I come by my love of historical dramas honestly.
My pedigree is as follows… a dual citizen of the UK and the US, a mother who adored all things BBC costume drama, and a father who devoured Regency romance novels his entire life (and passed that trait on to me!).
Needless to say, when I need comfort, familiarity, or am particularly missing my parents or England, I turn to ye olde historical drama. 🙂
Here are a few of my very favorites:
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
This one goes without saying as my favorite adaptation, and the one I remember watching again and again with Mum, and still rooting for the happy ending as though it were in doubt every time…
Jane Eyre (2006)
I loooove this adaptation of Jane Eyre with the perfectly cast Ruth Wilson and the delightful Toby Stephens, who so beautifully balances a tortured soul with a man with a twinkle in his eye (and a great laugh).
North & South (2004)
I was already a fan of Richard Armitage before this came out, but this adaptation sparked QUITE the crush on brooding John Thornton (that ending… *swoons*). Though perhaps not as well known as Bronte or Austen, I really love this Gaskell adaptation.
Sense & Sensibility (1995)
I mean… this cast. *swoons* I love the yearning, the gentle humor, broody Colonel Brandon… this is just my favorite of all the S&S adaptations, by far.
I’ve already professed my love for Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, and my other favorite Austen adaptations would be the Mansfield Park with Billie Piper, Northanger Abbey with Felicity Jones, and Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow (my least favorite of all Austens, I’m afraid).
Honorable mentions in the realm of historical dramas are the 2015 adaptation of Poldark (which I haven’t yet finished, and which I’m sure Mum would have loved), the Tudors because I love all things Henry VIII and 2019’s Little Women, though it takes place much later than the above titles. I love them all!
Which historical dramas as your favorites to curl up with again and again, friends?
–Marissa
stubbornsunshine.com 