Short Synopsis
In The Long Weekend, historian Adrian Tinniswood introduces us to the tumultuous, scandalous, and glamorous history of English country houses during the years between world wars.

Full Synopsis
As World War I drew to a close, change reverberated through the halls of England's country homes. As the sun set slowly on the British Empire, the shadows lengthened on the lawns of a thousand stately homes.

In The Long Weekend, historian Adrian Tinniswood introduces us to the tumultuous, scandalous, and glamorous history of English country houses during the years between world wars. As estate taxes and other challenges forced many of these venerable houses onto the market, new sectors of British and American society were seduced by the dream of owning a home in the English countryside. Drawing on thousands of memoirs, letters, and diaries, as well as the eye-witness testimonies of belted earls and bibulous butlers, Tinniswood brings the stately homes of England to life as never before, opening the door to a world by turns opulent and ordinary, noble and vicious, and forever wrapped in myth.

Through the glitz of estate parties, the social tensions between old money and new, the hunting parties, illicit trysts, and grand feasts, Tinniswood offers a glimpse behind the veil of these great estates—and reveals a reality much more riveting than the dream.

"Informative and entertaining." ---Library Journal

"With scholarly aplomb and gossipy relish, historian Tinniswood pulls open the grand front doors of these captivating castles to reveal their innermost workings and outward allure." ---Booklist

"A richly researched story about the rise and fall and transformation of country-house living . . . An enjoyable tour with a genial, informed, devoted docent." ---Kirkus

“If you’ve been afflicted with a crippling case of Downton Abbey withdrawal, this nonfiction peek into the inner workings of English country homes between the wars will fill the void.” ---Entertainment Weekly

"Steven Crossley's refined narration is perfect for the subject matter, sounding like he just stepped out of a scene from Downton Abbey." ---Library Journal Audio Review