Downton Abbey: Rules for Household Staff by Mr. Carson

3.0 out of 5 stars -- A guide for service at Downton Abbey that gives details about the various positions in the household and highlights their job duties. In addition, a hierarchy of staff and an order of preference among the ladies and gentleman is included.

This is an interesting companion book that gives background to both the television series and a recent Masterpiece theater DVD release (THE MANNERS OF DOWNTON ABBEY) that features Alastair Bruce, the historical adviser to Downton Abbey. One can learn all manner of helpful household hints from the proper way to store wine to how to fold napkins to how to clean everything in the house properly.

I can say, emphatically, that I feel quite happy to have never been "in service" during those years -- it sounds utterly exhausting just reading about it all! I would have liked to know more -- much more -- about the actual daily lives of the servants other than some of their tasks. What did they eat? When did they bathe and where? What was it like to live in the upstairs quarters in the house? What did they do in their free time? Were most of them able to read and write? Just MORE.

It was an enjoyable and short bit of entertainment perfect for any DA fan. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book ARC to review.