A fascinating and detailed guidebook to what work was really like "downstairs" during the period of Downton Abbey (hint: it was hard)In 2011, television audiences were captivated by the the surprise hit show Downton Abbey - which went on to win six primetime Emmy Awards and catapult its way into the Guinness Book of World Records for "most critically acclaimed show of the year."Entranced by the family secrets, the society scandal, and the master-servant divide of an aristocratic Edwardian household, Downton fans eagerly await the show's opening violins to immerse themselves in this rarefied and now-vanished world. In Life Below Stairs, international bestselling author Alison Maloney takes readers behind the scenes to reveal a detailed picture of what went on "downstairs," describing what daily life was really like during this now thoroughly romanticized era. Thoroughly researched and reliably informed, this charmingly illustrated volume also contains first-hand stories from the staff of the time, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the lifestyle and conduct of a bygone era.