It will be a dual of the dowagers: Dame Maggie Smith vs. Shirley MacLaine. Who will be the last dowager standing? Can’t wait for season three of Downton Abbey to find out? Then you must pick up The Chronicles of Downton Abbey: A New Era (St. Martin’s $29.99). This is the perfect gift for every fan of the BBC drama. World War I has ended and it’s a fresh start for the Crawley family and for the social order in general. How will life at Downton be affected? This book is full of pictures, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the upcoming season, insight into how the series is made and into the actors who portray our favorite (and maybe not so favorite) characters. Jessica Fellowes, niece of the show’s creator Julian Fellowes, has unique access to the show’s producers. She also incorporates lots of historical detail into this book, giving a deeper sense of the period in which our Downton friends lived. And may the best dowager win!