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jenmcmaynes's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted something other than what this book is. The title and description led me to believe it would focus on the minutiae of country house living, like Ruth Goodman's excellent "How To Be Victorian". Instead, much of the book focused on large trends in architecture, taxes, decorating, and inheritance. Even when the author chooses to discuss less systemic trends, like fox hunting or "the servant issue", he still does so in such a birds eye manner that you really don't get a sense of what life was truly like (for instance, while discussing the life of a servant in a large establishment, he only discusses the "upper servants" - the butler, footmen, housekeeper, ladies in waiting - who had far more money, responsibility, and free time than general maids or gardeners; it is a very narrow and not very representative example of a very large class of people).
Disappointing, but could be ok if you are only interested in general trends for the time period.
Disappointing, but could be ok if you are only interested in general trends for the time period.
katreadsalot's review against another edition
2.0
This book was beautifully written! It was witty and interesting. I think that the subject matter was just not for me. Also, I got confused with all of the names, though I appreciated many of them as beautiful little anecdotes of the quirkiness of people.
smallwifery's review against another edition
4.0
every day I am so emo about early-twentieth-century britain
vsbedford's review against another edition
3.0
As other reviewers have noted, this exploration of English history is less interested in the weekend party than the house in which that party was held. Architects, various sales, wood paneling, etc., - if those are your waters dive deeply in! The first chapter, which briefly explores what the weekend party was like (Golden Age mystery fans would be well served to do their homework and read this chapter) was the most interesting for me - but, that's another book. In short, architecture lovers should be well pleased.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
So. I really wanted to really like this. This is totally in my wheelhouse -interwar rich people problems non-fiction. And my copy is a ringbound advance proof (yes, I know it's been out for nearly 2 years now) that came via the ex-review shelf at work, so my copy wasn't the easiest to read in practical terms, even before you get involved in any issues with the content. So. On to the book - I liked it, there were some interesting people in there that I now want to find out more about, there was a lot of interesting stuff about the houses, the life style and the people BUT I found the way it was set out really confusing - the timeline jumps backwards and forwards between the different chapters and I found it quite hard to work out where I was in the period at times - and I consider myself fairly well read in the era. So, interesting - but I was most interested in the bibiography at the end - so that I could find some more further reading
pkadams's review against another edition
3.0
Such an important backdrop to many PBS costume dramas and mysteries, the British country house can often feel like more of a character than a setting. Here is a book devoted to exploring the myths and realities of the place. Interesting factoids and gossipy tidbits are sprinkled throughout to keep your interest. Truly may have learned more than I thought I wanted to know.
dan78's review against another edition
5.0
Superb book! A wonderful insight into an age that no longer exists and never will again.
It felt like I was sat with an aged Aunt who was telling me about places I never knew about and people I'd never meet but needed to know more about!
A truely great read!
It felt like I was sat with an aged Aunt who was telling me about places I never knew about and people I'd never meet but needed to know more about!
A truely great read!
ladyonequestion's review against another edition
4.0
Not bad, although not exactly a popular social history type book. This is mainly an architectural survey of the period with some social history thrown in. I wouldn't say it is as accessible as some books covering the period, and as some reviewers have noted it does seem to list quite a few people at the beginning. I think it's worth persevering though, as I found it an interesting survey with some well chosen illustrations. I haven't read the Kindle version, but I would imagine it would be better to read this in the original hardcover considering the illustrations.
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