Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey

Summary (from the publisher): Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowes's Emmy Award-winning PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. 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 Cora Crawley, 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.

 

Review: Before I begin, let's consider some facts. First, the author is clearly wishing to capitalize on the success of Downton Abbey in writing this book. That only makes sense - she wants to sell books to presumably help support Highclere Castle. In appealing to Downton fans, however, I think any author has to assume that not all of its many fans are intimately familiar with the history of the time period. Therefore, its only logical that the author must digress to give background information to explain everything from social expectations, etiquette, the royal family, etc. over the course of telling Lady Almina's story. In that sense, this novel is a good introduction to the time period for fans new to the subject. Second, the author, the Countess of Carnarvon, is writing about her family and her own home. Rightly or wrongly, its not unsurprising that she presents a relatively uncritical view of the family.

 

In many ways, this is not strictly a biography. While it does focus on Lady Almina, it's more about the history of the family and Highclere Castle and is a description of events, rather than a deep analyzing of the family member's characters, dark secrets, etc. This novel moves chronologically from Almina's marriage to the 5th earl of Carnarvon through his death, with asides to give context.

 

Although I wish more detail about Almina's family and childhood had been given, I did find what information was given interesting. Almina was the illegitimate daughter of Marie Wombwell and Alfred de Rothschild. The Rothschilds were of course the "preeminent investment bankers in Europe" (30). In addition to being fabulously wealthy, Almina's father was well connected; one of his close friends was the Prince of Wales. He couldn't publicly acknowledge his daughter and was instead referred to as her godfather, but her name, (a combination of Alfred and her mother's nickname, Mina) gave away her parentage.

 

Almina and her husband appear to have had a close and loving marriage. Her husband is best known for being the financial backer of Howard Carter, who discovered the Egyptian tomb of Tutankhamen. Of course, that would not have been possible without Almina's family fortune. In contrast, Almina is best known for the hospital she ran during WWI, first at Highclere Castle and later in London. "It still felt to the patients like a home away from home, with comfortable beds, the best-quality bed linen and spare pyjamas and clothes until their families could send their own. Almina continued to make liaison with family a priority, sending telegrams and letters with regular updates when patients were themselves unable to do so" (170). Patients enjoyed vegetables and cheeses from Highclere and the company of nurses instructed in the importance of holistic healing. Almina spared no expense for her patients and was known for her excellent medical results.

 

Thanks to Almina, Highclere was one of the first houses to enjoy a fully plumbed hot and cold water system. She also oversaw the installation of electricity and electric light, reducing the risk of fire, which may have helped preserve the house. Her massive efforts to update the décor of the house can still be seen today. In short, her father's fortune helped Highclere clear many debts and become more financially sound, enabling it to still be owned and lived in by the current Lord Carnarvon.

 

I was disappointed at the lack of depth of this book and, at times, its organization. I wish Almina's own writings or letters had been included, so her voice could be felt. Additionally, the book only truly deals with the period of her first marriage, so the beginning and end of her life are only skimmed over. For example, the author offers little comment or detail on Almina's second marriage. I wish the author had been more willing to lay bare a more comprehensive portrayal of Lady Almina. I did learn a lot about Highclere Castle during Almina's lifetime and this book would serve as a nice introduction to the life and times for someone whose interests were peaked by Downton Abbey, however, there is much left to be explored on the subject.

 

Stars: 3