Downton Abbey is a wildly popular British television series that has been airing on public television stations across the country for four years now. The fourth series is nearly finished for now, although avid viewers can re-watch episodes online and even check out the DVDs for series one through three at the library. The series follows the lives of the residents of Downton Abbey, a large manor in the English country side, as they deal with the changing culture in the years of 1912 up to 1932. If you like the series but need something to fill the time between the series air dates, try author Fay Weldon.
Fay Weldon is a popular British author, recently published in the U.S. Her Love & Inheritance series begins with the book Habits of the House. Set in the year 1899, the story follows Lord Robert, the Earl of Dilberne and his wife Lady Isobel. At the end of the season in London, Lord Robert is in a tough spot. Unwise financial investments have put the family and their estate, Dilberne Court, at risk. An answer to their troubles might be to allow their son Arthur to marry the vulgar, but beautiful and rich, heiress from America. Meanwhile their daughter Grace is getting unsuitable ideas about dress and a woman’s independence. Meanwhile the servants have daily worries and stories of their own. Author Fay Weldon weaves all of it together with wit and sympathy towards her characters. There are two more in this trilogy, although this author has no more set in this time period. Her books are slowly being republished in the U.S., so if you find you like her be patient as her books slowly make it across the ocean to American audiences.
You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. Just follow Hersey Avenue north, and at the end of the North Campus drive look east to see the library’s new exterior building sign. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”
Habits of the House by Fay Weldon
ISBN: 9781250042903, 336 p.
Adult Fiction