Margaret Powell (1) (1907–1984)

You know the book-reviewing cliché: "reading this book is just like sitting down and having a cup of tea with your new best friend". Below Stairs really is like that. Margaret Powell depicts her life in domestic service in 1920s England in a breezy, conversational manner, although not without occasional moments of righteous indignation, and even, she admits, bitterness.

Powell was born in 1907. Her working-class family had too many children and often, not enough to eat. Beginning in her show more early teens, she found work as a kitchen maid in the homes of the upper crust, eventually climbing up the staff hierarchy to the position of cook. It was a harsh life of strenuous labor, made even more difficult by her employers' habit of acting as though their servants were invisible.

In her later years, after leaving domestic service, marrying and having children, Powell was finally able to complete her education and write this book. Powell depicts a way of life that no longer exists, but, as far as Powell is concerned, there's no reason to be nostalgic for working conditions that were only a few steps above those of actual slavery. She writes, "[The servants] weren't free in any way. So maybe that was the reason why the work and those that did it were looked down upon, because we were...bound to our employers." (p. 190). show less

A very fun, fast read. It's the memoir of a woman, born in 1907, who served as a kitchen maid and cook in the houses of the London elite. It was this memoir that inspired" Upstairs, Downstairs" and, thus, "Downton Abbey." Her voice is very forthright and charming. It was a great glimpse into the place at this time.

Review haiku:
Be kind to your help
If the cook does not like you
Life will not be sweet

Below Stairs is a memoir of a woman who entered into domestic service as a kitchen maid at 13 and who saw the injustice of her situation (and indeed of all those in servitude) at a time when conditions were on the peak of changing. At the beginning of the tale, Margaret Powell is at home with her family which is large (typical of the time) and poor (also typical of many families). She must leave home, school, and everything she is familiar with because there is not enough money to keep her. show more What she discovers at her first place of work in service is that the dichotomy between Them upstairs and the servants below stairs is extremely pronounced despite the whisper of changes on the horizon. As the lowest rung on the service ladder, the kitchen maid (in Margaret's opinion) is treated with the least amount of respect or common decency. The story goes on to describe not only the differences between the classes but also the differences between the sexes. Powell's views are modern and revolutionary for the time period and her wit is absolutely biting. I thought this was a very interesting and entertaining read and I can definitely see how Downton Abbey used this as a reference point (you'll recognize some plot points if you're a fan of the show). I recommend it for anyone who'd like a quick, fun read that's also chock full of history (and cooking!). show less

I started out with high hopes for this book. I've read a lot of great reviews on it and was hoping to count this review as a good one. Sadly, I was let down. The author complains quite a bit about the plight of those in domestic service. It wouldn't have been so bad had she just touched on this, but it weaved its way throughout the entire book. At the end the author even acknowledges that the book sounds bitter. There are some humorous moments, though, and it does give a good description of show more what life was like for those in service. show less