Endless british sagas produced as novels

I thought I would revive an old thread here, originally posted on Book Talk. I really enjoy those long series, which really are like one endless novel that the British seem to specialize in. Notable examples The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell, Alms for Oblivion followed by The First Born of Egypt by Simon Raven, the Masters and Brothers series by C.P. Snow, the Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard and Scenes from Provincial Life, Metropolitan Life, Married Life and Later Life by Robert Cooper. In the same vein I like the Raj Quartet by Paul Scott and sneaking over to Canada The Deptford Trilogy, Salterton Trilogy and The Cornish Trilogy byRobertson Davies.

Any one share this taste? What are your favorites?

Elizabeth Jane Howard's Cazalet books are some of my all-time favourites, and I really liked The Deptford Trilogy as well. I don't know much about the Robert Cooper books you mentioned, though. Can you tell me a little more?

I absolutely love the God is an Englishman series by R.F. Delderfield!!

#3

I couldn't resist re-reading those after entering them on LT. :-) My paperback of Give Us this Day came apart in the process. :-(

Some fun long series sets are the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell,
the Poldark series by Winston Graham,
the Smiley spy stories of john Le Carre,
the Adam Dagliesh mysteries of P.D. James,
the inspector Applebey stories of Michael Innes= J.I.M.Stewart,
the Inspector Lynley stories of Elizabeth George
and the Lord Peter Wimsey stories of Dorothy L. Sayers.
These were all filmed except the Applebey stories as far as I know.
Or should the mysteries be on a different thread? How about comedies like the Lucia stories of Benson? or Miss Marple? or Hercule Poirot?

The Robertson Davies trilogies would be brilliant for Canadian TV, the British Commonwealth, and the US. What a wonderful idea!

I just saw that a television mini-series was done in Britain of A Dance to the Music of Time and it is coming out on video in the U.S. Has anyone seen it and can offer opinions as to whether it is worthwhile?

#6
I would love to see Robertson Davies on tv. The first book of his I read was The Rebel Angels in the Cornish trilogy.

I first saw the tv version of Paul Scott's The Jewel in the crown on Canadian TV when I lived in Detroit (Windsor TV). This is laid in India, but written by an Englishman. This is both a book series (quartet) and a television series (14 episodes), in which I enjoyed both immensely.

I think Ken Follett is coming out with a sequel to his, Pillars of the Earth, this fall.

Note, message 8 was pre-edited version of 9, which would not show on my screen until I did #9.

>7 quartzite:

It was rather a long time ago (1997, apparently), so I don't remember the details, but I did make the effort to watch all the way through, so it obviously wasn't seriously bad.
Channel Four did it, as these things usually are done, very professionally, with lots of Great British Actors and lashings of Period Details. Obviously, it was extremely condensed - four film-length episodes, covering three novels each - and they played around with the structure a bit to give certain thematic links more prominence than they have in the books. A lot of good bits in the books got cut. I found a fairly detailed review at http://www.anthonypowell.org.uk/dance/dancetv.htm .
Hugh Whitemore did the TV adaptation - it's a pity they didn't get Simon Raven to do it, really - that would have been a fascinating combination...

Thanks for the input and the link. I agree the thought of Raven with that material is intriguing.

vesuvian, ANYTHING Robertson Davies is perfect! I read the Cornish Trilogy many years ago and it definitely deserves a re-read.
I think Andrew Davies would be the perfect writer to bring him to film!

I saw Mr. Davies at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario and JUST missed the opportunity to meet him as he crossed the lobby. I was terribly sad when he passed on.

Quartzite, what an interesting thread! Growing up, I loved family sagas and long-running tales, but none of these were among what I read. Now, I fear my attention wanders, though probably less where one has discrete chapters, in the individual novels, than when a stand-alone book simply runs 500-1000 pages long. I'll have to mull over when and which one, but the continuity of a series running alongside my normal reading is very appealing. And the Anglo connection can only help!

Like miss_read, I'd like to hear more about Robert Cooper. The touchstone didn't - at least when I tried it - appear to bring up the proper person.

Aha! My mistake it is William Cooper-- I think the orginal mistake was made when the wrong name came up with a touchstone for one his titles. The books are thinly diguised parallels of his own life, and a close friend frequently mentioned was actually the writer C.P. Snow.

Ah, thank you! That's helpful. From what you've said, and their tag clouds, they sound appealing.

Having, on Quartzite's recommendation in another thread, read and enjoyed Scenes from Provincial Life, I searched many bookshops for the other William Coopers without success. Seeing him mentioned here has pushed me to order Scenes from Metropolitan Life and Scenes from Later Life from Harvest Books. Looking now for Scenes from Married Life.

Touchstones not loading.

Vesuvian, I'm pretty sure there was a film version of the Robertson Davies Deptford Trilogy, at least the first book, "Fifth Business".

Yes, Quartzite, I love series too. There's a recent British mystery series with someone named Monk I've lost touch with...must try to pick it up again. I'll bet Almigwin knows it!

>17 tiffin:

Anne Perry writes a mystery series with a detective by the name of William Monk. She also writes another Victorian mystery series with Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.

Thank you! Yes, I've read the Charlotte Pitt ones too. Again, thanks, SQ.

Tiffin, I doubt the Monk you are watching is the Anne Perry's one (unless it takes place in Victorian times). If it is, please let me know, as I have read all the books (in the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series too) and love them!

Sorry, aluva, that was confusing...I have only read that series, not watched a series about it. I was flipping back to the original thread concept without telling anyone I was doing so!

Today, my husband bought me the first two books in the Forsyte Saga. Well, strictly speaking its the first four installments because the two 'interlude' novels are included along with The Man of Property and In Chancery. These paperbacks are gorgeous new Headline editions with very pretty covers.

Ohhh, my favorite british saga!!! Enjoy! :)

I second Marise... I love The Forsyte Saga!!!!

I'm happy to report that I have finally started The Forsyte Saga this week! My copy of The Man of Property includes a full family tree of the clan, for which I am eternally grateful. There is no way I could possibly keep up with who's who without it!