{"title":"Hopwood DePree","description":"\u003cp\u003eHopwood DePree is an engaging author known for his captivating storytelling, particularly in the realm of \u003cem\u003eBiography \u0026amp; Memoir\u003c\/em\u003e. With a unique blend of humour and heartfelt emotion, DePree takes readers on an unforgettable journey through his life experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn his standout work, \u003cem\u003eDownton Shabby\u003c\/em\u003e, Hopwood vividly recounts his personal adventures with a blend of wit and sincerity. This memoir details his quest to restore a dilapidated English manor, weaving in themes of family heritage, cultural contrasts, and the challenges of managing such an ambitious project. It’s a delightful and inspiring read for anyone interested in personal transformation and the preservation of history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a fan of history, a lover of architecture, or simply intrigued by personal stories of perseverance and passion, Hopwood DePree's work offers a refreshing perspective that is both enlightening and thoroughly entertaining. Dive into his world and explore the depth of his experiences through his compelling narratives.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"downton-shabby-by-hopwood-depree-9780063080850","title":"Downton Shabby","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHGTV meets \u003cem\u003eDownton Abbey\u003c\/em\u003e! A ready-for-TV story—with charm and humour in abundance—about a Los Angeles producer who moves to England to save his ancestral castle from ruin.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“A true delight...In this marvellous debut, film producer DePree leaves the Hollywood hills to resurrect his British ancestral home, a 50,000-square-foot estate in the English countryside. Readers are in for a treat.\"--Publishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHollywood producer Hopwood DePree had been told as a boy that an ancestor—who he was named for—had left his family’s English castle in the 1700s to come to America. One night after some wine and a visit to Ancestry.com, Hopwood discovered a photograph of a magnificent English estate with a familiar name: Hopwood Hall, a 60-room, 600-year-old grand manor on 5,000 acres. And with that, Hopwood DePree’s life took an almost fairytale turn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHopwood Hall, in northwest England, was indeed his family’s ancestral home. It had been occupied continuously by the Hopwood family for five centuries until the last remaining male heirs were killed in World War I. Since then, the Hall had fallen gradually into disrepair and was close to collapse. When Hopwood visited, he discovered trees growing in the chimneys, holes in the roof, and water sluicing down walls. It would take many millions to save the Hall—millions that Hopwood certainly didn’t have—but despite the fact that he lived in Los Angeles and had no construction skills, Hopwood DePree came to a conclusion: \u003cem\u003eHe would save Hopwood Hall.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDownton Shabby\u003c\/em\u003e—the name Hopwood coined for the glorious ruin—traces Hopwood DePree’s adventures as he gives up his life in Hollywood and moves permanently to England to save Hopwood Hall from ruin. But the task is far too big for one person, of course. Hopwood discovers that the Hall comes with an unforgettable cast of new neighbours he can call on for help—from the electrician whose mum had fond memories of working at the Hall to gruff caretaker Bob, and the local aristocrats who (sort of) come to accept Hopwood as one of their own. Together, as they navigate the trials and triumphs of trying to save an actual castle, Hopwood finds himself ever further from the security of his old life, but comes to realise that, actually, he’s never been closer to home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46549201158380,"sku":"9780063080850","price":50.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/12012603482210.jpg?v=1749889289"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/hopwood-depree.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}