Secrets of an English Country House: A Year at Mapperton - Hardcover
Secrets of an English Country House: A Year at Mapperton - Hardcover
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by Julie Montagu (Author)
Step inside a real English country house with Julie Montagu--Chicago-born countess and star of Bravo's Ladies of London--as she reveals what it truly takes to run a historic estate today.
What's it really like to live in and be responsible for one of England's great country houses? In Secrets of an English Country House, Julie Montagu opens the doors of Mapperton, the 1,900-acre estate she and her husband Luke Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, took over in 2016. Far from the fantasy of aristocratic ease, Julie shares the hands-on reality of modern estate life: restoring historic rooms, conserving priceless objects, opening the house to the public, launching a rewilding project, and balancing tradition with the demands of the twenty-first century. Organised around the changing seasons, you will discover:- An American perspective on adapting to one of Britain's most tradition-bound worlds.
- The day-to-day realities of running a working estate.
- The hidden histories of Mapperton and the Montagu family, revealed through letters, paintings, clothing, and archives.
- What it takes to restore and maintain a centuries-old house while welcoming visitors.
Along the way, Julie brings the past vividly to life, uncovering extraordinary stories hidden in the house's archives and discovering a kindred spirit in Alberta Montagu, 9th Countess of Sandwich, the Gilded Age American heiress who has redefined the Dollar Princess narrative.
Part memoir, part social history, and part country-house chronicle, this is an essential read for those fascinated by British history, grand houses, and the people working to preserve them for the future.
Author Biography
Julie Montagu, Countess of Sandwich is not your average aristocrat. Born on the outskirts of Chicago, she describes herself as an all-American girl who unexpectedly met the future Earl of Sandwich and then married into the British aristocracy. Two decades later, Julie is the driving force behind Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands in Dorset, UK - widely regarded as one of England's finest manor houses. She shares her daily life with hundreds of thousands of followers via YouTube (@MappertonLive) and Instagram (@juliemontagu) as well as Facebook, Patreon and Substack. Alongside managing the estate, Julie built a successful career as a wellness entrepreneur and yoga instructor, writing several bestselling books and appearing on Bravo's Ladies of London. As a historian, she is a sought-after presenter and commentator on British history and royal affairs for both UK and US networks. In 2020, she presented An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates for the Smithsonian Channel. She later launched the @AmericanCountess YouTube channel, where her production company, Living History Films, produces high-quality documentaries exploring Britain's stately homes.
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