Tag Archives: Crawley

Downton Addict

Highclere Castle

I admit it. I’ve become captivated by Downton Abbey, a television show. Here’s a short description.

The series, set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey, depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the Edwardian and post-Edwardian era — with the great events in history having an effect on their lives and on the British social hierarchy. Such events depicted throughout the series include news of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in the first series; the outbreak of World War I, the Spanish influenza pandemic, and the Marconi scandal in the second series; and the Interwar period and the formation of the Irish Free State in the third series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downton_Abbey).

My wife and I watched season one and two over my Christmas vacation. Season three began last night.

I’ve been enveloped by the history the program represents. The aristocratic culture, shall I say, lends itself to several advantages. Yes, there’s the money, but that’s not I refer too. I refer to the time to explore.

In Downton, there’s a tremendous library complete with leather sofas, a fireplace, dark wood floors draped with rich carpets, and exorbitant paintings of regal men on horses. Oh yes, I’ve forgotten the books…hundreds: Shakespeare, Keats, Byron, Swift, etc.

Finally, there’s a desk, a place to think, to ponder, to wonder, and to write. I want that desk, those books, that fireplace, those carpets, and the time to think, ponder, wonder, and write.