The deceptive photograph of Lady Carnarvon reclining elegantly in the library at Highclere Castle, as seen above, surrounded by her beloved dogs, would suggest a life of privilege and leisure.

But that would be to enormously underestimate this woman’s immense talents as both a historian, hostess and business woman. The success of Highclere, thanks to Downton Abbey is well documented, but now that the award winning TV series is over, the countess is determined to keep its memory as keenly alive as possible.

Her most recent book At Home at Highclere: Entertaining at the Real Downton Abbey, which she will unveil at The Oxford Literary Festival on Saturday, aims to do just that. This is no mere coffee table tome.

For between its pages lie the previously unseen and untold stories of an extraordinary collection of visits by the country’s most renowned politicians, personalities, authors, musicians and royalty over the centuries, as uncovered and collated by Lady Carnarvon herself.

Cleverly divided up into a historic exploration, from both an upstairs and downstairs point of view, it is set in a political context, alongside recipes, and details of Highclere’s clearly beloved staff.

From what they wore and ate, to what they talked about at Highclere, no stone was left unturned, the countess ransacking Highclere’s considerable archives and household accounts while

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reading biographies, diaries and visiting the country’s museums to help flesh out the characters she depicts, as well as their books, novels and music.

But with so much already on her plate, helping her husband to run the Highclere estate, why embark on this her third book, (she has written two previous books on Lady Carnarvons Catherine and Almina)?

“I wanted to look at Highclere’s heritage and history through food and entertaining. Because while I’m very lucky to live here at the castle, I wanted to share the details of the house, the library, the archives, so what began more as a photographic collection soon turned into something more complex when I realised their stories were much more involved than I’d expected.

I ask if she felt a kinship or empathy for the previous Lady Carnarvons, alongside the vast responsibility of catering for these gigantic and painstakingly well prepared weekends?

“When The Prince of Wales stayed in 1895, no expense was spared and Almina (Lady Carnarvon), then only 19, was expected to decorate the castle, plan the menus and host the weekend with very little experience, as a newlywed.

“If that had been me at that age I think I would have panicked and thrown everything at it, but she (as a Rothschild) had her mother and father to help advise, guide and steer her, because it was a bit of a test, not only by her husband, but also his family.

“I found some funny asides from them in The Bodleian, so she was being judged and watched but stood on her own two feet

“But Almina loved the Earl of Carnarvon and he loved her, which helped, but yes, I still thought – crickey.”

And what of the less complementary observations about Highclere and its guests and inhabitants by those such as author Henry James? Hard not to take personally? “I read his novels recently and he seems a slightly strange observer, always slightly apart from everyone else.

“But that’s part of life. Not everyone can like or approve of you,” she shrugs. I” don’t look at the world through rose tinted glasses.”

There were of course pitfalls in writing the book. “There were gaping holes in the archives which was incredibly frustrating, so I tried to choose periods everything fell together.

“Or I’d send 45 recipes off to the publishers and 42 would come back. And I keep finding things and think, I could have done with that six months ago.”

Still too new to be proud of, Lady C says she needs to distance herself from Highclere at Home and it’s midnight scribblings, before she can pat herself on the back, but that the Oxford Literary Festival offers the perfect opportunity.

“I’ve given so many talks over the years and I’m always trying to ascertain what it is people are most interested in and want to know more about.

“And for me food and cooking are at the heart of family life. When my parents died, I sat down with some pasta and a glass of wine and talked. It helps you come to terms with things through sad times and happy times.

“I think it was important to show that we also live in the present here at Highclere and if that means pouring a glass of champagne on a Friday evening and inviting some friends found for dinner, whether from the film or television industry, then what better way to spend your time?

So what next for this endlessly driven woman? “I am pondering and taking a break. As an author I have so many ideas I’m just wondering which one to jump on next. I’ve half started and sketched out a few of them so we will see.”

Will Highclere be the focus again? “Yes because all of us are grounded by our sense of place and this is mine. We are always trying to think of new ways to champion Highclere and keep people connected with it. I write a monthly blog now and we are much better at social media which reaches out to thousands of people, so we are running quite hard to make sure we are not to be forgotten,” she laughs

In the eighth Lady Carnarvon’s case that will never be a problem.