Today the New York Times has a piece on how publishers are recognizing that fans of Downton Abbey (and PBS in general) are more likely to be readers, and are promoting their releases with a Downton Abbey slant.
One of the books that ties in the most directly is one of the books (the other is Below Stairs by Margaret Powell; more on that later) Heroes and Heartbreakers is giving away as part of its Downton Abbey sweepstakes. The World of Downton Abbey is penned by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes’s niece, Jessica. Jessica says her uncle “has been deliberate about dropping open-ended references into the scripts” because he wants to “drive people to find out more for themselves, whether through Google or in books.”
Here’s more about the book:
The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
April 1912. The sun is rising behind Downton Abbey, a great and splendid house in a great and splendid park. So secure does it appear that it seems as if the way it represents will last for another thousand years. It won’t.
Millions of American viewers were enthralled by the world of Downton Abbey, the mesmerizing TV drama of the aristocratic Crawley family—and their servants—on the verge of dramatic change. On the eve of Season 2 of the TV presentation, this gorgeous book—illustrated with sketches and research from the production team, as well as on-set photographs from both seasons—takes us even deeper into that world, with fresh insights into the story and characters as well as the social history.
What intrigues you most about the Downton Abbey world? Why do you watch each week?
