Manor House: Life in an Edwardian Country House

The Edwardian age (1904-1914) was the last time the rich could afford to build enormous country houses surrounded by formal landscaped gardens. These homes, where the owners often entertained guests at week-long house parties, were run by an army of servants working nearly round the clock. What happens when modern people volunteer to live in such a mansion - either as the owner and his family or as their servants - under the watchful eye of video cameras in every room? The Edwardian Country House, the companion book to the TV series of the same name, chronicles the experiment. The participants re-create the daily life of the time, both upstairs and "below stairs," with the help of authentic historical diary extracts, letters, advice manuals, and recipes. With color photos throughout, projects are also included to help readers re-create the period at home with a range of authentic Edwardian activities and crafts.