{"product_id":"below-stairs-the-classic-kitchen-maids-memoir-that-inspired-upstairs-downstairs-and-downton-abbey","title":"Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey","description":"\u003cbody\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTitle: \u003c\/b\u003eBelow Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor: \u003c\/b\u003eMargaret Powell\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN: \u003c\/b\u003e9781250023216\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/b\u003eGriffin\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished: \u003c\/b\u003e2012\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding: \u003c\/b\u003ePaperback\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage: \u003c\/b\u003eEnglish\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdition: \u003c\/b\u003eLater Printing edition\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of Pages: \u003c\/b\u003e224\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Note: \u003c\/b\u003eExcellent, unmarked copy with little wear and tight binding. We ship in recyclable American-made mailers. 100% money-back guarantee on all orders.\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher Description: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants portrayed in \u003ci\u003eDownton Abbey\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUpstairs, Downstairs\u003c\/i\u003e, Margaret Powell's classic memoir of her time in service, \u003ci\u003eBelow Stairs, \u003c\/i\u003e is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman who, though she served in the great houses of England, never stopped aiming high. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePowell first arrived at the servants' entrance of one of those great houses in the 1920s. As a kitchen maid - the lowest of the low - she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5:30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eYet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids' curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlormaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew, Margaret's tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMargaret Powell's true story of a life spent in service is a fascinating \"downstairs\" portrait of the glittering, long-gone worlds behind the closed doors of Downton Abbey and 165 Eaton Place.\u003c\/body\u003e","brand":"Griffin","offers":[{"title":"Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey | Margaret Powell | Paperback | 9781250023216 | Used: Like New | Memoir 1726516","offer_id":50731620630786,"sku":"1726516","price":32.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0609\/3327\/5906\/files\/81YhPxsyMML.jpg?v=1791908857","url":"https:\/\/boswellsbooks.com\/products\/below-stairs-the-classic-kitchen-maids-memoir-that-inspired-upstairs-downstairs-and-downton-abbey","provider":"Boswell's Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}