England is famous for its rural idyll, thatched cottages, and cozy pubs and tea rooms. However, the island also boasts a high-society spectacle, as evidenced by various hat creations from Ascot. Luise Berg-Ehlers tells the stories of English aristocrats who made a name for themselves as extravagant castle mistresses, eccentric society ladies, unconventional gardeners, or rebellious writers. The aristocratic life, it seems, provided the perfect breeding ground for all sorts of quirky excesses—and continues to create a stir today, not just in Downton Abbey. This includes the Duchess of Devonshire, the Duchess of Windsor, the Mitford sisters, Jane Austen, Vita Sackville-West, Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth von Arnim, and many others. The book is richly illustrated in full color, featuring photos by the author.