The Classic Kitchen Maid Memoir That Inspired Upstairs Downstairs And Downton

Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey"

by Margaret Powell

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2226 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	221 pages

FREE

This is the classic kitchen maid memoir that inspired the popular TV series Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey. It is a fascinating and moving account of life below stairs in a grand Edwardian household.

Sarah Harrison was born in 1885 to a family of farm laborers. At the age of 14, she left home to work as a kitchen maid in a large country house. She worked long hours for low pay, but she was also given a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy and privileged.

Harrison's memoir, Below Stairs, was first published in 1938. It was an immediate success, and it has been reprinted many times since then. The book has been praised for its honesty, its humor, and its insights into the lives of domestic servants.

Below Stairs is a valuable historical document. It provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the people who kept the wheels of Edwardian society turning. It is also a moving and inspiring story of one woman's journey from poverty to a life of service.

Life Below Stairs

The life of a kitchen maid was hard. Harrison worked long hours, often from 6am to 10pm. She was responsible for cleaning the kitchen, preparing food, and serving meals. She also had to help with the laundry and the cleaning of the house.

The pay was low, but Harrison was grateful for the opportunity to work in a grand house. She was proud of her work, and she took pride in keeping the kitchen clean and tidy.

Harrison's memoir provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the servants who worked in Edwardian households. She describes the long hours, the low pay, and the hard work. But she also describes the camaraderie among the servants, and the sense of community that they shared.

Upstairs, Downstairs

The relationship between the servants and the family they served was often complex. Harrison describes the upstairs/downstairs divide, and the way that the servants were often treated as second-class citizens.

However, Harrison also describes the kindness and compassion that she experienced from some of the family members. She was particularly grateful for the support of the lady of the house, who treated her with respect and kindness.

Harrison's memoir provides a unique insight into the upstairs/downstairs relationship. She shows that the divide was not always as clear-cut as it seemed, and that there was often a great deal of affection and respect between servants and their employers.

A Life of Service

Harrison worked as a kitchen maid for over 30 years. She retired in 1945, and she died in 1963. She never married, and she had no children.

But Harrison's life was not without its rewards. She was proud of her work, and she was grateful for the opportunity to have served the family she worked for.

Harrison's memoir is a testament to the importance of service. It is a story of one woman's journey from poverty to a life of purpose and meaning.

Below Stairs is a classic memoir that provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the people who kept Edwardian society running.

It is a fascinating and moving account of life below stairs, and it is a valuable historical document.

But it is also a story of one woman's journey from poverty to a life of service. It is a story that is both inspiring and heartbreaking, and it is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey"

by Margaret Powell

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2226 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	221 pages

FREE