Below Stairs by Margaret Powell

Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theater

As many of you know, I'm a Downton Abbey fan. For my birthday, Holly gave me a book, "Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired 'Upstairs, Downstairs' and 'Downton Abbey'".

The book description: "Arriving at the great houses of 1920s London, fifteen-year-old Margaret's life in service was about to begin As a kitchen maid the lowest of the low she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and even bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids' curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlourmaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew, Margaret's tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation. Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants, Below Stairs is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman, who, though her position was lowly, never stopped aiming high. 'Enormous gusto, salty humour, wisdom' Evening Standard 'Shrewd, unabashed, wickedly funny, a unique front-line report of her life's experiences' Jack De Manio, BBC"

Had I not been watching Downton Abbey, I'm not sure I would have appreciated this book as much as I did! Powell told it like it was for her. Her writing is very matter of fact. She doesn't sensationalize any of it - her main goal in life was to marry and have a family.

After writing this book she also went on to write "Climbing the Stairs" and "The Treasure Upstairs." Powell became famous as a result of her books.  

When I googled her name I found an interesting article about her HERE

 According to this article she wrote 17 books.

I enjoyed the book and on reading some of her others.

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