DOWNTON ABBEY CLASS: VICTORIAN DREAMS AND EDWARDIAN REALITIES

Queen Victoria, Grandmother of Europe, set a chaste tone, establishing rigorous standards, indeed unbreakable rules, governing British high society at the end of the 19th century. Then she died.  Along came Edward, the naughty, rash, hedonistic son. Britain would be changed forever. Dangerous liaisons and scandalous shenanigans!! An invasion of pretty, rich, young American women. Eight titillating Wednesday afternoons taking you places even Downton Abbey fears to tread.

While "the Downton Abbey" series is on break, check out this new class which takes a "behind the scenes" historical look at the lives of the Royal families whose standards and morals shaped the societal fabric of the fictional aristocratic families and servants depicted in the show.

Starting with the rigorous standards and unbreakable rules laid down by Queen Victoria, and then crushed by her hedonistic son King Edward VII (ushering in dangerous liaisons and scandalous affairs),  this class will reveal  blatantly honest and often shocking historical facts that have made this era the most popular and fascinating period in English history.

Join local historian Michael Svanevik, returning to Little House for the first time in a decade, as he takes off the wraps to reveal painful truths about both Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. This unique series is not to be missed.