Alas, there are no Dickens adaptations in PBS's new Masterpiece Classics season, which starts on Sunday. We sure were spoiled last year, weren't we? However, the LA Times points out that there is a significant connection between Dickens and the Cranford miniseries that kicks off the season:
Gaskell's "Cranford" tales were originally written as monthly episodes in Charles Dickens' magazine, "Household Words." . . .
The stories were so popular with readers, Dickens commissioned her to write more.
Way to go, Mr. Dickens! When I watch Return to Cranford, I'll be thinking of you.
Yeah, I wish there were some Dickens series this year. :( I'm holding out for a big 2012 bicentennial bash!
Elizabeth Gaskell and Dickens, I've heard, were actually very good friends (as opposed to Dickens and George Eliot who were rivals!).
Posted by: Nibs | January 08, 2010 at 09:27 AM
It's amazing what a difference in style they had.
I can't wait to see the sequel. Trying to remember if I've seen it before. Was it just filmed?
Judi Dench is so funny.
Posted by: Christy | January 08, 2010 at 02:11 PM
I think this one is brand new. I haven't even seen the first one, but I think I'll watch this one anyway. I'm pretty good at picking things up mid-story and figuring out what's going on. Need to remember to put the first one in my Netflix queue, though!
Posted by: Gina | January 08, 2010 at 02:17 PM
That's cool!! I'm looking forward to the Cranford sequel (new for viewers in the US), and the Cranford stories are on my reading list...
Posted by: Marian | January 08, 2010 at 02:20 PM