unchartedimages This mini-series shows none of the richness of these characters, and the pace is all wrong. I realize that there's only so much a TV show can do, but maybe it shouldn't even have been made if it does so little justice to what is an incredible novel.

Sindre Kaspersen British screenwriter, producer and director Marc Munden's fifth television miniseries which was written by English screenwriter and playwright Lucinda Coxon, is an adaptation of a novel from 2002 by Dutch author Michel Faber and a UK-Canada co-production which was produced by producers David M. Thompson, Steve Lightfoot and Greg Dummett. It tells the story about an aspiring writer and inheritor of a family business called Rackham's Perfumery named William Rackham who lives in London with his mentally ill wife named Agnes whom he insists on keeping at home despite being advised by a doctor named Curlew to have her temporarily committed. After telling his father who expects him to manage the company about his future plans his allowance is taken away from him, but then William learns from two friends about a 19-year-old woman named Sugar who lives at a brothel and whom according to her reputation never disappoints.Precisely and engagingly directed by British filmmaker Marc Munden, this finely paced fictional tale which is narrated by the female protagonist, from multiple viewpoints and mostly from her's and the male main character's point of view, draws an intriguing portrayal of a somewhat reluctant heir who becomes so infatuated with an intelligent young prostitute that he makes arrangements with her Madame named Mrs. Castaway so that he can see her exclusively, his relationship with his spouse and the restrained relationship between his brother named Henry whom is becoming a clergyman and a woman who does work for the rescue society named Emmeline. While notable for it's naturalistic and atmospheric milieu depictions, sterling production design by production designer Grant Montgomery, cinematography by cinematographer Lol Crawley, costume design by costume designer Annie Symons, fine make-up by make-up artist Jacqueline Fowler and use of sound and light, this character-driven and narrative-driven story about social injustice, class distinctions, poverty and loss of innocence depicts two contrasting studies of character and contains a great instrumental score by composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer.This literary, romantic, conversational and at times humorous period drama which is set in the capital of England in the mid-19th century during the Victorian Era (1837-1901) and where a woman who in order to survive has spent most of her life pleasing men and who whilst searching for her identity and writing a novel about all the atrocities done by males that she has witnessed and experienced meets and makes a lingering impression on a married and resourceful man who gets her away from a lifestyle she has dreaded for years, is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure, substantial character development, subtle continuity, interrelated stories, colorful characters and involving acting performances by English actress Romola Garai, Irish actor Chris O'Dowd and Scottish actress Shirley Henderson. A heartrending, epic, historic and dramatic mystery.

cjcer After the first time I watched this magnificent period drama, I was totally hooked. I have since watched it 2 more times (in a row), I found it so compelling. The sets, costumes, everything about this is the epitome of classic Vitorian life. I closely formed a bond with Sugar, and felt for the way William treated her. It's a classic of good overcoming bad. I adored it and cannot wait for the DVD! The change made by Sugars love and affection for poor little Sophie was commendable, and the mental illness suffered by Agnes, was so believable as she slowly went out of her mind, and the gentleness shown by Sugar with her was heartfelt. The cast, directer, set producer, period costumer are all at their very best!

markgorman I love Michel Faber's writing and it's a toss up between this and Under The Skin for his greatest work. The two could be no more different; Under the Skin is a taught contemporary sci fi horror set in Scotland and this; an 800 page monstrous take on Dickensian Victorian London.Both are really great books and consequently both run the risk of taking a good pasting when put on screen.There has been many year's of talk that TCPATW would be Hollywood-made and for a while rumour had it that Kirsten Dunst was to be the heroine, Sugar. However it fell eventually to the BBC to make this near epic adaptation. I say near epic because big and bold as it was I think it had even greater potential.The previews did not make great reading; the panel on Newsnight Review, with the honourable exception of Maureen Lipman, annihilated it so I approached fearing the worst.I needn't have worried.The, at times, over tricksy focus pulling in the camera work was a bit heavy handed but this was overcome on balance because otherwise it was excellent (moody, creepy, almost surreal in places and beautifully emphasised by a particularly odd (in a good way) score written by newcomer CristobalTapai de Veer).The set and costumes are astounding and the acting of the entire cast, but Particularly Chris O'Dowd (the IT team) and Romola Garai were of BAFTA winning standards, and had to be to pull it off.In particular O'Dowd's tortured portrayal of sappy rich boy William Rackham is magnificent. It's as if he can't decide how to play the role, but that's just how Faber wrote it. In the end he comes across as merely a weak sap who is only in it for himself. Perhaps he cannot help it as we frequently see when he is led astray by his particularly vulgar "friends".Romola Garai, by contrast, is nailed to the tracks in the conviction of her character, as the upwardly mobile Sugar; pulling herself out of the stench thanks to the interest of Rackham who gradually exalts her social profile in a London where status was everything (and boy did she have status in the underworld, starting off as the top prostitute in London). Her gritty but sometimes tender performance is the beating heart of the book and this ultimately excellent adaptation.It's still on iplayer but I'd wait for the DVD and splash out.For me it would play out better as an epic four hour movie rather than a four part TV series.Wonderful. Bring on the BAFTAs. (And the Emmys).