more "wisdom" in terms of providing the history/ literature/ mythology references to some of the quips made. I caught a number of them (thank you to my educators in high school and undergrad), but would like to learn more about the ones I missed.

[Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've rated it a 2 star because the quotes just seem to be placed, randomly. Although there are "headers" many of the quotes just seem out of place. It is a moot point now. However, perhaps if the quotes had been arranged by character, the "flow" wouldn't appear so haphazard.

[Sharif · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book distills some of the best quotes of six seasons into one little volume. While there are some great standalone quotes, the book is full of references which require the reader to understand the context of the scene to fully appreciate them. So I believe the book is designed almost exclusively for Downton Abbey enthusiasts. With the exception of a few quotes, the Dowager Countess has the best lines.

Molesley:


Carson:


Dowager Countess/Violet Crawley:
















My primary objection is the omission of some of the best quotes in the series, especially the Dowager’s pithy aphorisms which certainly need to be preserved for posterity (examples below).













This was a great idea and could have been epic if it were a collection of all Downton’s quotes and retorts accompanied by a plethora of visual aids to provide context and enhance aesthetics (at least one shot of Highclere Castle is a requirement). For most of us Downton aficionados, we would have loved to see some photos and dialogue of some of our favorite characters, such as the exchange between Matthew & Mary when she compares herself to a mythological princess and him to a sea monster.

Mary: I’ve been studying the story of Andromeda, do you know it?
Matthew: Why?
Mary: Her father was King Cepheus, whose country was being ravaged by storms… and in the end, he decided the only way to appease the gods was to sacrifice his eldest daughter to a hideous sea monster…. So they chained her naked to a rock…








Overall, I liked the book but it certainly missed the opportunity to capitalize on all its potential.

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is for die-hard fans only.
For the general reader, it would be hard to appreciate the “wit and wisdom” of the quotes without their context, you need to know the people involved and their story. Even for a reader that is familiar with the show, due to the book organisation (in “themes”), there is no narrative flow, the sections jump about too much and it is hard to enjoy every quip and pun, without being able to remember when and how it came about.
The quotes for my favourite character, Violet, made me laugh, though :)

Fav. Quotes:

Violet: I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.

Violet: The presence of strangers is our only guarantee of good behaviour.

Mary: All we were taught was French, prejudice and dance steps.

Violet: First electricity, now telephones. Sometimes I feels as if I must be living in an H. G. Wells novel.

Violet: Spratt, I have told you before. I do not appreciate a man of mystery. If you have something to say, say it!

Violet: Don’t be defeatist, dear. It’s very middle class.

Branson: Real love means giving someone the power to hurt you.

Mrs Hughes: A broken heart can be as painful as a broken limb.

Violet: There must be something you can put your mind to. Edith: Like what? Gardening? Violet: Well, no. You can’t be as desperate as that.

Carson: I let myself get flustered. I regard that as highly unprofessional. It won’t happen again.

Isobel: Servants are human beings, too. Violet: Yes. But preferably only on their days off.

Violet: All this unbridled joy has given me quite an appetite.

Isobel: I take that as a compliment. Violet: I must have said it wrong.

Isobel: How you hate to be wrong! Violet: I wouldn’t know. I’m not familiar with the sensation.

Isobel: You and I differ when it comes to the importance of things. Violet: Does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?

Isobel: Oh you only say that to sound clever. Violet: I know. You should try it.

Cora: I think Granny’s right. Violet: Can somebody write that down?

[Chris James]

Reading through the quips and quotes brought back memories of watching Downton Abbey - not just of the show, but of the emotions it invoked as well. (Watching the clock and scheduling events to ensure we were settled in and ready to watch the show. Hearing my husband chuckle at the quips - and he's a guy who prefers hunting shows to period pieces, so, believe me, this was a big deal. Discussions about the show with family members near and far.) In short, I think, in addition to the emotions within the show, it was the bonding that just watching brought about. And, like the show, this book made me laugh and gasp and cringe and. . . well, if you're a fan of Downton Abbey, you get it.

While the actors delivered the lines better than I could in my head, I did enjoy it. I also got a chance to remember some of the more profound lines that got lost in the emotion of the television scenes. As I write this review, I find myself smiling just thinking about all those Violet and Isobel back-and-forths. We should all be so lucky to have someone in our lives that keeps us on our toes.

Thank you, Heather, for gifting this book to your uncle (which I totally snagged so I could read it first!)

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, and times funny, combination of quotes from Downton Abbey.

The quotes cover the entire time period of the show and most of the major characters.

Examples include:

Violet: "I do think a woman's place is eventually in the home, but I see no harm in her having some fun before she gets there."

Isobel: "I don't want my own son to die, either! But this is a war! And we must be in it together! High and low, rich and poor! There can be no 'special cases', because every man at the front is a special case to someone!"

Cora: I hope you thanked Matthew properly.
Mary: I got them to make him some sandwiches.
Cora: That's not quite what I meant.
Mary: And he asked me to marry him.
Cora: Heavens! What did they put in them?

Bates: It's not right for you to cry alone. You're married and that means you don't ever have to cy alone again.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically just a collection of some of the best lines over the six series of Downton Abbey with a foreword by Jessica Fellowes. Nevertheless this was enjoyable and at times I found myself laughing out loud at certain things especially at the Dowager and also Mrs Hughes who has some great comebacks for both Mr Carson and Mrs Patmore. If you are a true Downton Abbey fan then you will love this book.

[Steve Gores · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very brief but fun reminder of the many pithy comments that decorated the dialogue of Downton Abbey. As fans might expect, most of the best lines come from the banter between the old ladies--Isobel and Violet (the Dowager Countess)--but the cook, Mrs. Patmore, also offers many lovely, cutting remarks.