It came to my attention the other day the new television series, ' Downton Abbey', had won some big awards in the US, Emmys. I find that interesting, it has been shown on PBS, Masterpiece theatre.
In this age for a show such as Downton to have received an award, says a lot about our romance starved culture, let alone, the show and its theme of an upper class family and the servants who keep their world in order. Somewhere in our modern existence is a craving for the attributes that made that world.
If we go back almost forty one years the original show of 'Upstairs Downstairs,' created by Jean March and Eileen Atkins and brought to our televisions sets. Eileen Atkins, an actor family members had been in service and photos of that family that made her think how interesting it would be to have a show like this. The producer, John Hawksworth, who very bravely decided to go with the program to London Weekend Television gave them six months to see if the show had any interest.
The difference with, 'Upstairs Downstairs', the focus was the parallel worlds of the the servants and the high society people they worked for made for fascinating viewing. Mrs.Bridges, the cook and Mr. Hudson, the butler where the master of the downstairs family. Jean March played the part as the ladies maid and parlor maid who seemed to be an anchor for stories that she was central to the first story of 'Sarah' the young girl played by Pauline Collins of 'Shirley Valentine' fame. Sarah first act of rebellion is to take a chicken from Mrs. Bridges larder and sell it, on the street, after she sees Mrs. Bridges selling a chicken to a friend possibly a former servant. Sarah continues on her one woman path to escape the chains of being below stairs to eventually have the young master, Jame's child. Although another servant girl the scullery maid makes friend's with a footman from another house, a young Irish woman she dreams of marrying the young man. When word reaches his employer, the scullery maid is told she can't marry the young footman. The young woman goes into a depression and the future out of reach, she does the unthinkable and kills herself. Mrs. Bridges berates herself for being hard on the girl. It is another side of the live that seemed ordered and predictable. Romance was for the Upstairs, and a life of work and obedience was the Downstairs lot.
Sarah ask Mr. Hudson where he learned his strict code of behaviour and Hudson is his Scots, no nonsense fashion says, " from my Grandmother who starved to death as she was too proud to take charity from anyone". Pride was one dignity owned by the Downstairs, occupants.
As Upstairs Downstairs, Richard Bellamy and Lady Marjorie Bellamy, are like the Earl and Countess of Grantham although. Richard is a pastor's son and Lady Majorie the daughter of a peer. The Earl of Grantham and his wife who is an American heiress. A lot of the stories reflect the 19th C habit of the British upper classes marrying rich American woman. Jennie Jerome, as I mentioned in a previous blog and Consuelo Vanderbilt both brought very large dowry to pay off their husband's family accumulated debt. Indeed in the Downton, the worry is that the Countess has not had a son to inherit and her family money has gone to keep the family property. A young relations, a young doctor of the Earl is brought forward to inherit Grantham and a hope that the eldest daughter and he will possible marry.
Upstairs Downstairs has similar issues although there is no house to inherit. Elizabeth the Bellamy daughter has come back from Germany with bohemian ideas which lead her to rebel against her established lifestyle. James the son has a daughter with maid, Sarah but stays in the army to eventually be in the battles of World War I. At the end of the first series of Downton Abbey, they are also heading into war with the young heir signing up and with his profession a young doctor, it will make for a very interesting second season.
The similarities are obvious in the two shows, and they are both well acted and produced. Downton has an edge in that it has been shot in Highclere, one of the great old houses owned by Lord Carnarvon's family, one of the men who brought the King Tut treasures to the world.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Miss Austen Regrets.
I thought the BBC series on, 'Sense and Sensibility', had a biography of Jane Austen but discovered tonight they had a Drama based on her life called, 'Miss Austen Regrets'. I enjoyed it with again some very fine Actor's.
It starts off with Jane being asked to go to her brother's house now a widower to meet his nieces intended and shows Jane as a forty year old maiden aunt with a lot of spirit. To add to the story a gentleman played by Hugh Bonneville an old beau is present visiting her brother. It appears he is a minister. Jane has an enjoyable visit and they have a party and dance. She talks to her niece about love, life and marriage. Encouraging the girl to be amused by her young beau a young law student.
After the visit Jane goes off to London to visit her other brother a banker who is ill. She manages to get him a young doctor whom she has a flirtation with maybe a midlife crisis. She manages to get her brother back on his feet. At which point the niece comes to visit her in London and she tells Jane her beau has departed. The young doctor manages to get Jane a interview with an official of the Regent.
He allows her to use the Regent's name in her new book, Emma. She is hoping for a publisher and money from the sales of her books.
It seems when she returns home there is a crisis in the family, the bank has failed for her brother and the other brother is involved. Jane is also unwell.
It is made clear that the story has come from the nieces letters from Jane. I have another biography and will watch it again to double check the story. It is made clear she had proposal's of marriage but turned them down to her Mother's regret and due to her sister, Cassandra's urging.
Miss Austen Regrets is more a social history and biography of the writer, Jane Austen. I have to say this is going a bit off the mandate of the blog, Once bitten, as it is more intended as a history blog however from time to time I will use literature to support the history entry.
It starts off with Jane being asked to go to her brother's house now a widower to meet his nieces intended and shows Jane as a forty year old maiden aunt with a lot of spirit. To add to the story a gentleman played by Hugh Bonneville an old beau is present visiting her brother. It appears he is a minister. Jane has an enjoyable visit and they have a party and dance. She talks to her niece about love, life and marriage. Encouraging the girl to be amused by her young beau a young law student.
After the visit Jane goes off to London to visit her other brother a banker who is ill. She manages to get him a young doctor whom she has a flirtation with maybe a midlife crisis. She manages to get her brother back on his feet. At which point the niece comes to visit her in London and she tells Jane her beau has departed. The young doctor manages to get Jane a interview with an official of the Regent.
He allows her to use the Regent's name in her new book, Emma. She is hoping for a publisher and money from the sales of her books.
It seems when she returns home there is a crisis in the family, the bank has failed for her brother and the other brother is involved. Jane is also unwell.
It is made clear that the story has come from the nieces letters from Jane. I have another biography and will watch it again to double check the story. It is made clear she had proposal's of marriage but turned them down to her Mother's regret and due to her sister, Cassandra's urging.
Miss Austen Regrets is more a social history and biography of the writer, Jane Austen. I have to say this is going a bit off the mandate of the blog, Once bitten, as it is more intended as a history blog however from time to time I will use literature to support the history entry.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Sense and Sensibility, Austen 18th Century romance, history?
I watched the BBC 2008, version of, 'Sense & Sensibility', last night. My favourite had been the Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson movie but after watching this version I actually understood it and appreciated the actor's and how it was directed making it more credible. Understated would be the best description with a lot of recognizable British actor's but no stars, they actually brought the era and the nuance of Austen's writing to the forefront of the story.
The young woman I know are enthralled with Austen, being a Bronte fan I have found it hard to get into the character's however I have put that down to being a feminist. I also have a Yorkshire influenced background so living in a country parsonage makes more sense to me then a grand house with servants. Although the Bronte's had their servants, maybe paid for by the parish.
I have also spent more time in the north than the gentrified areas of Sussex and Devonshire. I have to say as a period piece it does capture the 18th century era. I have not checked the timeline of Austen's writing although I know it had to be near the era of the Napoleonic Wars. They are certainly not present in the scenes or spoken about neither are the hero's, Wellington or Nelson.
Jane Austen's awareness of emotion and female anxiety is brilliant. It struck me as how two hundred years later we are still dealing with similar emotions with a lot less support.
I have to tip my hat to the Austenite's and the British cast and Director of the BBC 2008 version, it gave me an interesting window into that era and the woman who helped shape it.
The young woman I know are enthralled with Austen, being a Bronte fan I have found it hard to get into the character's however I have put that down to being a feminist. I also have a Yorkshire influenced background so living in a country parsonage makes more sense to me then a grand house with servants. Although the Bronte's had their servants, maybe paid for by the parish.
I have also spent more time in the north than the gentrified areas of Sussex and Devonshire. I have to say as a period piece it does capture the 18th century era. I have not checked the timeline of Austen's writing although I know it had to be near the era of the Napoleonic Wars. They are certainly not present in the scenes or spoken about neither are the hero's, Wellington or Nelson.
Jane Austen's awareness of emotion and female anxiety is brilliant. It struck me as how two hundred years later we are still dealing with similar emotions with a lot less support.
I have to tip my hat to the Austenite's and the British cast and Director of the BBC 2008 version, it gave me an interesting window into that era and the woman who helped shape it.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Jennie Churchill a celebrated life.
The DVD on TV series on Jennie Churchill. The series taken from a two part biography on Winston Churchill's Mother, Jennie Jerome. The series is Jennie's life from when she was a young woman and her meeting with Lord Randolph Churchill. Jennie an American, with an interesting family history, was a dark haired beauty of her day. Jennie's Mother moved her daughter's of whom I think were three to Paris. This is where Lord Randolph and Jennie meet. The intense affair of Jennie and Lord Randolph resulted in a pregnancy and a rushed marriage, and a love match of two intense personalities.
The famous story of Jennie, a restless person decided to ride out with her sister, Leone which resulted in Winston Churchill being born in the entry of Blenheim Palace. I have actually been in the small room where Britain's greatest leader was born. Blenheim Palace is today open to the public and you can see the Louis XIV furnitures and mural from the SunKing's Palace. The grounds are a wonderful place to visit with fountains and a bridge over a man made lake. The palace was given to his ancestor the Duke of Marlborough for his victories in Europe by Queen Anne.
Jennie Churchill was Lord Randolph's greatest supporter in his career as a politician and his attempt to be a Prime Minister. A great speaker who's life ended young from a disease that left him with a form of dementia. His son, Winston greatly admired his Father and went to Parliament to follow in his foot steps.
Jennie, had a long affair with a Russian, Count Kinsky. She then went on to marry a man the age of her sons, a guard's officer . The marriage lasted ten years until he went off to marry one of the great actress's of the day, Patsy Cornwallis-West.
Two of Jennie's greatest achievements were, besides her support of Lord Randolph, to organize a woman's group and raise enough funds to send a hospital ship to South Africa during the Boer War. Her other achievement was to start a magazine, 'The Anglo-Saxon', aimed at the American market.
Before her also untimely death, she married, Arthur Porch a businessman. Her life happy with her two sons married, and a growing number of grandchildren, Jennie fell down a flight of stairs and broke an ankle. She never recovered from the break and died of gangrene.
Winston Churchill, disappointment of his Mother's loss was twofold as he had hoped for her see him become Prime Minister. Jennie died in he early 1920's and Winston achieved his greatest post in 1940.
Of all the American woman, who married into the aristocracy of Britain, Jennie Jerome made the greatest contribution, by her support of her husband, Lord Randolph, and her son Winston.
In the series she is played by the American actor, Lee Remick,
The famous story of Jennie, a restless person decided to ride out with her sister, Leone which resulted in Winston Churchill being born in the entry of Blenheim Palace. I have actually been in the small room where Britain's greatest leader was born. Blenheim Palace is today open to the public and you can see the Louis XIV furnitures and mural from the SunKing's Palace. The grounds are a wonderful place to visit with fountains and a bridge over a man made lake. The palace was given to his ancestor the Duke of Marlborough for his victories in Europe by Queen Anne.
Jennie Churchill was Lord Randolph's greatest supporter in his career as a politician and his attempt to be a Prime Minister. A great speaker who's life ended young from a disease that left him with a form of dementia. His son, Winston greatly admired his Father and went to Parliament to follow in his foot steps.
Jennie, had a long affair with a Russian, Count Kinsky. She then went on to marry a man the age of her sons, a guard's officer . The marriage lasted ten years until he went off to marry one of the great actress's of the day, Patsy Cornwallis-West.
Two of Jennie's greatest achievements were, besides her support of Lord Randolph, to organize a woman's group and raise enough funds to send a hospital ship to South Africa during the Boer War. Her other achievement was to start a magazine, 'The Anglo-Saxon', aimed at the American market.
Before her also untimely death, she married, Arthur Porch a businessman. Her life happy with her two sons married, and a growing number of grandchildren, Jennie fell down a flight of stairs and broke an ankle. She never recovered from the break and died of gangrene.
Winston Churchill, disappointment of his Mother's loss was twofold as he had hoped for her see him become Prime Minister. Jennie died in he early 1920's and Winston achieved his greatest post in 1940.
Of all the American woman, who married into the aristocracy of Britain, Jennie Jerome made the greatest contribution, by her support of her husband, Lord Randolph, and her son Winston.
In the series she is played by the American actor, Lee Remick,
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
'There was nothing to do but wait - and dance,' DeCourcy / 'We met on VJ night, supposedly celebrating victory. The bomb cast shadows that we have lived in ever since,' Bingham.
This summer I had found two books on a similar theme, the effect of prewar and post.
The first book is the poetic description of a world, a society ending, culminating the post war world of WWI to the anxiety ridden, stillness of 1939, 'The Last Season', is sublime.
Anne DeCourcy's use of facts such as the dropping birthrate of the 1930's to the average age of marriage 27.7 for men and 25.58 for woman to her look at the violent crimes of the 1930's which were uncommon outside the home to the ability to wander freely and only certain area of London which where considered unsafe brings the era alive.
She then goes on to describe Germany from the view point of a visitor who would come back thinking that the corruption of civic life was grossly exaggerated, although the Berliner's look on and vainly had worked to end it. The book then goes on to describe the important figures of the day, Chamberlin to Churchill, and the society they lived in along with the debutantes of the era, diplomacy and dancing. To the last paragraph which is the King's diary, 'Today we are at war again, and I am no longer a midshipman in the Royal Navy.'
The effect of this novel is like a still painting, a moment in time captured.
'Wind off the Sea,' by the author Charlotte Bingham is a romance novel. Bingham's excellent writing and creation of war stories that she creates around her character's is the underlying beat of this book.
We know the character's have either been through the war or grown up in it. She brings into her English southern coastal village an American stranger who is searching for his Mother's past or some of the history of his family. Waldo Astley, her character comes into the life's of each family to bring about a better life or enlighten them on what life can be. So enchanted is he with the village, he buys a home and falls in love with a war heroine. This is set in the backdrop of a country struggling to overcome the war years the economy and the freezing winters that were England's lot after the war.
Bingham is a skilled writer with a lot of work to her credit. It takes a very good writer to make this type of story seem credible and she does it well.
One of these books is more fact than fiction creating an era and the other is fiction in a setting of fact. They are both a very enriching and entertaining.
The first book is the poetic description of a world, a society ending, culminating the post war world of WWI to the anxiety ridden, stillness of 1939, 'The Last Season', is sublime.
Anne DeCourcy's use of facts such as the dropping birthrate of the 1930's to the average age of marriage 27.7 for men and 25.58 for woman to her look at the violent crimes of the 1930's which were uncommon outside the home to the ability to wander freely and only certain area of London which where considered unsafe brings the era alive.
She then goes on to describe Germany from the view point of a visitor who would come back thinking that the corruption of civic life was grossly exaggerated, although the Berliner's look on and vainly had worked to end it. The book then goes on to describe the important figures of the day, Chamberlin to Churchill, and the society they lived in along with the debutantes of the era, diplomacy and dancing. To the last paragraph which is the King's diary, 'Today we are at war again, and I am no longer a midshipman in the Royal Navy.'
The effect of this novel is like a still painting, a moment in time captured.
'Wind off the Sea,' by the author Charlotte Bingham is a romance novel. Bingham's excellent writing and creation of war stories that she creates around her character's is the underlying beat of this book.
We know the character's have either been through the war or grown up in it. She brings into her English southern coastal village an American stranger who is searching for his Mother's past or some of the history of his family. Waldo Astley, her character comes into the life's of each family to bring about a better life or enlighten them on what life can be. So enchanted is he with the village, he buys a home and falls in love with a war heroine. This is set in the backdrop of a country struggling to overcome the war years the economy and the freezing winters that were England's lot after the war.
Bingham is a skilled writer with a lot of work to her credit. It takes a very good writer to make this type of story seem credible and she does it well.
One of these books is more fact than fiction creating an era and the other is fiction in a setting of fact. They are both a very enriching and entertaining.
Friday, 19 August 2011
Royal Weddings and Monarchy, history of today and yesterday!
My last blog I wrote about the book Salaam Bricklane, the author is Tarquin Hall. I had spelt the title wrong.
Last night I watched the Royal Wedding. I had really just wanted the music from the ceremony but got the DVD from the library. I am a history buff and have just been watching David Starkey's Monarchy series.
It was with particular interest to view Westminister Abbey and see Edward the Confessor's altar. I am not sure that when I was in the Abbey on my last visit to London that I understood the history of the Abbey.
I did enjoy seeing Elizabeth I and the two Mary's burial sites. It is difficult without a full knowledge of history to understand who the burial sites in the Abbey belong to other than the fact they were mostly rulers. Starkey's Monarchy does give you a better idea. I have also spent the winter reading about the Tudor era in British history. At the moment I am half way through a book on Margaret Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster, who was the 14th century ancestor of the Royal family as we know it today. The author of the book, Mistress of Monarchy is Alison Weir, a very fine historical biographer. I can't say it is an easy read as it is not a novel but taken from historical fact but worth the challenge.
It does put a new light on history if you move on from history books to historical biographies. Eventually you get a real sense of the era and the people.
The Royal Wedding of Catherine and William was I think enjoyable on several levels. It had the wonderful pomp and ceremony fit for a future King and Queen, the Abbey lending itself to creating sense of the English people and their history. The Church of England with its ability to use the language of people in a cultured and comforting way and still make people aware of its values. The elegance of the bride and the wedding party. The two Princes in their household uniforms, Irish guards, William and Household Guards, Harry. The generations present; Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Prince Charles and his Duchess Camilla.
I think it is hard not to love that kind of pageantry. And respect, the British who have retained their traditions.
The world may move on but the past holds people's hearts.
Last night I watched the Royal Wedding. I had really just wanted the music from the ceremony but got the DVD from the library. I am a history buff and have just been watching David Starkey's Monarchy series.
It was with particular interest to view Westminister Abbey and see Edward the Confessor's altar. I am not sure that when I was in the Abbey on my last visit to London that I understood the history of the Abbey.
I did enjoy seeing Elizabeth I and the two Mary's burial sites. It is difficult without a full knowledge of history to understand who the burial sites in the Abbey belong to other than the fact they were mostly rulers. Starkey's Monarchy does give you a better idea. I have also spent the winter reading about the Tudor era in British history. At the moment I am half way through a book on Margaret Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster, who was the 14th century ancestor of the Royal family as we know it today. The author of the book, Mistress of Monarchy is Alison Weir, a very fine historical biographer. I can't say it is an easy read as it is not a novel but taken from historical fact but worth the challenge.
It does put a new light on history if you move on from history books to historical biographies. Eventually you get a real sense of the era and the people.
The Royal Wedding of Catherine and William was I think enjoyable on several levels. It had the wonderful pomp and ceremony fit for a future King and Queen, the Abbey lending itself to creating sense of the English people and their history. The Church of England with its ability to use the language of people in a cultured and comforting way and still make people aware of its values. The elegance of the bride and the wedding party. The two Princes in their household uniforms, Irish guards, William and Household Guards, Harry. The generations present; Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Prince Charles and his Duchess Camilla.
I think it is hard not to love that kind of pageantry. And respect, the British who have retained their traditions.
The world may move on but the past holds people's hearts.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
A new Day and a book review, Saleem Bricklane!
My first blog! I have decided to write a brief book review about a book a friend found and passed on to me.
The book is Saleem Bricklane by Tarquin Hall. Tarquin, a British journalist decides he wants to return to his native England after living in the India.
He gets to London and wants to live where he grew up but can't afford the Barnes area or the area nearby.
He searches around London and the only place he can live is the East End of London. The East End of London is known for its multicultural immigration over centuries, always a tough but possible an accepting area to live.
He gets an attic flat and a hilarious landlord who has spent his formative years growing up in the East End but is from Bangladesh, a fellow tenant a Jewish lady who has spent her life in the area shows him great kindness and her world and a host of other characters in the area.
Tarquin is so concerned when his Indian girlfriend, Anu who has grown up in North Carolina comes to stay and sees his attic but Anu makes the most of the vibrant area and life in London. She discovers she has an Aunty who is willing to 'help'.
The book gives a new outlook on British immigrations and the British spirit and the effect it has on the people who go to the East End. Best read I have had in a while. It should be made into a movie.
I would give it a 8 out of 10.
Namaste
The book is Saleem Bricklane by Tarquin Hall. Tarquin, a British journalist decides he wants to return to his native England after living in the India.
He gets to London and wants to live where he grew up but can't afford the Barnes area or the area nearby.
He searches around London and the only place he can live is the East End of London. The East End of London is known for its multicultural immigration over centuries, always a tough but possible an accepting area to live.
He gets an attic flat and a hilarious landlord who has spent his formative years growing up in the East End but is from Bangladesh, a fellow tenant a Jewish lady who has spent her life in the area shows him great kindness and her world and a host of other characters in the area.
Tarquin is so concerned when his Indian girlfriend, Anu who has grown up in North Carolina comes to stay and sees his attic but Anu makes the most of the vibrant area and life in London. She discovers she has an Aunty who is willing to 'help'.
The book gives a new outlook on British immigrations and the British spirit and the effect it has on the people who go to the East End. Best read I have had in a while. It should be made into a movie.
I would give it a 8 out of 10.
Namaste
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)