Understand that 'below stairs' evokes a bygone era when houses had staff quarters downstairs. The novel set in the 19th century depicts life below stairs vividly.
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Social Hierarchy
'Below stairs' implies a separation between servants and the family they work for in large estates. Her memoirs recount the strict social codes that prevailed below stairs.
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Literature Usage
The phrase is commonly used in historical fiction to add authenticity to the setting. Characters below stairs often have their own subplots in period dramas.