Noble Ambitions The Fall and Rise of the English Country House After World War II by Adrian Tinniswood

Beautiful old manor houses, armies of servants, glittering balls, weekend parties - this is how English aristocrats and the nouveau riche once lived. Agricultural depression, death duties, wars, and governments mostly put an end to this extravagant life from the last part of the nineteenth century, however. Adrian Tinniswood studies this lifestyle and its decline in this fascinating book, perfect for lovers of "Downton Abbey".

The book is mainly about the fall of these great country houses, but there are lots of interesting anecdotes and gossip along the way. For example, there is a whole chapter on interior design, and one interior designer wouldn't even look twice at a would-be customer who wasn't an aristocrat! There are lots of stories about famous landed families, such as the Thynnes.

I always enjoy Adrian Tinniswood's books, and this was no exception. 

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.