Abstract
“The Worlds of Downton Abbey” demonstrates how literature–including graphic novels, historical fiction, parodies, histories, and children’s literature–has expanded and enriched the world of the television series. What does all this output tell us about the relationship between literature and television? West argues that Downton Abbey has helped create a new culture where television drama is now good enough to inspire first-rate writers to adapt it. The series hasn’t just revolutionized television; it has changed the practice–and perception–of adaptation.
Similar content being viewed by others
Works Cited
“Agent Gates and the Secret Adventures of Devonton Abbey.” Review in Publishers Weekly. http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4494-3434-2.
Baym, Nancy. “Perspective: Scholar Nancy Baym on Soaps after the O.J. Simpson Trial.” The Survival of Soap Opera: Transformations for a New Media Era, eds. Sam Ford, Abigail De Kosnik and C. Lee Harrington. UP of Mississippi: 104–105.
Carnarvon, Fiona. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle. New York: Random House, 2012.
———. Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey. New York: Random House, 2013.
Fellow, Elizabeth. Christmas at Downton: Holiday Foods and Traditions from the Unofficial Guide to Downton Abbey. Downton Abbey Books, 2014.
Fellowes, Jessica. The World of Downton Abbey. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2011.
Ferriss, Suzanne and Mallory Young, eds. “Introduction.” Chick Lit: The New Woman’s Fiction. New York: Routledge, 2006.
Goodwin, Daisy. The American Heiress. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2011.
Gray, Jonathan. Watching with the Simpsons: Television, Parody, and Intertextuality. Routledge, 2006.
Grossman, Julie. “Introduction.” Literature, Film, and Their Hideous Progeny: Adaptation and ElasTEXTity. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.
Haughney, Christine. “A Castle Becomes a Cash Register.” The New York Times (May 24, 2013). http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/fashion/trying-to-turn-a-castle-into-a-cash-register.html?_r=0.
Higson, Andrew. English Heritage, English Cinema. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2003.
Hutcheon, Linda. A Theory of Adaptation. New York: Routledge, 2006.
———. A Theory of Parody: The Teachings of Twentieth-Century Art Forms. U of Illinois P, 2000.
Jenkins, Henry. “Building Imaginary Worlds: An Interview with Mark J.P. Wolf (Part One).” September 2, 2013. http://henryjenkins.org/2013/09/building-imaginary-worlds-an-interview-with-mark-j-p-wolf-part-one.html.
Kelly, Chris. Downton Tabby. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2013.
Leitch, Thomas. Film Adaptation and Its Discontents: From Gone with the Window to the Passion of the Christ. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2006.
MacColl, Gail and Carol McD. Wallace. To Marry an English Lord: Tales of Wealth and Marriage, Sex and Snobbery. New York: Workman Publishing, 1989, 2012.
Miller, Laura. “Why Do Americans Love Downton Abbey So Much?” New Statesman (September 5, 2013). http://www.newstatesman.com/tv-and-radio/2013/09/why-do-americans-love-downton-abbey-so-much.
Montoro, Rocio. Chick Lit: The Stylistics of Cappuccino Fiction. New York: Continuum, 2012.
Parramore, Lynn Stuart. “America’s New Servant Class.” Alternet (March 6, 2014). http://www.alternet.org/economy/americas-new-servant-class.
Rolphe, Katie. “Of Noblemen and Investment Bankers: Why We Can’t Take Our Eyes Off Downton Abbey.” Slate (January 19, 2012). http://www.slate.com/articles/life/roiphe/2012/01/downton_abbey_and_our_new_obsession_with_class_.html.
Seymour, Miranda. “The High Life at Highclere Castle and the Downside of Downton Abbey.” The Guardian (Sept 15, 2011). http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/sep/15/lady-almina-downton–review.
Sperati, J.P. and Sabine Schreiner. Downton Abbey on Location. New York: Irregular Special Press, 2013.
Stam, Robert, ed. “Introduction.” Film Adaptation. New Brunswick: Rutgers UP, 2000.
Subhiyah, Camaren. Agent Gates and the Secret Adventures of Devonton Abbey: A Parody of Downton Abbey. London: Andrews McMeel, 2013.
Vermeule, Blakey. Why Do We Care about Literary Characters? Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2013.
Warwick, Sarah. Upstairs and Downstairs: the Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey. London: Carlton Books, 2011.
Wax, Wendy. While We Were Watching Downton Abbey. New York: Jove, 2013.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
West, N.M. (2017). The Worlds of Downton Abbey . In: Grossman, J., Palmer, R. (eds) Adaptation in Visual Culture. Palgrave Studies in Adaptation and Visual Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58580-2_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58580-2_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-58579-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-58580-2
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)