Adaptations Done Right: 10 Series Faithful to Their Book Origins

1. "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell"

"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" takes you on a carriage ride through 19th-century England. With a landscape bathed in mist and mystery, the show delves into the reemergence of magic. The elder Mr. Norrell is hell-bent on making magic respectable again, like a knight restoring the honor to his house. Enter Jonathan Strange, the newbie on the magical block. Daring, inventive, and brash, the dude contrasts Norrell in every way. Together? They become a force majeur. But, and, of course, there's always a but: the Raven King looms in the background like a thundercloud on a sunny day.

2. "Poldark"

Ever felt like escaping to the windswept cliffs of Cornwall? Well, hop on, because "Poldark" will take you there, no passport needed. Ross Poldark, our central gent, returns from the Revolutionary War to find his estate in shambles, his love engaged to another. Talk about a homecoming gone wrong! You know what he does? Rolls up his sleeves, mines for copper, and fights for social justice. Yes, the chap's a revolutionary in breeches. Tensions brew faster than a pot of English tea, with familial rivalries, class struggles, and a love triangle—or is it a square? You get the point. Winston Graham would be proud of how faithful the series is.

3. "The Terror"

In this gut-wrenching tale of survival, two British naval ships, the Erebus and the Terror, set sail to discover the Northwest Passage. Sounds like an adventure, right? Except they get trapped in the Arctic ice. The show isn't just man against nature; it's man against the supernatural. Enter the Tuunbaq, a creature as relentless as winter itself. Desperation kicks in, mutiny brews, and let's just say, not everyone's getting a hero's welcome home. Dan Simmons would be chuffed to see how the series maintains the tension. The cold isn't the only thing that'll give you shivers here.

4. "Outlander "

Time travel, Scottish clans, and romance—what more could you ask for? Claire Randall, a nurse from 1945, is hurled back to 1743 Scotland through some mysterious, ancient stones. There she meets Jamie, the Highlander of everyone's dreams. What unfolds is a timeline-spanning love story. But ah, let's not forget the historical aspects. From the Jacobite risings to American Revolution, history gets a front-row seat. Diana Gabaldon's lengthy books are condensed, sure, but the essence? Brilliantly captured.

5. "Wolf Hall"

A meticulously crafted tale, dear readers, one that takes you deep into the political snake pit of Henry VIII's court. The focus? Thomas Cromwell, a man as cunning as a fox in the royal henhouse. He rises from a blacksmith's son to the King's closest advisor. Off with Anne Boleyn's head? Sure thing, your Majesty. The series, you see, is a spitting image of Hilary Mantel's words, as if they've been plucked from the pages and stitched into the fabric of the show.

6. "Bosch"

Welcome to the world of Detective Harry Bosch. A veteran homicide cop in LA, Bosch digs deep into cases that others have long given up on. Murder, terrorism, corruption—pick your poison. Bosch takes them on, unflinching, like a bull charging at a red flag. Michael Connelly's thrillers find a fitting home on screen.

7. "American Gods"

Now, imagine you're leafing through a collection of myths, legends, and modern realities—because that's what "American Gods" feels like. Shadow Moon, our protagonist, entangles himself with Mr. Wednesday, an incarnation of Odin. The series is a highway road trip through American culture and ancient deities. Neil Gaiman 's sprawling narrative is respected, every twist and deity translated with a Midas touch.

8. "The Expanse"

Space: the final frontier. But this isn't your grandpa's sci-fi tale. "The Expanse" is more like a chess game on a galactic scale, with Earth, Mars, and the Asteroid Belt as the board. Based on James S.A. Corey's novels, the show grips you tighter than gravity. Political machinations, military skirmishes, and the looming threat of an alien protomolecule—yeah, you heard it right—make this one a hell of a ride.

9. "Anne with an E"

Avonlea's very own firecracker, Anne Shirley, is the girl who turns every calamity into an adventure. Orphaned, imaginative, and spunky, she's a force of nature in her own right. Adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved series, the show captures Anne's escapades and growing pains like the perfect snapshot of adolescence. It's as if Green Gables itself whispered its secrets into the filmmakers' ears.

10. "The Handmaid's Tale"

Atwood's grim vision of a theocratic America, named Gilead, has been painted with vivid and uncomfortable accuracy. Offred, a handmaid, struggles through a life of servitude, bearing children for the ruling class. Resistance, forbidden love, and political espionage make for an intoxicating cocktail. It captures the terrifying essence of the novel without wavering, much like Offred's silent but resilient defiance.