The English Country House Party

The English Country House Party

Author: Phyllida Barstow

Publisher: Sutton Publishing

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13:

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During the golden age of English country house entertaining, from the death of Prince Albert in 1861 to the outbreak of World War I, invitations passed back and forth among members of the aristocracy. Barstow brings to life the personalities and lifestyles of a vanished age in this carefully researched and illustrated study. International royalty and the political figures of the day also feature, none more memorably than the Shah of Persia, who offered to buy the Marchioness of Londonderry and advised the Prince of Wales to execute the Duke of Sutherland when he became king. The text reveals the social and political importance of the house party and also describes the role of the country house in its local and national setting. The decline of country house living after World War I and the beginnings of the National Trust and other efforts to save for the nation these former playgrounds of the elite form the concluding chapters.


The Country-House Party

The Country-House Party

Author: Dora Sigerson Shorter

Publisher: Hardpress Publishing

Published: 2012-08

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 9781290758062

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Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.


The House Party

The House Party

Author: Adrian Tinniswood

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Published: 2019-11-05

Total Pages: 129

ISBN-13: 0571350976

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A delightful journey through the glamorous story of the English country house party by the bestselling historian. Croquet. Parlour games. Cocktails. Welcome to a glorious journey through the golden age of the country house party - and you are invited. Our host, celebrated historian Adrian Tinniswood, traces the evolution of this quintessentially British pastime from debauched royal tours to the flamboyant excess of the Bright Young Things. With cameos by the Jazz Age industrialist, the bibulous earl and the off-duty politician - whether in moated manor houses or ornate Palladian villas - Tinniswood gives a vivid insight into weekending etiquette and reveals the hidden lives of celebrity guests, from Nancy Astor to Winston Churchill, in all their drinking, feasting, gambling and fornicating. The result is a deliciously entertaining, star-studded, yet surprisingly moving portrait of a time when social conventions were being radically overhauled through the escapism of a generation haunted by war - and a uniquely fast-living period of English history. Praise for The Long Weekend: 'Delicious, occasionally fantastical, revealing in ways that Downton Abbey never was. It is as if Tinniswood is at the biggest, wildest, most luxuriantly decadent party ever thrown, and he knows everyone.' Observer 'A deliciously jaunty and wonderfully knowledgeable book. Tinniswood displays a terrific insider's grasp of gossip . A meticulous, irresistible story.' Spectator 'Elegant, encyclopedic and entertaining . A confident and skilled historian who understands the mores of his era and wears his learning lightly . Deserves to be on every costume drama producer's bookshelf.' Times


The Long Weekend

The Long Weekend

Author: Adrian Tinniswood

Publisher: Basic Books

Published: 2016-05-03

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 0465098657

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From an acclaimed social and architectural historian, the tumultuous, scandalous, glitzy, and glamorous history of English country houses and high society during the interwar period As WWI drew to a close, change reverberated through the halls of England's country homes. As the sun set slowly on the British Empire, the shadows lengthened on the lawns of a thousand stately homes. In The Long Weekend, historian Adrian Tinniswood introduces us to the tumultuous, scandalous and glamorous history of English country houses during the years between World Wars. As estate taxes and other challenges forced many of these venerable houses onto the market, new sectors of British and American society were seduced by the dream of owning a home in the English countryside. Drawing on thousands of memoirs, letters, and diaries, as well as the eye-witness testimonies of belted earls and bibulous butlers, Tinniswood brings the stately homes of England to life as never before, opening the door to a world by turns opulent and ordinary, noble and vicious, and forever wrapped in myth. We are drawn into the intrigues of legendary families such as the Astors, the Churchills and the Devonshires as they hosted hunting parties and balls that attracted the likes of Charlie Chaplin, T.E. Lawrence, and royals such as Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. We waltz through aristocratic soiré, and watch as the upper crust struggle to fend off rising taxes and underbred outsiders, property speculators and poultry farmers. We gain insight into the guilt and the gingerbread, and see how the image of the country house was carefully protected by its occupants above and below stairs. Through the glitz of estate parties, the social tensions between old money and new, the hunting parties, illicit trysts, and grand feasts, Tinniswood offers a glimpse behind the veil of these great estates -- and reveals a reality much more riveting than the dream.


House Party Murder Rap

House Party Murder Rap

Author: Sonia Parin

Publisher: Evie Parker Mystery

Published: 2018-12-30

Total Pages: 268

ISBN-13: 9781792903540

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1920s England. Lighthearted cozy historical mystery.Two people have been targeted. Shots have been fired. Who stands to inherit? Who has the most to lose? Evangeline 'Evie' Parker, Countess of Woodridge, thinks it's nothing but an accident but then an attempt is made on her host's life. Suddenly, all the guests attending the Duke of Hetherington's house party think they are being targeted. Who will be next?Evie and her new chauffeur form an unlikely alliance to discover as much as they can before the killer can get it right.


The House Party

The House Party

Author: Mary Grand

Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd

Published: 2020-07-21

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 1800481683

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Someone is about to die... Someone is about to lie... At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her best friend Beth that she is terrified of one of their close friends, but daren’t reveal which one. The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous. The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff and Beth must face the sickening truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the police, Beth’s decides to seek answers. All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill to keep theirs safe... The House Party is set on the Isle of Wight - insular,claustrophobic, and with nowhere to run. Mary Grand has written a heart-stopping novel of secrets, betrayal and desire, perfect for fans of Louise Candlish, Lucy Foley and The Isle of Wight Murders. What readers are saying about The House Party: 'Truly a great puzzler with a superb ending! I HIGHLY Recommend!!!' 'Wow I'm so so impressed it had me gripped start to finish and I couldn't put it down. I completed within 1 night and such a page turner' 'All the suspense and twists and turns' 'This is a real page turner, that kept me guessing until the end!' 'A gripping read.' 'A brilliantly clever read and one to remember.' 'So many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing to the very end. An excellent read.' 'This is a book that will leave the reader guessing all the way.' 'With its ability to draw the reader in, this is great for a day when you don’t want to do anything but curl up with a good story and while away the day.' 'The House Party is a fantastic read for anyone who likes twisty, witty thriller reads.' 'I highly recommend this book - you won't want to put it down.' 'This is a great book that sucks you in right from the start. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense. Unexpected ending that I didn't see coming.' 'Brilliant if you love psychological thrillers like me.' 'This was an excellent novel, combining the elements of drama and thriller.' 'A sinister "whodunit" that is not your typical police procedural.'


The Country House Library

The Country House Library

Author: Mark Purcell

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2019-09-03

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 0300248687

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Beginning with new evidence that cites the presence of books in Roman villas and concluding with present day vicissitudes of collecting, this generously illustrated book presents a complete survey of British and Irish country house libraries. Replete with engaging anecdotes about owners and librarians, the book features fascinating information on acquisition bordering on obsession, the process of designing library architecture, and the care (and neglect) of collections. The author also disputes the notion that these libraries were merely for show, arguing that many of them were profoundly scholarly, assembled with meticulous care, and frequently used for intellectual pursuits. For those who love books and the libraries in which they are collected and stored, The Country House Library is an essential volume to own.


Treasure on Earth

Treasure on Earth

Author: Phyllis Elinor Sandeman

Publisher: Franz Steiner Verlag

Published: 2006-02-10

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 9781905400294

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A vivid and charming account of Christmas in an Edwardian country house. Phyllis Sandeman, who was brought up at Lyme Park in Cheshire, recalls the celebrations, the theatricals, the relationships between family and servants, and her own childhood hopes and fears. Lyme Park is now in the care of the National Trust.