In addition to engaging drama, the popular TV series “Downton Abbey” offered a window into the social, political, and cultural life of a period. The show lets viewers examine such topics as the Edwardian era, the New Woman, the Great War, voting rights, the Roaring ’20s, and the first sexual revolution. As the show cycled through the years, fans got a glimpse of the issues of the day.
Historian Julie Taddeo explores the show’s appeal—which goes deeper than its period fashions and lavish sets—to examine its historical accuracy and what it says about the 21st century, from the 2008 economic crash to Brexit to America's fascination with British royalty.
Timed to coincide with the release of the third “Downton Abbey” movie, she discusses the upcoming film as well as the preceding two. Taddeo also addresses Maggie Smith's death in September 2024 and the public's reaction to explain why so many people connected with her as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham.
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