The Paradise

I´ve been keenly watching the BBC TV show “The Paradise” (season 1, 9 episodes) based on Emile Zola´s novel Au Bonheur des Dames. The story is set in 1875 and portrays the daily lives of workers in the first English department store. It is not only quite entertaining with its contrasting characters, romantic storyline and the day to day drama of people who work closely together, but also quite interesting. Some recurrent topics include the prospect of local stores fighting to compete with a huge commercial enterprise, women in the workplace and the establishment of shopping as a modern pastime. 

If you miss those classical TV shows as “Pride and Prejudice” and “Persuasion” or enjoy modern tales as “Downton Abbey”, you will find “The Paradise” quite a delight as a period drama with intrigue and fun characters.

I could not have enough of it. When will the next season premiere? November?! Must I wait that long?