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. ( )

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. ( )

A delightful brief on the lives of the men and women in the Service during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras in England, “Life Below Stairs” satiates those still hungry for a taste of Downton Abbey while still leaving room for a dessert course. Filled by the true accounts of maids and cooks, footmen and butlers, this book leads the reader through arguably the toughest respectable career a person could enter into. The grueling hours spanning from before sunrise until well after sunset combined with meager pay, subpar living conditions, rigid manners and etiquette make me glad to be living in this era, despite its many shortcomings. The perfect book for an afternoon at the beach or a long commute, I implore you to pick up a copy of “Life Below Stairs.” Though for readers looking for further information, I would recommend searching the bibliography for the primary and secondary sources to gain a more in-depth knowledge on the subject. ( )

Below Stairs was better, although this did have some interesting historical details about wages and whatnot. ( )

For fans of Upstairs, Downstairs & Downtown Abbey (ME!), comes Life Below Stairs. It's a fabulous, fascinating look at the true lives of servants who served the rich and fabulously wealthy.

It's definitely written towards fans of the two mentioned series - it's a rather light look, doesn't get into a lot of details, and doesn't hit upon any of the negative aspects of being a servant - like 80 hour work weeks for no pay or sleep or freedom. Anyone who really knows the time period well, or the history of servants, will find this book too light to really enjoy, but for someone like me who was introduced to the time period through Downtown Abbey, it was a great read, though I really do wish there was MORE as the volume is pretty small.

The photographs and letters were a nice touch. ( )