Quite interesting, especially in the light of having just read [b:The Visitors|18362312|The Visitors|Sally Beauman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1377285696s/18362312.jpg|25963800] and spent a little time with the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, father of this one. Another contributing factor in my enjoyment was my passion for Downton Abbey. I was fascinated by how many of the plot twists in that story were ripped right from the true experiences of these people and their magnificent estate.

The book is historically accurate in every detail that I could personally verify. Lady Carnarvon had access to all the historical records and artifacts of the home and that must have helped tremendously in fleshing out these people and detailing life at Highclere. There are all the usual spottings of the rich and famous, coming and going at Highclere, particularly during World War II, but there is also enough beneath the surface revelation on Lady Catherine and the Earl to make them seem individual and not stereotypes.

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Really enjoyable book — manages to cover biographies for several people in a complex time with clarity and great flow. Source materials are seamlessly integrated. I recommend this also as a compact synopsis of the Second World War — covers it thoroughly, while centering personal recollections, which just brings the history home. Audio book well narrated, too — hard to put down. ( )

The current Countess of Carnarvon writes a history, somewhat focused on the life of Catherine, the (first) wife of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, from 1920-1945. However, reading between the lines Catherine was mildly introverted and private leaving only limited records of her life and so ultimately the book is as much as about the Earl, their children, and occasionally their extended family as well as the staff at Highclere Castle. Into the second half of the book there's also a fair amount of general WWII history, useful as context for the events going on in the lives of the individuals the book is following but perhaps a bit more robust than needed. The slightly meandering focus aside, the book is well written as a popular history and the historical photos included are worth the price of admission. Not a read for the serious historian but for the fan of Downton Abbey who this book is truly aimed at, it's a pretty decent read. ( )

This books gives excellent and crucial info on this time period, home and ancestors alive at this time. It's just extremely dry and not enough on what I was intetested in and too much focus on name dropping. ( )

I couldn't get into this book about the English aristocracy which has been so popularized by Downton Abbey. It is that that piqued my interest. I am interested in the English aristocracy as there are some great stories about them and their palaces but this doesn't happen to be one of them. It doesn't mean this book is without merit. It just didn't turn me on. ( )