Masterpiece : America's 50-Year-Old Love Affair with British Television Drama

"The definitive guide for scholars and fans alike to all things Masterpiece and Mystery!" Library Journal, Starred Review On a wintry night in 1971, Masterpiece Theatre debuted on PBS. Fifty years later, America's appetite for British drama has never been bigger. The classic television program has brought its fans protagonists such as The Dowager Countess and Ross Poldark and series that include Downton Abbey and Prime Suspect. In Masterpiece: America's 50-Year-Old Love Affair with British Television Drama, Nancy West provides a fascinating history of the acclaimed program. West combines excerpts from original interviews, thoughtful commentary, and lush photography to deliver a deep exploration of the television drama. Vibrant stories and anecdotes about Masterpiece's most colorful shows are peppered throughout, such as why Benedict Cumberbatch hates Downton Abbey and how screenwriter Daisy Goodwin created a teenage portrait of Queen Victoria after fighting with her daughter about homework. Featuring an array of color photos from Masterpiece's best-loved dramas, this book offers a penetrating look into the program's influence on television, publishing, fashion, and its millions of fans. "What accounts for Masterpiece's longevity and influence? This book offers two reasons: the power of its drama and its aspirational appeal. Masterpiece delivers great stories, stories that transport, enthrall, enrich, and comfort us. But it also speaks to a uniquely American belief in the possibility of self-improvement, even self-transformation, through the acquisition of "culture""-- Provided by publisher ""The definitive guide for scholars and fans alike to all things Masterpiece and Mystery!"" - Booklist Starred Review In 1971, Masterpiece Theatre debuted on PBS. Fifty years later, America's appetite for British drama has never been bigger. In this book, Nancy West provides a fascinating history of this beloved program