{"product_id":"9781250023216","title":"Below Stairs : The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired \"Upstairs, Downstairs\" and \"Downton Abbey\"","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eBelow Stairs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Margaret Powell\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants portrayed in \u003ci\u003eDownton Abbey\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUpstairs, Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e, Margaret Powell's classic memoir of her time in service, \u003ci\u003eBelow Stairs,\u003c\/i\u003e is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman who, though she served in the great houses of England, never stopped aiming high. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePowell first arrived at the servants' entrance of one of those great houses in the 1920s.  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 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. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYet 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-parlormaid, 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMargaret Powell's true story of a life spent in service is a fascinating \"downstairs\" portrait of the glittering, long-gone worlds behind the closed doors of Downton Abbey and 165 Eaton Place.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Anyone who enjoyed \u003ci\u003eDownton Abbey \u003c\/i\u003eor \u003ci\u003eUpstairs Downstairs \u003c\/i\u003ewill relish this feisty memoir.” —\u003ci\u003eDame Eileen Atkins, co-creator of Upstairs, Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Margaret Powell was the first person outside my family to introduce me to that world, so near and yet seemingly so far away, where servants and their employers would live their vividly different lives under one roof.  Her memories, funny and poignant, angry and charming, haunted me until, many years later, I made my own attempts to capture those people for the camera.  I certainly owe her a great debt.” —\u003ci\u003eJulian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250023216\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Griffin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40623905276110,"sku":"9781250023216","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_8c65ac20-6fc0-47f5-b5f5-444b838fe0fe.jpg?v=1638580762","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250023216","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}