If you follow Masterpiece Theater at all, you are familiar with "Downton Abbey", the TV saga into its 3rd season on PBS. Never being one to rush into anything, the Mayor was late to the game and late to become a fan of this British import that has proven to be a great success in America as well as the UK and other climes.
A fine interview was published in the WSJ that was written by Raymond Zhong, editorial writer for the WSJ Europe. It it, Lord Fellowes explains his upbringing which served as the basis for his curiosity regarding the life depicted and the characters encountered in this wonderful series that invades the privacy of His Lordship, the Earl of Downton, Robert Crawley, and his family: his wife, Lady Cora, and their three daughters: Mary, the eldest, Edith the middle child, and Sybil, the youngest. Overlaid are the members of the household staff, directed by Mr. Carson, the butler.
It seems that Lord Fellowes grew up with a link to aristocrats of the English gentry through his father's line, while his mother was of more "common" ancestry, born into the upper-middle-class from less than noble farmers and traders. Oh, dear! But she did produce four sons and that fact stood for something.
He is enjoying his success after yeoman service writing. His screen play for "Gosford Park" won an academy award in 2001. After that came 2 best-selling novels, several more screen plays, and now"Downton". "Downton Abbey" has been a huge hurricane," says Lord Fellowes. The British press has ripped him for snobbery; but then they rip all Brits for everything!
The third season is proving as magnetic as the first two. Bravo Lord fellowes.
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