‘Classic literature!’ says Hollywood

While adapting books into television shows and films have been a thing of the past, the year 2019 made a distinction with respect to which were the novels that piqued the interest of filmmakers. It is particularly fascinating that Victorian and prewar American literature found many takers in the world of cinema. From America, Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women managed to board an ensemble cast — Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet and Meryl Streep were cast in the film about the lives of March four sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy that encapsulated their lives, from childhood to womanhood. George Clooney’s much talked about television adaptation of Joseph Heller’s landmark novel, Catch-22, was released this year to much acclaim.

Heller’s nove credited for propelling dark satire as a genre to worldwide popularity. Steven Knight’s infatuation with Victorian era seems to grow day by day as he adapted Charles Dickens’ haunting work of prose, A Christmas Carol, which was made into a TV show starring Tom Hardy and Andy Serkis.