Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Fiona Carnarvon

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Title: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

Author: Fiona Carnarvon

Genre: Non-Fiction: British History, Biography

Length: 310 pages

Published: 2011

Publisher: Broadway

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration for the hit PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon and the basis of the fictional character Lady Cora Crawley. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war. 

Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home. Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman.

This rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

I must admit that the idea of writing a non-fiction book review is a little daunting to me. Unlike with fiction, I can't really discuss why I think the author chose a certain setting or plot point to happen, because, well, this is a true account. So please bear with me and I hope this isn't as difficult to write as I keep thinking it will be. 

I did enjoy Lady Almina quite a bit. I found it to be a fast, easy read. It's less of a biography about Almina, than it is a history of Highclere Castle during her time there as Countess. Part of the time it seemed to be more about Almina, since it would follow her to the work she did in London during WWI, as well as her trips to Egypt with her husband. Other times it seemed to be all about Highclere. It flowed well between the two, but I felt like more time could have been spent talking about Almina after her husband died and she left Highclere. A little more than a rushed "she remarried and dealt with a lawsuit involving her new husband's first wife". I felt like the conclusion was really lacking because of this.

I loved the parts which spoke about how the estate was run. I found it fascinating to learn about the amount of staff was needed to properly run such a large estate. It was also interesting to see the changes Almina made with the house in order to nurse wounded soldiers during WWI. 

I haven't watched the show, Downton Abbey, as of yet, but I definitely will be watching it to see how much they drew on Almina Carnarvon's for the character Cora Crawley. I definitely recommend this book, whether you are a Downton Abbey fan or simply into history.

You can purchase Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.