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New York Times
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Craving More of ‘The Gilded Age'? Read These Books Next.
Colorful, dramatic and completely addictive, HBO's 'The Gilded Age' is the most delicious kind of summer escapism — a period drama filled with fabulous costumes and even more fabulous plot twists. Set in 1890s New York, the series, which just wrapped an action-packed third season, follows a varied cast of upstairs and downstairs characters. They include real-life people — the Astors, J.P. Morgan, Ward McAllister, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper — as well as composites and complete inventions, all of whom are meeting a changing world with varying degrees of trepidation, excitement and alarm. This being a Julian Fellowes production, half the fun of 'The Gilded Age' is its blend of prestige and soapy eventfulness. Characters marry and die with shocking suddenness, fortunes are won and lost in two-episode arcs, fruit carts come crashing out of nowhere and villains reappear periodically to wreak anachronistic havoc. All of this is woven together with real historical details and enough ruffles to bustle the Brooklyn Bridge. HBO has renewed the series for a fourth season, but it could be a bit of a wait before it airs. Here are 10 books to tide you over, whether you find yourself missing the Russells' machinations, Peggy's burgeoning literary career, the power struggles of the aunts van Rhijn or all those sumptuous balls. FICTION The American Heiress When the wealthy young American Cora Cash travels to England, she has just one goal in mind: bagging a duke who will trade his noble name for a much-needed infusion of cash. But Goodwin's propulsive novel doesn't go in for happy-ever-afters. What happens when you find yourself among strangers with a completely different set of values and expectations — and a husband you barely know? (Gladys Russell might have a few pointers.) Luckily, Cora is resilient and creative. Read our review. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Guardian
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
TV tonight: Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski star in The Gilded Age
9pm, Sky AtlanticJulian Fellowes's New York-set costume drama continues to underwhelm in its third series. Somehow, it's never quite racy or absorbing enough to excuse its lack of literary weight, plus some of the dialogue feels like a parody of period potboiler tropes. Ada (Cynthia Nixon) has become heavily involved in the temperance movement – which isn't suiting Agnes (Christine Baranski) at all. Elsewhere, George's railroad plan is in danger of hitting the buffers. Phil Harrison 7pm, BBC ThreePrepare for 00s nostalgia at its finest with this throwback batch of episodes documenting the birthday parties of some super-rich US teens of 2007. First up, there's fashion-lover Amberly's gloriously OTT runway-themed bash, before a young, pre-music and acting fame Teyana Taylor plans an 80s old-school skateboard party to remember. Nicole Vassell 9pm, BBC TwoA domestic dispute has left a mother and daughter with serious stab wounds, but Worcester police are entering a volatile situation. There are children in the house, tempers are running high and the woman's partner claims to have acted in self-defence. PH 9pm, ITV1An uncompromising lawyer, his cocky assistant and their impatient boss: the regular template for many a crime drama. This one just happens to be set in Tudor times. Shardlake faces mounting pressure from pushy John Barak to rush the case after Goodhap mysteriously vanishes. But he's determined to uncover the truth. Ali Catterall Sign up to The Guide Get our weekly pop culture email, free in your inbox every Friday after newsletter promotion 9pm, Channel 4The death in 1979 of the British nurse Helen Smith at an expat party in Saudi Arabia had wide-ranging ramifications that are explored in this documentary. Smith's apparent fall from a balcony was ruled an accident but was she murdered? And, with Margaret Thatcher's government fixated on oil deals with the Saudis, did the British authorities turn a blind eye? PH 10pm, BBC TwoThe BBC warms up for Glastonbury by offering highlights of the festival through the decades. We begin in the 70s, when Glastonbury was a very different, somewhat wilder affair. Expect appearances from future holders of the Sunday legends slot including Dolly Parton, Al Green, ELO and Barry Gibb. PH
