Alison Maloney

This was a light easy read. I'm fascinated by this time period. It is amazing the disconnect between Nobility and those who served them. I was surprised to find the gender based differences. Service was disproportionately female and young. Young women starting in service had to provide their own uniforms. So many had to work for 2 to 4 years prior to service just to earn the cost of their starting dresses. In addition they were paid considerably less and had horrible duties and long hours. The working conditions weren't better for the young men as far as hours and harrowing duties. However they were paid more and their upper positions came with much status and prestige. In addition their quite well made and very expensive livery plus powdered wigs were provided and tailored by the employers.
I'm a huge Downton Abbey fan and I'm afraid this had made the storyline regarding the staff relationships with The Family seem preposterous. That's unfortunate and almost seems a silencing of the servants true stories which do deserve to be told.… (altro)

This book is an enjoyable primer into the lives of English domestic servants in the early 20th century. In it, Alison Maloney covers the basics of their existence, from the experience of hiring and the background of the servants through their daily routines to the aspects of their lives outside of their work. As one might expect Downton Abbey is a clear inspiration behind the book, which is reflected in the occasional quotes about domestic service during that era from various people involved with the show. Yet Maloney’s book stands on its own as a short overview to the people “downstairs,” and is an excellent book for anyone seeking an introduction to the world in which they lived.… (altro)

At first I was put off by the way this was put together, bits and pieces of information here and there, very light reading material, but it was still interesting tidbits. Don't look here for a thorough documentation of the Twenties. It really does just focus on the bright young things, and lightly at that. I found it a good complement to "Murder Must Advertise", by Dorothy Sayers, and several other mysteries from the Golden era which take place in the Roaring Twenties.

A couple of my favorite quotes found in this book:

Greta Garbo, 'I never said, "I want to be alone." I only said, "I want to be left alone." There is all the difference.'

Rudolph Valentine, "Women are not in love with me but with the picture of me they see on the screen. I am merely the canvas on which women paint their dreams."… (altro)