My Favorite Historical Fiction Shows and Movies
/Historical Fiction has always been my favorite genre for both reading and television/movies. When in doubt, I turn to a good period piece. So, I thought it would be fun to share my list of favorites with you all!
North & South
2004 TV Mini-series
I don’t even remember how I came across North & South, but I’m so glad I did. It has become my favorite, even surpassing Pride & Prejudice! Margaret Hale and John Thornton are both endearing characters and you can’t help but love them each in their own way. It’s totally worth a watch!
Pride & Prejudice
2005 Movie
Keira Knightley captures the character of Elizabeth Bennett so well in this Pride & Prejudice adaptation. She is playful and lively but also intelligent and bold. Matthew MacFadyen is perfection as Mr. Darcy, a bit shy, gentlemanly and proud, and sooo endearing! Together, they bring these characters, and the story to life really well, and the rest of the sisters and Mr. Bingley add to the overall effect. This movie is endlessly re-watchable, in my opinion.
Little Women
2017 TV Mini Series
I love this version of Little Women so very much! Each of the sisters is so well cast! It is beautifully filmed and captures the overall spirit of the book and the characters pretty accurately, in my opinion. I haven’t seen the newest version of Little Women, but it will be hard to top Maya Hawke as Jo, as far as I am concerned! I would highly recommend it if you enjoy the Little Women story.
The Durrells in Corfu
Keeley Hawes is a gem amidst an amazing cast of oddballs in The Durrells in Corfu. The setting is beautiful, the story line is silly and sometimes heartfelt but not overly sweet. It’s full of good laughs and offers a good escape from reality. You can’t help but want to go visit them. The description on PBS captures it so well. (I also loved Keeley Hawes in Upstairs Downstairs!)
Emma
2009 TV Mini Series
Romola Garai captures the character of Emma so perfectly! She is a bit ethereal and spoiled but so lovable, and the mishaps that ensue because of her matchmaking attempts are comical. I really like how the story unfolds between Emma and Mr. Knightley, and Mr. Woodhouse adds an additional layer of absurdity/hilarity. (The 1996 movie adaptation of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow is also worth mentioning.)
The Help
When I read the book, I laughed; I cried; I loved; I hated. The Help movie adaptation is no different. It does a great job of capturing the character’s personalities within the overarching story. It is very well cast, but Bryce Dallas Howard just nails it as Hilly Holbrook, and you can’t help but love Jessica Chastain as Celia Foote.
Call the Midwife
I love the show Call the Midwife, and yet I have to offer a fair warning that it can be so sad! It is beautifully done and so heartfelt and touching, but some of the issues they deal with are challenging and vulnerable and many an episode had me sobbing. So maybe only watch if you have no one to see after or don’t mind having red eyes when they do see you.
And here are a few honorable mentions:
Mansfield Park
1999 Movie
I recently re-watched this version of Mansfield Park, and I was really struck by how well the main character captures Fanny Price as she asserts her heart and her wit in this endearing tale of love.
Sense & Sensibility
2008 TV Mini Series
I watched this adaptation of Sense & Sensibility on a whim and thoroughly enjoyed it! I would like to watch it again sometime soon.
Jane Eyre
2011 movie
I don’t particularly love the story of Jane Eyre, but I think this version of it is well done, and I would watch it again.
So tell me, do you have any favorites from this list, or any you think I should check out?
Opening photo by Peter Lewicki on Unsplash
