Does anyone have any suggestions for anything similar? British period pieces other than the obvious Austen/Bronte/Cranford/Downton Abbey, etc.? I can't remember how I even stumbled upon Lark Rise to Candleford but was glad I did, so I wonder what else may be out there? Keeping in mind that BBC series usually don't make it to America, maybe there are other shows over there for us Anglophile period piece addicts?
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Well in America we had a couple of shows in the 90s- one was Christy- I think there was only 2 seasons but there were also a couple of follow up movies. The other was Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. They are both super wholesome and have that small community feel. And Canada did Anne of Green Gables and two continuing stories as well as a show called Wind at my Back by the same producers (and that show is currently being played on the BYU channel).
For British mini-series there was North and South a few years ago with Richard Armitage and War and Peace with Clemence Posey. Little Dorrit was done recently by the BBC. I really enjoyed Aristocrats done by the BBC and The Regency House Party as a reality show was great! The Buccaneers was a great mini series in the 90s and so was Middlemarch. I also liked Wives and Daughters.
www.freewebs.com/regencylady
Loved Lark Rise and when first started watching it, it reminded me of a slightly more sophisticated version of the series, "Avonlea" which ran for many seasons. It has the same *feeling* about it, even though it's Canadian. However it focuses more on the children rather than the adults but there are many similarities in character development and story lines. Also great to see Sarah Polley as a young child who matures over the series. I found this on Netflix and has approx. 8 seasons.
shareAvonlea was the first thing I thought of watching this although it's a bit more adult oriented as you point out. Still, Avonlea is and remains one of my favorite series of all time. I am only now halfway through series one of LRTC so time will tell if it will become a favorite.
"Nothing is more ill bred than trying to steal the affections of someone else's dog."
I always recommend The Forsyte Saga, that's a fab one. Then there's Hornblower if you're into the seafaring/age of sail stuff - that's a classic series as well. And I also really enjoyed Bleak House (if you're into Dickens stuff)... and more recently I've been enjoying Little Dorrit. Also, if you haven't ever seen the oldie-but-a-goodie Upstairs Downstairs, well, that's pretty much a must-see classic of course.
You can't really go wrong with any of the above. All truly well-made and interesting series; definitely count them all amongst my favourites.
French existential absurdist tragi-comedy rocks! G.Rush
I think it was kind of mentioned, and while it's not British, "Road to Avonlea" a Canadian series is probably the closest series I've seen to "Lark Rise."
Other recommendations (not that they're similar per se to this show, but good, period pieces - for the most part British); I'll try to leave out the Austen and Bronte ones:
The Way We Live Now
He Knew He Was Right
North and South (already mentioned but really, really good)
Wives and Daughters
Little Dorrit
Middlemarch
Daniel Deronda
Amazing Grace
Mary Bryant (actually an Australian film I think)
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (I know it's a Bronte, but it's not as well known)
Nicholas Nickleby (with Charlie Hunnam)
Our Mutual Friend
The Winslow Boy
Bleak House
Martin Chuzzlewit
The House of Mirth
Onegin
Under the Greenwood Tree (not my personal favorite, but a lot of people like it!)
Tess of the Durberville's: I recommend the one with Justine Waddell
The Remains of the Day
The Woman in White (though nothing like the book!)
Sweet Land (a really lovely indie, period romance, not British though)
Room with a View (Helena Bonham Carter version)
I Capture the Castle
Great Expectations (Ioan Gruffudd)
The Abduction Club
Tale of Two Cities (1935)
Gosford Park
The Importance of Being Earnest
Washington Square
The Mill on the Floss
David Copperfield (there's a few different ones)
Lorna Doone
Possession
Well anyway, those are some. There's a lot more good ones of course!
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Most of these programs I'm recommending can be found in the library: Poldark, one of my alltime favorites, The Duchess of Duke Street Parts I and II, great story but a little heartbraking; The Pallisers ... great story line; the first, and by far the best, Forsyte Saga but it's black and white; and I simply can't say enugh about Upstairs, Downstairs. Hope this helps.
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^ Oh gosh, I'd completely forgotten about Lillies! I used to watch it every week and assumed it would come back for a second outing, but alas... what a shame. Thanks for reminding me, I definitely need to go back and give it another watch - you're right, it was grand! 'Tis a real pity they didn't continue with it.
French existential absurdist tragi-comedy rocks! G.Rush
I love that series! It's available from Acorn DVD.
shareI will give a third recommendation for North & South. It's excellent in every way, and one of my all time favorites. Just make sure it's the British mini-series with Richard Armitage, and NOT the American Civil War drama of the same name. It's one I can watch over and over again, and I have!
shareI LOVE that mini-series, it really surpassed P&P for me when I thought nothing could. Love the acting.
shareI know it's not British but how about Road to Avonlea? It's a period piece and is similar in terms of lessons learned in the episodes, with focuses on different people in the community.
North & South
Little Dorrit
Wives & Daughters
The Way We Were
Daniel Deronda
Sense & Sensibility 2008
Persuasion
Bleak House
BERKELEY SQUARE - Great Victorian/Edwardian series about 3 nannies in London's fashionable neighborhood
BRAMWELL - Deals with a woman doctor in Victorian London, who is denied entry to work in the hospital and starts an infirmary to help the poor.