Burning Down the House
Description
The stately home appears to be the quintessence of English culture – sitting serene and elegant in rolling parkland, a part of our national heritage shared for everyone to enjoy. And there are scones for tea afterwards. An idyllic day out – or is it?
If we look again, we’ll find some very difficult histories on display – built into the fabric of the houses, carved into the ornaments, depicted in the art on the walls and set out in its picturesque landscapes. Susannah Walker’s Burning Down the House takes you on a tour of some of the best known houses in England, from grand extravagances like Blenheim, to famous locations like Highclere, aka Downton, and the self-indulgent architecture of houses like Harewood – with the latter built entirely on the profits from slavery. That’s far from the only discovery though; as Walker digs deeper she reveals sexism and corruption, stolen property and exploitation – and a relentless disregard for anyone but the aristocracy themselves.
Powerful, compelling and filled with lesser-known stories, Burning Down the House is a much-needed interrogation of what we’re really paying homage to on our days out, and why it matters.