Required Reading for Downton Abbey Fans

Downton Abbey thrives on the theory that it is 'intelligent television'. I, for one, agree. But nothing is more intelligent than settling down to a good book. Luckily for us Downton fans there's a wealth of literature out there that will give us our fix and tear us away from the screen. I won't pretend that I've read all of these books, but at least Downton makes me want to. So here's you're required reading list. I give you permission to take a break Sunday at 9 to really get your Downton on.

The Perfect Summer: England 1911, Before the Storm, Juliet Nicolson: Set just prior to where Downton Abbey begins, the novel spans only four months: May to August. That summer was a pivotal one for the Edwardian era. The class system was in full force, with the aristocracy appearing to be at its height. For England's richest, the summer was filled with party after endless party; however, under all the gloss society was already beginning to crumble. The novel is narrated by various individuals, all of whom give insight into the summer "before the storm" that was World War I.

All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque: A story told through the lens of an unknown German soldier, vividly depicting life on the front lines of World War I. A must-read for all who want a realistic look in the trenches. War is not romanticized by Remarque, who was a soldier during the war. Instead he depicts the horrors and even the boredom that comes with. You see that once a boy, entirely unprepared for the tragedy of war, enlists, he becomes a man too quickly.

The House at Tyneford, Natasha Solomons: In spring of 1938 a young Jewish girl is forced to flee Vienna to the safety of an English country house. Elise Landau is accustomed to luxury and must adapt to life as a parlor maid. Although it is set twenty years in the future, Tyneford is a wonderful depiction of the English manor house with the usual upstairs, downstairs premise. Due to the nature of Elise's employment at Tyneford, it is a more unusual approach to the standard story.

The Shooting Party, Isabel Colegate: In Autumn of 1913 a hunting party is arranged at Sir Randolph Nettleby’s estate. We’ve already witnessed the hunt on Downton, which resulted in the death of poor Mr. Pamuk. Just as there was plenty of drama under the perfect surface of Downton, so there is at Nettleby Park. The war is looming but no one wants to acknowledge it. Change is coming, and thus social standards are changed. The old don't want to give into the pressures to modernize, and the youth are all activists and politically charged. At this time there are still large class divides, but this too we see is changing. This book, that seems to simply document the British aristocratic ritual of the hunt, takes on much larger subjects. Surprisingly, the author doesn't "beat you over the head" with them, but there they are: subtly woven into the text.

A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway: “The best American novel to emerge from World War I,” or so says Amazon. Hemingway himself was an ambulance driver on the Italian frontlines during the war and he uses that insight to weave a story of romance and war. Love can be devastating in the best of times, but war has a habit of making it hopeless. Lieutenant Henry, like Hemingway, is an American ambulance driver in Italy who falls in love with an English nurse, Catherine Barkley. The novel explores their relationship, and ultimately the vulnerable nature of relationships during war.

Howard’s End, E.M. Forster: Howard's End is an Edwardian novel that explores social class by telling the story of three intertwined families, one from each class. While Howard's End is a country house on a much smaller scale than Downton Abbey, it shares the drama of inheritance that so plagued the first season of Downton. With the Crawleys the issue was an entail, while a last-minute will and its destruction changes the fate of the Wilcoxes and Schlegel families forever.

The American Heiress, Daisy Goodwin: Cora Cash is an American with loads of "new money", so she and her mother set out for England seeking a new title and heightened social status. Cora is quick to fall in love with and marry Duke Ivo, securing her both; however, money can't always buy happiness, all that glitters is not gold, etc. etc.... Life as a Duchess doesn't live up to all that it promises and Cora is left wanting. Her money, like our very own Lady Cora, Countess of Grantham, is used to revitalize the Duke's manor, which is all well and good but the Duke is secretive and withdrawn. At least Downton's Cora ultimately found love in Robert! The general consensus on this novel seems to be that it's on par with a Harlequin romance that's more historically accurate and takes a page from Edith Wharton.

Fall of Giants, Ken Follett: The first of a trilogy, it follows five families during World War I. These include: a boy in the Welsh mining pits, an American law student, Lady Maude Fitzherbert, a housekeeper of the Fitzherberts, and two Russian brothers who become separated prior to the war. Their stories become woven together as the war unfolds. While you'll get a taste of battle, you'll also have plenty of the manor house to get your Downton fix.

The Remains of the Day, Kazuro Ishiguro: Stevens has served three decades as a butler to an English gentleman. He is reserved, proper, and dignified, and the novel documents the memories he has of Darlington Hall. He has devoted himself to his Lord’s household allowing no life, nor human warmth, for himself. Stevens prides himself on his behavior and his devotion to duty, but the longer he considers his life, the more he wonders if he has made the right decisions. On Downton Abbey, both Mrs. Hughes and Carson are shown considering their choice to take a position in a manor house. Mrs. Hughes goes so far as to consider a marriage proposal.

"Do you ever wish you'd gone another way? Worked in a shop or a factory? Had a wife and children?" wondered Mrs. Hughes. To which Mr. Carson asked, "Do you." "I don't know. Maybe...sometimes," replied Mrs. Hughes.

The World of Downton Abbey, Jessica Fellowes: This is an obvious pick for fans who truly want to get inside the world of Downton. The book provides a historical background, as well as stories that inspired Julian Fellowes. The book is packed with photos from the show, as well as some information about production and filming. It's a real behind-the-scenes look at Downton Abbey, a must-have for obsessive fans of the show!

Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid’s Memoir…, Margaret Powell: The story that inspired "Upstairs, Downstairs" and of course "Downton Abbey", a memoir depicting Powell's time as a kitchen maid. You'll be reminded of some of your favorite plot lines to have graced your television screen as you get an insider look into the 'downstairs'. Servants at great houses were constantly on the move, waking at dawn and working until lights' out. While most shows, films, and novels tend to concentrate on the glittering fantasy of the British aristocracy, Powell's memoir provides a lens into the life of a kitchen maid, considered the lowest servant in a manor house. Another good pick: Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor, Rosina Harrison.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey, The Countess of Carnarvon: The true story of Highclere Castle, both the inspiration and the setting for Downton Abbey, is told by the current Countess of Carnarvon. Lady Almina was the fifth and, like Cora, was married to the Earl of Carnarvon in order to preserve Highclere. She welcomed the wounded into her home during World War I, opening the doors to the manor as a hospital. The archives at Highclere were used to tell the story and the house is truly the focal point for the book, and there is plenty of "upstairs, downstairs" interactions.

What the Butler Winked At (Memoir), Eric Horne: Horne served as a butler from the 1860s until his retirement in 1922, and was extremely ambitious. His ultimate goal was to become butler to the king of England, which he almost succeeded at. He's got no shortage of witty behind-the-scenes of the manor house stories. While Carson isn't one to spill, Horne tells all. He also somewhat regrets his decision to become a butler, a position that leaves you with little to nothing once you abandon it. During the First World War, the heirs of some of Britain's greatest manor houses forcing families to sell their homes, signaling the end of an era. Many butlers, like Horne, were forced to retire.

The Great Silence: Britain from the Shadow of the First World War to the Dawn of the Jazz Age, Juliet Nicolson: World War I left Britain with an entire generation of men that were killed, wounded, and dispirited. Their lives were never the same. Many women lost sons, husbands, and brothers. The two years that followed were a time of mourning and healing. Nicolson documents those years through anecdotes and Queen Mary's diary. The book begins with Armistice Day, a day that was victorious for England but also left the country in the wake of a four-year tragedy. Two years later, an unknown soldier is buried at Westminster Abbey in the Tomb of the Unknown, which is where the book end. The text is criticized for it's absent source notes and "minor inaccuracies," but overall is considered to be a suitable homage to those years of recovery. After seeing how the war has touched Downton Abbey,

The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy, David Cannadine: The book spans British history from 1880 to 1930: a period of great change for England. At the start, aristocracy are profitable and powerful. By the end, the horrors of war have taken a generation of men from them and lost them their prosperity. Considered a little dry for those who are used to fiction, it is a very comprehensive book. If you are interested in the true history of the rise and fall of "the manor house" then you should definitely take a look at this book.

"The world was in a dream before the war, but now its woken up and said goodbye to it. And so must we." - Lord Grantham