{"product_id":"9781250042903","title":"Habits of the House : A Novel","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eHabits of the House\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Fay Weldon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the award-winning novelist and writer of \u003ci\u003eUpstairs Downstairs,\u003c\/i\u003e the launch of a brilliant new trilogy about what life was really like for masters and servants before the world of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDownton Abbey\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the Season of 1899 comes to an end, the world is poised on the brink of profound, irrevocable change. The Earl of Dilberne is facing serious financial concerns. The ripple effects spread to everyone in the household: Lord Robert, who has gambled unwisely on the stock market and seeks a place in the Cabinet; his unmarried children, Arthur, who keeps a courtesan, and Rosina, who keeps a parrot in her bedroom; Lord Robert's wife Isobel, who orders the affairs of the household in Belgrave Square; and Grace, the lady's maid who orders the life of her mistress.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLord Robert can see no financial relief to an already mortgaged estate, and, though the Season is over, his thoughts turn to securing a suitable wife (and dowry) for his son. The arrival on the London scene of Minnie, a beautiful Chicago heiress with a reputation to mend, seems the answer to all their prayers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the writer of the pilot episode of the original \u003ci\u003eUpstairs, Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e—Fay Weldon brings a deserved reputation for magnificent storytelling. With wit and sympathy—and no small measure of mischief—\u003ci\u003eHabits of the House\u003c\/i\u003e plots the interplay of restraint and desire, manners and morals, reason and instinct.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Good fun from start to finish, thanks to breezy storytelling and witty social observations.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Weldon brilliantly captuures the rituals above stairs and the gossip below stairs...\u003ci\u003eHabits of the House \u003c\/i\u003eis an absorbing and worthwhile read.” —\u003ci\u003eStar Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Before there was \u003ci\u003eDownton Abbey\u003c\/i\u003e, there was \u003ci\u003eUpstairs Downtstairs\u003c\/i\u003e and, having written the first episode of that iconic television series, it is only fitting that Weldon now returns to the scene of the crime to further explore the disparate worlds of ‘them that has and those what serve 'em.'” —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[\u003ci\u003eHabits of the House\u003c\/i\u003e] succeeds as an opening to a new series.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An entertaining romp for \u003ci\u003eDownton Abbey\u003c\/i\u003e fans. . . . Weldon did the screenwriting for the first episode of \u003ci\u003eUpstairs Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e so she has form in this arena.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I predict a happy success for the trilogy, in print and on the screen. Julian Fellowes must look to his laurels, and Downton Abbey may find itself running second to 17 Belgrave Square.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Scotsman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“My favorite part of the original series is the first episode because it was written by a great English novelist, Fay Weldon. Everybody was introduced so cleverly . . . so beautifully established.” —\u003ci\u003eJean Marsh, co-creator of Upstairs, Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“There is simply no touching Weldon as a writer.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Observer (UK)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fay Weldon has always examined the scary parts of what lies beneath the silk cushions and behind the closed gates.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Chronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I was a girl from Downstairs. When I was 16, my bedroom was in the basement of a posh house in London, where my mother was the housekeeper. . . . Odd, this class business. Here's \u003ci\u003eUpstairs Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e back again, \u003ci\u003eDownton Abbey\u003c\/i\u003e so popular.” —\u003ci\u003eFay Weldon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250042903\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Griffin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40627995967694,"sku":"9781250042903","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_65e21a31-7958-410b-aa91-1446a8d2acf7.jpg?v=1638753834","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250042903","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}