Like many an American woman, I have been swept by “Downton Abbey” fever. I watched season one and then hooked as many of my friends into it as I possibly could. The “if I am going down, I am taking everyone with me” mentality. Season two was even more fun as my texting prowess rivaled my daughter’s as my friend Tara and I went back and forth every episode, culminating with a season finale party with several Bible study friends. Yes, Anglo-mania was in full force with me.
Near the end of the season, I watched an interview with the show’s creator and writer, Julian Fellowes. He said that the idea for the miniseries came about as he read To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl, an entertaining book about an era where American women married British men in droves. The character that began it all was Cora, the American who married into the British family, and “Downton Abbey” was born.
As I watched the show, I thought the idea of the lone American was strange, so to realize that practice was common in the late 1800s was fascinating. So picked up the book and the research geek in me was thrilled with all the amazing information. Yet, this book is not academic at all – it is a fun read that is easy to flip through, put down and pick up when you can, or read straight through if you have the time.
In the late 1800s, Americans had come around to being fascinated by Europe and its people. Its royalty, the formality of their lives, the titles that were handed down generation to generation. In turn, Europeans was fascinated by Americans – their freedoms, their opinionated women, their “newness.” Vacationing in Europe for the very wealthy was fashionable and young women often visited with their mothers. During these visits, a purpose rang out – to secure the best marriage possible. These women were called The Buccaneers and they included names such as Vanderbilt, Astor, Jerome, and the daughter of Marshall Field (stay proud, Chicago). The American heiress whose father had made an exorbitant amount of money could not buy the one thing that interested them – a title. European families that were once wealthy retained their titles, but since no one actually worked, there was no income to sustain the title and its prominence. Many went broke by how often they had to entertain the king and throw enormous parties on his behalf. They needed funding. “For [the titled Europeans], the American heiress was more than a mere novelty, more than just spice to be added to the endless round of dinner parties, house parties, receptions and teas. To them, she was salvation. They intended to get their hands on all that American money and see that it was spent right there in London” (p95).
The book explains clearly and easily how these matches were made, both in theory and in detail of actual marriages and relationships. The author tells of while the wives gained titles, notoriety and a public’s interest in her life, she lost a lot of freedoms she was accustomed to in America, often lived in enormous cold homes with her husband’s entire family, and was without her community and creature comforts. On the other hand, the husband retained his normal life, but could now support his mistresses better and was without the pressure to marry and have children. Some marriages were successful and many saw a partnership still unheard of in America (especially if the spouses were equally interested in politics). Many accepted marriages as a partnership where each got what they wanted (money and title) and agreed to live separate lives, even having children with other partners.
The book is not dry but filled with interesting facts and information. It features several photos on each page, showing the families, the most famous of the Buccaneers, the gowns and jewelry, the expectations, etc. Throughout the book are little pieces of insider knowledge for living in Europe, labeled as “comme il faut” (“it is necessary, proper”): “When out driving with his mistress, a gentleman places her at his left hand so that everyone he meets will know she is not his wife;” “Friendly American curiosity – ‘How many brothers do you have? Do you know many people in New York?’ – is considered rudely intrusive in England.” “Gentlemen eat oatmeal standing up.” Well, so do I, but I am usually running out the door. That just shows my American-ness and some of the rules and expectations are fascinating to an upright oatmeal eater like myself.
If you want to know more about the world of “Downton Abbey” and just find the rigid English life interesting, you will really enjoy this book. And my favorite fact from the book – Winston Churchill, the great English leader, was a product of this era. His father was a titled Brit and his mom an American heiress. Something about that makes me think I could hold my head a bit higher next time I visit London – Winston is half ours, so don’t act so high and mighty!
No comments:
Post a Comment