A Very British Romance
We have a new series coming up for you on the history of romantic fiction – A Very British Romance is starting on Thursday October 8th, 9pm on BBC Four.
What could be more natural than romance, finding the perfect partner and falling in love? In fact every ingredient in this scenario, so beloved of romantics everywhere, had to be invented. In this three-part series Lucy Worsley will delve into the history of romance to uncover the forces shaping our very British happily ever after. The series will reveal how even our most intimate thoughts and feelings have been affected by social, political and cultural ideas.In this first episode, Lucy Worsley’s exploration of three centuries of love’s rituals begins in the Georgian age, when the rules of courtship were being rewritten. Traditionally marriage had been as much about business as love. Lucy examines how women in the 18th century started to have an unprecedented degree of romantic freedom, partly due to the cult of ‘sensibility’ – a fashionable vogue for more emotionally-heightened living.
Lucy will then explore the glamorisation of romantic love that followed the emergence of the romantic novel in the 18th century. Lucy will consider whether the work of Samuel Richardson, Fanny Burney and Jane Austen, as well as providing escapism, provoked readers to seek out in their own lives the feelings and emotions they found in the novels – so having a profound effect on the desires and aspirations of the entire age.
Sounds like great fun. I love learning how people lived. Your outfit is fabulous!
Stunning it’s now my desktop
I always enjoy your programs and this first episode was no exception! Can’t wait until next week 😀
And yes, I noticed the Barbara Cartland look – bright pink dress and lots of pearls in various sizes and the big wig (with pearls!) 🙂
I loved the show and your beautiful coats! Where did you get them?
Loving your work via web sourses like youtube, amazon, netflix etc. when will this air in the US?
Im a huge fan and my recent trip to Scotland and England were much enhanced after wartching your programs!
Absolutely loved the first episode, I’m an avid student of Jane Austen and the Georgians and always enjoy your presenting.
Absolutely fabulous programmmes so far but where was the 19th centuries greatest love story Wuthering Hieghts which set a marker for all to aspire to. Also why no Hardy the home of wronged woman and unrequited love!
Spellbinding and memorable. Keep up the good work. Look forward to future magical programs from you.
What a triumph your series is! Surely this is one show that ONLY Lucy Worsley could have written? Thank you.
Dave
Lucy, you are the best!
Loved this series, has inspired me to re-read all my favourites and a couple of new ones beside! (Had never heard of Evelina before, but having read it can see very clearly how it was a pre-cursor to my favourite Austen!) Thank you Lucy for such a fab series, and I hope to see more from you soon!
I really enjoyed your latest series. Well researched and delivered with enthusiasm. So watchable. Where are your next ‘live’ talks please?
I loved the series and found it fascinating, but was surprised that you did not mention John Galsworthy’s “The Forsyte Saga”. The BBC’s dramatisation in the 1960’s was the first big TV hit for a classic novel, provoking a huge amount of media discussion at the time. In addition, John Galsworthy’s Forsyte novels deliberately attacked Victorian attitudes of matrimony and morality.
Hi,
Ssorry – but am I the only one who did not enjoy ‘A Very British Romance’? I thought that it wasn’t just, sort of right for you. Everything else you have done that I have seen I enjoyed but not this. I suppose you cannot please everyone all the time. Never mind looking forward to the next thing you do.
all the very best
john