Chatsworth is one of England's ten most visited great houses. In this tour of the house, Deborah the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire takes the reader into the private as well as the public rooms, and goes behind the scenes to explain the management of the household and the work of the staff needed to keep it going.
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Review
Enjoy the Duchess of Devonshire's highly personal account of what it's like to live at Chatsworth. With the warmth and wit you expect from one of the Mitford sisters, it transcends any run-of-the-mill guidebook BBC Homes & Antiques ... an intellectual and visual treat Period Living As a souvenir of a visit to Chatsworth this beautiful book is flawless; as an insight into the life of a great stately home it is indispensable Beautiful Britain
About the Author
Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire is the youngest of the seven children of the second Baron Redesdale and sister of the writers Nancy and Jessica Mitford and Diana Mosley. The Duke and Duchess lived at Chatsworth from 1950 on and lovingly restored the house and gardens. Simon Upton is a photographer specialising in interiors and portrait photography. He has contributed to many books and his work appears in Vogue, Tatler, World of Interiors, Harpers and Queen, House and Garden and other publications.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most perfect 'Country House' books ever,
By MartinP "MartinP" (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chatsworth: The House (Hardcover)
There is no shortage of books on English country houses, but books dedicated in their totality to one single house are surprisingly rare (and those that do exist do not necessarily cover the most obvious houses - there are books on Tyntesfield, Clouds, and Waddesdon Manor, but none on Blenheim Palace, Wilton House or Castle Howard. A book on Holkham Hall is in the making, though). Some books that discuss a greater number of houses are quite excellent (e.g., Great Houses of England and Wales by Hugh Montgomery-Massingbird), but it is hard not to feel shortchanged when a house as rich as Chatsworth is delt with in just a handful of pages. Here is the better alternative. I have collected a great many books on english country house history over the years, but this is certainly one of the most beautiful and satisfying of them all. Everything about it is right.
Chatsworth was already a tourist magnet in Jane Austen's days, and very much remains so today. Sequestered in its gorgeous green valley, it is the quintessential 'great house' in the quintessential English landscape. This book must be the next best thing to an actual visit; in fact, in some ways it may be better, for how many visitors enjoy the pleasure of being shown around by the Duchess of Devonshire herself? And a pleasure it is. The texts are immediately involving, due to their well-balanced mix of (art)history, anecdote, wit and personal recollections and reflections. Family, staff, and visitors all feature in the biography of a place that is very much alive, even though its maintenance poses daunting challenges. Never pompous, the lively, at times delightfully tongue-in-cheek style of the Duchess's writing betrays that she stems from a literary family (she is the sister of Nancy Mitford). Her undisguised great love of the place adds yet more charm. The other glory, of course, is Simon Upton's photography, which is simply dazzling. All rooms of interest, both in the public route and the private appartments of the Devonshires, are illustrated in large, full colour images, as well as many decorative details, paintings, and several 'downstairs' spaces. In all, they provide fascinating insight into the workings and riches of a very large house like this one. Be aware, though, that the book details the interior only. For views of the house and the gardens you will have to get the equally alluring 'The Gardens at Chatsworth' by the same author (and as I gather, a book about the estate as a whole is forthcoming, so Chatsworthites can rejoice....).
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
To the Manor Born......,
By A Customer
This review is from: Chatsworth: The House (Hardcover)
Fabulous and delightful. A wonderful book with terrific pictures. The Duchess writes with wit and charm. I find this book a delight to pick up and just browse and enjoy. A objective but candid look at living in and maintaining a national and family treasure (not to mention coping with a couple of centuries of collecting and interior decorating!).
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ENGLISH BEAUTY,
By
This review is from: Chatsworth: The House (Hardcover)
This is may not be the largest of the great English estates, but I'm not sure there is one more beautiful or better realized. This house is a stunner and what makes this book all the more interesting is that one of the authors is the duchess herself. This images are wonderful, they are crisp and vivid. It is said that Jane Austen considered this the most beautiful house in England and thumbing through this book it's hard to argue. Really a beautiful book perfectly realized.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
It all started with Elizabeth Hardwick. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
ante library, jib door, dome room, public route, pier tables, flock wallpaper, cut velvet, window recess, death duties Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bachelor Duke, First Duke, Devonshire House, Sixth Duke, Painted Hall, William Cavendish, Blue Drawing Room, Bolton Abbey, Fifth Duke, Fourth Duke, Compton Place, Eighth Duke, Granny Evie, Sculpture Gallery, Great Stairs, William Kent, North Wing, Sir Jeffry Wyatville, Yellow Drawing Room, Queen of Scots, Seventh Duke, Chiswick House, Lismore Castle, Lord Burlington, Oak Stairs New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
It all started with Elizabeth Hardwick. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
ante library, jib door, dome room, public route, pier tables, flock wallpaper, cut velvet, window recess, death duties Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bachelor Duke, First Duke, Devonshire House, Sixth Duke, Painted Hall, William Cavendish, Blue Drawing Room, Bolton Abbey, Fifth Duke, Fourth Duke, Compton Place, Eighth Duke, Granny Evie, Sculpture Gallery, Great Stairs, William Kent, North Wing, Sir Jeffry Wyatville, Yellow Drawing Room, Queen of Scots, Seventh Duke, Chiswick House, Lismore Castle, Lord Burlington, Oak Stairs New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 10
books:
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- Buckingham Palace by Michael Hall on page 37
- Crystal Palace (Architecture in Detail) by Joseph Paxton on page 133
- Safe Place, The by St John Patricia on page 120
- Ronald Knox A Biography on page 157
- Black Beauty by Anne Sewell on page 157
See all 10 books this book cites
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