Downton/Gilded Age Research Rec
Now, if you've followed me for any length of time at all, you're probably going "Wait a minute. You are recommending a research source? You're rubbish at research. You say it a million times a week."
You are not wrong. That's why if I recommend something it's either been vetted by someone whose research ability I absolutely trust, or it's something that the author gains nothing by lying about. It's also probably not super important in the grand scheme of things. In this case, it's a bit of both, and honestly? You might have already heard about it.
The book is "To Marry an English Lord" by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace. If you're a Downton Abbey fan, you've quite likely heard it listed as the inspiration for Cora. That's certainly how I found out about it. However, having picked it up for curiosity sake awhile back, I've found it a very enjoyable read and reference various parts of it regularly in my fanfiction for both series.
Of course, being entirely about New York in the Gilded Age and the distinctions between the Old Money and New Money, it's in many ways even more directly relevant for The Gilded Age. It has graphics that give you an idea of what the insides of the Old Money brownstones were like, and while it doesn't have a corresponding New Money version (although it does have one for Berkeley Square homes), it does have photographs comparing the two house styles that really drive home the difference in how the two sides live.
And of course, if you like drama, there's plenty here. More than plenty. Unlike a television program, the writers of the book did not have a time limit and as such are free to dive into as many of the petty feuds as they like. Of course, they do have a metric ton to cover, so in the name of readability they don't go too in depth on any one thing - such is the way of general histories - but it's all entertaining and informative.
Anyway, if nothing else I'd recommend picking a copy up at the library.
