Andrew Davies quite incredibly has turned this most indigestible of all Dicken's novels into a tour de force of dramatic impetus, fine characterisation and a real sense of menace and intrigue. The most indigestible novel in the English language is The Cathedral by Hugh Walpole.
The "problem" with Dicken's is always the number of characters, the need he has for stereotypes and personality definition above this stereotype. Sometimes you can hear Dicken's talking to the reader directly and can make the characters very similar.
Mr Davies rises above these "traps" that would lessen this dramatisation.
Where to even comment about the acting just incredible. Tulkinghorn was evil incarnate, Lady Deadlock was a masterful expression of suppressed emotion. If I was handing out Oscars this would win the lot.
I am aghast how unpopular Dicken's is these days and we must all promote perhaps our greatest author to give him the global exposure of his thoughts on the human condition.
The "problem" with Dicken's is always the number of characters, the need he has for stereotypes and personality definition above this stereotype. Sometimes you can hear Dicken's talking to the reader directly and can make the characters very similar.
Mr Davies rises above these "traps" that would lessen this dramatisation.
Where to even comment about the acting just incredible. Tulkinghorn was evil incarnate, Lady Deadlock was a masterful expression of suppressed emotion. If I was handing out Oscars this would win the lot.
I am aghast how unpopular Dicken's is these days and we must all promote perhaps our greatest author to give him the global exposure of his thoughts on the human condition.