The World of Downton Abbey
February 14, 2012
I am, admittedly, a Brit Lit junkie, and I’m not afraid to proclaim my love for soap operas either. (The recent cancellation of One Life to Live just about killed me, by the way.) So, when I discovered that the two had come together in a PBS Masterpiece series, I nearly fell out of my chair at the circulation desk in front of a patron.
What is this genius mix of British life in the early 1900s and the drama of living among servants and aristocrats alike? Let me introduce you to Downton Abbey. The series follows the household of the Earl and Countess of Grantham as it deals with the sinking of the Titanic, the Great War, and the catty, scheming staff living at Downton.
Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, has lost his chosen male heir on the Titanic and now must turn to a distant cousin, Matthew, to bestow his title and estate on. Matthew’s introduction to the family and the staff causes an uproar and drama ensues. Will he marry the eldest daughter of the Earl so the family can retain their station? Will he take the Grantham fortune and return to London, leaving them with nothing? What will happen to the household servants and how will they plot to turn this situation in their favor?
Watch Downton Abbey to find out what happens next, and you’ll fall in love with the characters and their stories just as I did. We have both the first and second seasons in the MCPL catalog.
Jessica S.
Colbern Road
Comments
Love Downton Abbey
What a brilliant and historical PBS series-the characters and plot are so defined that they become part of our present life! I remember Upstairs/Downstairs on PBS years ago and find Downton Abbey as a nice touch for the 21st Century!
Thank you for including these wonderful series in the Mid-Continent collections!
I love it too!
I'm a Downton Abbey fan, too! Beautiful set/scenery, costumes, and extraordinary writing, especially for television. Just when you think you have the storyline figured out, the writer throws you for a loop. And just when you decide who the good guys are and who the bad guys are, that changes too! We look forward to watching it every Sunday night, and we'll be sorry to see the season end next week.
(Tip for anyone wanting to watch: It's a good idea to watch the episodes in order, since there are so many characters.)
Lori
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