We are 3 Portuguese girls, you’ll know us through our sigs – Alex, Ana O. and Ana T. – Alex lives in Paris, France while the two Anas live in different cities in Portugal. We got together because we like to read books, lots and lots of books! But soon we discovered there was another passion we share: historical movies and TV series! And like every true addict we want to watch all the movies and mini series out there and chat about them with you afterwards. We’ll be doing group screenings just for that purpose!
If you’re also an addict or maybe someone with even just a little interest, we’d love to hear your opinion! On our At the Movies and TV at Home pages you can see what we’ve been thinking of watching so far. We would also welcome suggestions about other good historical movies and series to chat about or if any of those titles posted is a favourite with you.
Now to kick off the discussion, we’d like to know if there was a particular book you’d like to see turned into a movie or mini-series? Think about something that was never done before! We won’t restrict the theme of the blog to adapted literary works but this first question seemed like a good way to mix our two favourite things!
I’d like to see an adaptation of probably my favourite Arthurian version, The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell.
Seeing Outlander would be nice as well
Oh The Warlord Chronicles would make a terrific mini series if done correctly by someone other than Peter Jackson or he’d focus on the battle moments and miss the point entirely.
Casting for Outlander would be tough! Who would play Jamie?
Oh Outlander is an excellent idea!! I haven’t read The Warlord Chronicles yet but I’ll be sure to put it on my wish list now
Great idea girls!
In some ways I would love to see Outlander, but in other ways I would be scared that they would bugger it up completely!
I am looking forward to Peter jackson’s version of His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik!
Oh my, oh my… Outlander is indeed a great suggestion.
Now, there’s a difficult question, who would play Jamie?!! There’s already a petition online for Gerard Butler: http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/GerardButlerIsJamieFraserInOutlanderSeries/signatures
Well, I cannot say I don’t agree.*sigh*
Marg, I didn’t knew Peter Jackson was adapting His Majesty’s Dragon. Wow! I’m looking forward to this one, since I really liked the book.
What fun! I wonder if The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton was ever made into a film… it’s such a brilliant book.
Sonia,
Yes, there is a movie based on Wharton’s book: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200720/
It’s a very sad but beautiful story with Gillian Anderson and Eric Stoltz. I confess I never read the book (I know, it’s a crime!
) but I really enjoyed the movie.
I found this also, Sonia:
House of Mirth review- http://www.contactmusic.com/new/film.nsf/reviews/houseofmirth
This sounds like a book and a movie I might want to check. Thanks for the tips Sonia and Alex!!
I’ve been thinking about this since yesterday and I finally decided I wanted to see The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger on the screen but I discovered today it’s already done (!!) and it will be released in 2008…
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452694/maindetails
Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana are both good actors so I hope this movie will do justice to the fantastic tale by Niffenegger.
My second choice would be a mini-serie adapted from the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett. Francis Crawford of Lymond is such an irresisitible hero.
I’d like to see Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett in a mini series and maybe Outlander too. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly would make an excellent movie, it has all the right ingredients.
I was going to say I’d like to see an adaptation of ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ but Ana O had the same ideia. It is one of my favourite historical books.
I also liked a lot ‘The Passion of Artemisia’ by Susan Vreeland because I enjoy reading historical books connected with art. I know there is a film about the painter (not based on the book) directed by Agnes Merlet, since 98 but it is historically inaccurate and I never saw it.
Outlander is on my TBR pile… still.
Pillars of the Earth is on my TBR and I agree with you Ana O., The Tea Rose would make a very good movie.
Now, I’m curious about “The Passion of Artemisia” by Vreeland. It’s a book about Artemisia Gentileschi?! I simply have to read that.
Oh! You haven’t read The Passion of Artemisia? You must, it’s beautiful, I liked Girl With a Pearl Earring but I enjoyed this one even more. You’re in luck, I have it! *Snickers*
LOL I am indeed a lucky girl!
Talking about Tracy Chevalier’s books, someone told me a couple months ago that The Lady and The Unicorn was going to be adapted to the cinema. Does anyone know something about it?
Hearing you guys talk so excitedly about historic fiction makes me feel I’m missing something, but I can’t get into it… I never ever liked History at school (except when I had a gorgeous teacher on the 9th grade
) and so books about historical facts just make me sleepy… :s Not only that, it’s most books whose action isn’t in the present time, I really believe it’s prejudice 
Even though I have read some Tracy Chevalier books (and enjoyed Girl with a Pearl Earring), it’s very difficult for me to convince myself to read other authors. I have The Passion of Artemisia to read because Ana O and PA are always praising it, but every time I’m going to read it I finish by choosing another book.
On another subject, I don’t like Gerard Butler! Maybe because the 1st film where I noticed him was Phantom of the Opera and I hated his caracter and the movie (booooooooooooring!)
That english was a bit strange or what?!
Oh how can I have forgotten Pillars of The Earth!! My bad! Not sure who I would want for actors though…
Some of my favourites would definitely be the books Elizabeth Chadwick has written. They are so good!! Very much according to the medieval period but at the same expressing feelings and ideas that are most certainly common to every time in history. Since I know Alex’s favourite I think the first should be The Love Knot
Hi Fantasma, I have it on good authority that you really like Agatha Christie’s books, yes? (So do I btw! ) so how about we decide those are historicals too and talk about them??
Fantasma, I’m always telling you you’ll like Outlander, it’s a mix of history, time travelling and good romance, I know it’s big but it’s oh so good.
I don’t think I ever saw Gerard Butler in a movie before but from his pictures I think he’d make a perfect Jamie.
And Agatha Christie’s books are set in the 20’s, I think, so we can consider them historical. We do have to set a time line here!
AC’s books are set in the 20’s, yes. That’s the 20th Century, so it doesn’t count as historical, it’s not “past past”!
If Outlander wasn’t so huuuuuuuuuge I’d try it… but I already have 150 books in my TBR pile waiting for me
Do I have to mention the size of my TBR pile? You’re just an amateur!
*whistle*……
Hi girls! Just to let you know I’ll be looking for updates, this blog is right up my alley!
The best of luck,
Xana
Welcome Xana!
Welcome Xana! Ana O. just showed us one of your posts about your Jane Austen books. I love your ideia of collecting them in various languages. Since we will obviously talk about Austen’s screen adaptations, I hope to see you around.
I would love to see a miniseries based on Sandra Gulland’s trilogy about Josephine, but Outlander would be awesome too. If James McAvoy were a little taller, I could see him as Jamie.
I never read Sandra Gulland but I’ve been reading good reviews of her books, maybe it’s time to try one
Regarding tall actors… Richard Armitage anyone?? Though I can’t really imagine him as a redhead…
** whistling **
Oh, I just remembered another title, I would love to see a mini series based on Sharon Kay Penman’s The Sunne In Splendour!
(Re: Alex). I would also very much like to see an adaptation to the cinema of the “Lady and the Unicorn” book.
That book is another historical favourite of mine.
The tapestries, from the 16th century, are beautiful and it was a big surprise to me to see them (copies) hanging in the Gryffindor Common Room on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ movie.
The originals are at the The Cluny Museum, in Paris.
Hi PA,
I’m a big fan of The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries as well.
I live not very far from the Cluny Museum so I go there pretty often. The exhibition room is extraordinary, almost magical and oddly it’s never really crowded. Cluny is the perfect museum for all those who like tapestries and old fabrics. The collections are really impressive!
Do you like the Bayeux tapestry as well? I found a very funny video online some time ago:
hello girls and boys.
have not been on in sooo long but its good to be back.
i have a question for you all.
i am currently in my final year of an english major at university and am deciding on my specialisation for my honours thesis.
now i would like to know what anyone thinks of doing a study specifcally on 19th century english literature adaptatons for television but also more specifially fan vid adaptations on youtibe. i am facinated by the reworking of our favouite shows on youtube. now im not sure and need help massivley. any comments are so welcome!
thanks
jaz
Your site is really nice. When I found it I’d never imagined that you’re Portuguese. I’m Brazilian myself.
Congratulations and keep on your good work.
Thank you Valeria!