Am entertaining drama keeping to the overall theme of Zola's novel.
Episodes tend to focus on different subjects, many not from the novel and sometimes a little trite and often in a soap opera manner.
But the overall trajectory of the series follows the social, political and psychological themes of the novel and the destination of the plot.
A cast of strong actors with Sarah Lancashire shining in her somewhat tragicomic portrayal of Miss Audrey.
Sonya Cassidy and David Hayman both deliver superb supporting performances as the villains of the piece.
I did find Joanna Vanderham's Denise a bit too saccharine and too perfect.
In the novel Denise comes from rural poverty and her character is much less refined and urbanised than the TV series portrays and she is in the novel a rather unkempt and slightly brash country lass.
Maxine Peak would have nailed it.
Personally i think Mathew McNulty as a seasoned British period drama actor would have been better cast as Moray. He is somewhat redundant here as Dudley.
The actors playing the lower shop staff I'm afraid are less convincing and are the elements that bring the soap opera and banal subplots which weaken the production somewhat to the point of irritation.
Overall another well structured, alluring period piece from the BBC.
Read the book though to get the best from this novel which really was based on the world's first department store; The famous Bon Marche in Paris (still trading today in the site of the small shops of the Left Bank that it eventually devoured) an often overlooked tourist and historical landmark.
The novel explores in more detail the huge social changes of the Belle Epoque era. The change in retail and the impact and upheaval on small shops and craft industries by this often overlooked part of the industrial revolution and the shift from Agricultural to urban economies.
We also miss the particular French angle of the evolution of fashion and haute couture which catapulted Paris into the global fashion hub that it is today.
This is something that can't be replicated in northern England where at that time textiles were only manufactured rather than turned into their final products.
They were swiftly moved south to be designed & retailed to the upper classes. The concept of department stores didn't arrive in Northern England until the mid 20th century and large scale retail luxury fashion not untill the 1990's.
Episodes tend to focus on different subjects, many not from the novel and sometimes a little trite and often in a soap opera manner.
But the overall trajectory of the series follows the social, political and psychological themes of the novel and the destination of the plot.
A cast of strong actors with Sarah Lancashire shining in her somewhat tragicomic portrayal of Miss Audrey.
Sonya Cassidy and David Hayman both deliver superb supporting performances as the villains of the piece.
I did find Joanna Vanderham's Denise a bit too saccharine and too perfect.
In the novel Denise comes from rural poverty and her character is much less refined and urbanised than the TV series portrays and she is in the novel a rather unkempt and slightly brash country lass.
Maxine Peak would have nailed it.
Personally i think Mathew McNulty as a seasoned British period drama actor would have been better cast as Moray. He is somewhat redundant here as Dudley.
The actors playing the lower shop staff I'm afraid are less convincing and are the elements that bring the soap opera and banal subplots which weaken the production somewhat to the point of irritation.
Overall another well structured, alluring period piece from the BBC.
Read the book though to get the best from this novel which really was based on the world's first department store; The famous Bon Marche in Paris (still trading today in the site of the small shops of the Left Bank that it eventually devoured) an often overlooked tourist and historical landmark.
The novel explores in more detail the huge social changes of the Belle Epoque era. The change in retail and the impact and upheaval on small shops and craft industries by this often overlooked part of the industrial revolution and the shift from Agricultural to urban economies.
We also miss the particular French angle of the evolution of fashion and haute couture which catapulted Paris into the global fashion hub that it is today.
This is something that can't be replicated in northern England where at that time textiles were only manufactured rather than turned into their final products.
They were swiftly moved south to be designed & retailed to the upper classes. The concept of department stores didn't arrive in Northern England until the mid 20th century and large scale retail luxury fashion not untill the 1990's.