Books & Brunch explores non-fiction, novel treatments of the 1%, April 21 & May 19

The National Press Club's Books & Brunch group will explore a non-fiction book about the early 20th-century British one percent at its April 21 meeting and a novel about today's one percent at its May 19 gathering.

At noon Saturday, April 21, in The Fourth Estate, the group will share their views on “Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle” by Fiona Carnarvon.

The PBS Downtown Abbey series was filmed at Highclere Castle. Lady Fiona Carnarvon is the Eighth Countess of Carnarvon and great-granddaughter-in-law of Lady Almina.

Lady Almina is more-or-less the real-life counterpart of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey -- except the real countess' back story is much more intriguing than Lady Cora's.

While Downtown Abbey's Lord Grantham is an interesting character, he pales beside the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who is best known for being the main financial backer of archaeologist Howard Carter in Egypt. He and Carter opened King Tut’s tomb. The Earl died afterward from an infected mosquito bite, igniting the legend of King Tut's curse.

The novel Books & Bruch will tackle on Saturday, May 19, "The Privileges" by Jonathan Dee, is set in our time. As a Washington Post review says, "'The Privileges,' tells the story of a golden couple, Adam and Cynthia Morey, who rise swiftly from modest Midwestern circumstances (Adam's father is a pipefitter) to immense wealth in New York."

The only thing their world seems to have in common with early 20th century life at Highclere Castle is great wealth. This contrast seems sure to be one that Books & Brunch group will vigorously debate over brunch on May 19.

Books and Brunch is open to all Club members and their guests. Monthly discussions at the Fourth Estate alternate between fiction and non-fiction books selected by those attending each meeting.

For more information and to be added to the Books & Brunch email list, contact chair Jack Williams at [email protected].