Let's talk about: Lady Catherine, The Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon

I recently picked up the second book about Highclere Castle's history written by the current Lady Carnarvon.  This book follows the life of Lady Catherine, the 6th Countess of Carnarvon. 

Catherine was American and moved to England with her mother and siblings after the death of her father. There she eventually met and married Lord Porchester ("Porchy"), the son of Lady Almina (from the last book). 

I found this book to be so interesting. Lady Catherine has a really cool background with ties to the Lee family of Virginia among others. I loved reading about her family and where they came from. 

The crazy thing about this book was how I felt about her husband. 

I gather that he was a charming man but I disliked him very much. Maybe he wasn't that different from other men of the time and station based on some of the other stories but I didn't think he was nearly good enough for Lady Catherine, whom I loved. I really liked both of his parents and his sister so that made me a bit disappointed. 

But, the great things about this book were plenty. Lady Catherine herself was great and I really liked their children as well. I loved all of the history given in the book. Just like with the first book, I learned things I didn't know and I felt a lot of it come alive through "knowing" the people involved. 

It was a great read. I can't wait to visit Highclere Castle next weekend. 

These books have brought the castle alive to me in so many more ways than it's being Downton Abbey. Now I want to visit it for Downton Abbey's sake but also it's own.