Landships II

Long Tom · Brigadier

Downton Manor

Rob · Legend

I've only seen the second series, which is set during the First World War. In my opinion it's a typical ITV Sunday drama (ITV is the channel its on) - wishy washy romantic story lines with loveable characters and gossip, basically like Coronation Street or any other soap designed for women but set in the upper classes and in the past! The WW1 story line has every stereotype and cliche going for it - homosexual Officers, shot at dawn for cowardice, soldiers covered in mud especially their faces, incompetent Officers etc etc etc.

Personally, for a more realistic pre-WW1 England atmosphere, I can highly reccomend 'Edwardian Farm' (three historians basically take over a farm and run it as they would have done in the Edwardian days, wearing Edwardian clothes, using Edwardian farming practices, as well as branching out to other industries like mining, fishing etc etc, it's very well done, very authentic), also the original series of 'Upstairs Downstairs' if you like the upper classes side of things

Long Tom · Brigadier

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/10/21/downton-abbey-criticized-for-historically-incorrect-language/?ncid=webmail5

Not so good after all, I guess.

mickk · Captain

From what I've seen , its awful! cry

Get the Great War series of Upstairs Downstairs on DVD,� Its about as authentic as you will find on telly.

James H · Legend

RE: Downton Abbey

Excelsior1 · Major

Downton Manor

Rectalgia · Legend

My goodness - it's a whole genre isn't it? Shading into "experimental archaeology" as well, with US, Australian, NZ, German ... you name it ... contributions to this type of "reality TV".

The attraction/nostalgia with late Victorian and Edwardian eras is that some of us are old enough to have known people who lived those times and we have heard their reminiscences of "ordinary life" at the source. It is diverting/alarming to actually feel the tide of history, albeit vicariously.

But then I suppose it's only a matter of time, before earnest, impossibly young, researchers with recording equipment turn up on the doorstep for the "next installment". Bit of a worry, outliving whole countries, successive generations of warships and other assorted cultures and their hardware ... how did that happen, all unnoticed?

James H · Legend

I shall not get involved in Rectalgia's lament at the passage of time. It will only depress me.

I just happen to have spotted a book in the Library this morning; The Faces of World War I by Max Arthur (with a foreword by the inestimable Ian Hislop, who has shown a great interest in many aspects of the War in the last few years).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faces-World-War-One-Pictures/dp/1844035611

It includes a number of photos showing the social divide, both before and after the War. From abject poverty to great wealth and privilege. There is one picture in particular, of George V and some friends in a carriage at Epsom Races. They are top-hatted and buttonholed, as are the driver and accompanying flunkeys. Running alongside is a man in ragged clothes. He is thrusting his flat cap towards the passengers in the hope of receiving some money. The King and his friends are carefully ignoring him.

There used to be a huge mural of it in the now defunct Science Museum in Buile Hill Park, Salford. I remember it as a kid. Seeing it again today almost brought back the tears of rage.

There is also a photo of a group of maimed, amputee, and blinded soldiers saluting the fa�ade of Buckingham Palace.

If you can buy/borrow the book, it might be of some help.