Today I am delighted to host Katherine Clements on my blog; author of the Silvered Heart:
1648: Civil war is devastating
England. The privileged world of Katherine Ferrers is crumbling under
Cromwell's army and, as an orphaned heiress, she has no choice but to
marry for the sake of her family. But as her marraige turns in to a
prison and her fortune is forfeit, Katherine becomes increasingly
desperate. So when she meets a man who shows her a way out, she seizes
the chance. It is dangerous and brutal, and she knows if they're caught,
there's only one way it can end... The mystery of Lady Katherine
Ferrers, legendary highwaywoman, has captured the collective imagination
of generations. Now, based on the real woman, the original 'Wicked
Lady' is brought gloriously to life in this tale of infatuation,
betrayal and survival.
My
Top Ten Costume Dramas
Katherine
Clements
As soon as I sat down to write this post I
regretted suggesting the subject. How can I pick just ten?! For as long as I
can remember I’ve loved watching anything with period costumes. Escaping into
the past has always been one of my favourite ways to unwind and feeds my
passion for all things historical. Watching history – whether original drama or
literary adaptation – allows me to witness someone else’s version, and someone else’s
vision of history. It’s influenced my writing too. My novels have been
described as ‘cinematic’ and ‘visual’ and I can always see scenes unfolding
before me, exactly as if I were watching onscreen.
There are far too many fantastic examples
to pick only ten, including such recent glories as Wolf Hall, Peaky Blinders
and Ripper Street, so I’ve decided to share some all-time favourites – those
that still make it into the DVD player whenever I need a fix. So, in no
particular order…
Jane
Eyre (BBC TV series, 2006)
There have been many adaptations of this
Brontë classic, with many merits, but this is my favourite. The two leads, Ruth
Wilson and Toby Stephens, bring Jane and Rochester to life with wit, chemistry
and just enough menacing darkness to capture the gothic mood of the book
without sliding into clichéd melodrama.
The
Devil’s Whore (Channel 4 TV series 2008)
This stunning whirlwind tour of the English
Civil War has a special place in my heart. The impressive cast is what puts
this above others – Peter Capaldi’s Charles I is my favorite portrayal ever –
along with dark, gritty production design that suits the story. It’s rich in
depth and detail and, for me, improved on second watching. An entertaining romp
through the complicated politics of the period.
A
Room with a View (Film, 1985)
This is the film that got me hooked on
costume drama and I’ve watched it countless times. The acting is occasionally
questionable, but that doesn’t matter. There’s something spellbinding about
this adaptation of the E.M Forster novel. Twenty years ago I travelled to
Florence, alone and by train, because of this film. I couldn’t afford a room
with a view – that one is still on my bucket list.
Pride
and Prejudice (BBC TV series, 1995)
Because it rightly deserves its place on
just about every ‘best costume drama’ list you’ll find on the Internet. This
classic stands repeated watching and I’ll still go back to it, like an old
comfort blanket. The definitive adaptation.
Sense
and Sensibility (Film, 1995)
1995 was clearly the year for Austen
adaptations. Emma Thompson’s Oscar winning script and star turns from Kate
Winslet, Alan Rickman and others result in a perfectly pitched adaptation. This
one wins when I need cheering up. While the BBC series penned by Andrew Davies
(2008) is also extremely good, and probably more true to the book, this movie version
pips it at the post, but only just.
Brideshead
Revisited (Granada TV series, 1981)
Back in the days when TV producers were
allowed to make long, meandering series this was a huge ratings hit, and
rightly so. With time and space to do justice to Waugh’s languid, sweeping
novel, this is one to get lost in.
North
and South (BBC TV series, 2004)
Brooding Northern mills. Brooding Richard
Armitage. There’s plenty of brooding going on in this adaptation of the Gaskell
classic. A forerunner of more recent ‘it’s grim up North’ series like The
Village and The Mill, this adaptation is notable for understated performances and
strikes a good balance between gritty realism and sentiment.
Bleak
House (BBC TV series, 2005)
Another BBC adaptation and another Andrew
Davies script. I don’t always get on with Dickens but this one is pure class. An
impressive cast makes light work of great dialogue, with memorable performances
from the leads (this is where I fell for Gillian Anderson). And the whole is lifted
further by stunning production design.
Remains
of the Day (Film, 1993)
Another Merchant Ivory classic, based on
the Ishiguro novel, it’s the performances from Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson
that make this. One for melancholy days under the duvet with a mug of something
hot. Pure, heartbreaking quality.
Gosford
Park (Film, 2001)
Before Downton Abbey, there was Gosford
Park. This sumptuous murder mystery has many-layered depths, plenty of heart,
and a clever, dry wit that Downton lacks. And it looks stunning too. Julian
Fellows at his best.
Yesterday on the blog tour: http://thebookmagnet.blogspot.co.uk/
Tomorrow on the blog tour: https://readrantreview.wordpress.com/
the Silvered Heart was released by Headline on 7 May 2015. You can read my review here.
