A Preview of Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion, by Emma Marriott, with a Foreword by Julian Fellowes

Downtonites have been patiently awaiting the arrival of the Downton Abbey movie since its official announcement in the summer of 2018. The possibility of a feature film of the phenomenally popular British period drama television series had been rumored (and wished for) since the final episode of season six aired in the UK on Christmas day in 2015 on ITV and in the US on Masterpiece Classic PBS in March of 2016. We just cannot get enough of those posh upstairs Crawley’s and their devoted downstairs servants, can we? It took four long years to reach the big screen. Its premiere in the UK and the US this past September garnered major media attention and red-carpeted events.

My further hopes and wishes were granted with the publication of Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion, a tie-in, over-sized, coffee table book featuring gorgeous full-color images from the production, interviews with the cast and crew, historical and social context, and insights into the storyline. Take a deep breath and a shot of brandy. This is very heady stuff for those devotees of the series around the globe.

Haven’t seen the film yet? Take heed and avert your eyes. I would not want to spoil one spectacular moment of your enjoyment. For those who have seen it, the book allows you to relive many of the special moments, fabulous costumes, idyllic scenery, and witty dialogue we were privileged to experience. Here is more information about this special volume for your enjoyment.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The official tie-in book for Downton Abbey, the full-length feature film.

Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion is a stunning memento, bringing the world and the characters of our favorite fictional country house to life. Featuring spectacular photographs from the production, interviews with the cast and crew, and a look into the historical and geographical backdrop of the film, this official guide to the Downton Abbey film is made to be treasured and loved by fans across the globe.

The film revolves around the King and Queen making an official visit to Downton in 1927, and not only sees the return of all the main cast from the final television series but also introduces some great British actors to the world of Downton, as we meet the royal family and their retinue. The accompanying book is lavishly illustrated with stunning shots from both behind and in front of the camera, which capture some wonderful off-guard moments during filming, as well as the original costume illustrations.

AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE

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Many thanks to the publicity team at St. Martin’s Press for sharing these spectacular images from the book, and to Carnival Films & Focus Features for permission to use them in this exclusive slideshow on Austenprose.com. We feel doubly honored that you agreed to my request to share them with my readers.

ADVANCE PRAISE

• “It’s a posh soap opera but it’s a pretty bloody splendid posh soap opera. . . .Television will be a dowdier place without it. ” — The Guardian
• “Devotees dreading saying goodbye…can linger over this deep bow to Lady Mary, Lord Grantham, the Dowager Violet, Bates, Anna, Daisy. . . sob!” — USA Today on Downton Abbey – A Celebration
• “Downton Abbey is a cultural phenomenon, [with] many and varied famous fans.” — The Daily Beast
• “This series has a connoisseur’s eye for the most exquisite emblems of privilege and breeding and a fan’s gusto for intrigue and melodrama.” — The New York Times

AUTHOR BIOS

Emma Marriott is the author of a number of high-profile non-fiction and popular history titles, including The World of Vanity Fair, The World of Poldark, The History of the World in Bite-Sized Chunks, and Bad History. She has also ghost-written books for some major names and is a former in-house senior editor. Emma lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and three children.

Julian Fellowes is an award-winning screenwriter, director, producer, novelist, and actor. In 2002, Fellowes won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Gosford Park. He is the creator, sole writer, and executive producer of the worldwide international hit series, Downton Abbey, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and is the recipient of the International Emmy Founders Award. He is also the writer of the Downton Abbey movie. He has written three best-selling books, Snobs, Past Imperfect, and Belgravia. Fellowes and his wife, Emma, live in London and Dorset, England. They have a son, Peregrine.

SUMMARY

Gorgeous, stunning, and spectacular—three words that I have never strung together in one sentence before! Every eye-popping page of this beautifully designed book draws you into the world of Downton Abbey and its characters. Julian Fellowes’ foreword sets the scene with excitement and panache. The supporting text by Emma Marriot is informative and succinct, infusing the charm of the era, the glamor and elegance of the roaring twenties, the significance of the Royal visit, and the personalities of each of the characters that we love. This book will be pawed over and re-read by me and many fans of the series, and of the movie. It is a delight.

Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion, by Emma Marriott, with Foreword by Julian Fellowes
St Martin’s Press (2019)
Hardcover & eBook (320) pages
ISBN: 978-1250256621

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

Cover image, author bios & book description courtesy of St Martin’s Press © 2019; Images Carnival Films & Focus Features © 2019; Text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2019, Austenprose.com