Favorite Television Productions Set in the 1860s

Below is a list of my favorite television productions set in the 1860s:



FAVORITE TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS SET IN THE 1860s



1. "Mercy Street" (2016-2017) - This PBS series is an American period drama set during the Civil War that follows two volunteer nurses from opposing sides and the people in their lives, who work at the Mansion House Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. Created by Lisa Wolfinger and David Zabel, the series starred Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Hannah James and Josh Radnor.





2. "Our Mutual Friend" (1998) - Sandy Welch adapted this television version of Charles Dickens' 1864-1865 novel about the impact of money upon the social classes in mid-Victorian Britain. Directed by Julian Farino, the four-part miniseries starred Paul McGann, Steven Mackintosh, Anna Friel and Keeley Hawes.





3. "Far From the Madding Crowd" (1998) - Paloma Baeza and Nathaniel Parker starred in this television adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel about a young farm owner torn between three men. Directed by Nicholas Renton, Jonathan Firth and Nigel Terry co-starred.





4. "Little Women" (2017) - Heidi Thomas adapted this television version of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel about four sisters from an impoverished, yet genteel New England family. The three-part miniseries starred Maya Hawke, Willa Fitzgerald, Kathryn Newton, Annes Elwy and Jonah Hauer-King.





5. "The Blue and the Gray" (1982) - This three-part CBS miniseries focused on the experiences of two families linked by two sisters - the Geysers of Virginia and the Hales of Pennsylvania - during the U.S. Civil War. John Hammond and Stacy Keach starred.





6. "Copper" (2012-2013) - Tom Fontana created this series about the experiences of an Irish immigrant as a New York City detective and the people in his circle during the last year of the U.S. Civil War. Tom Weston-Jones, Ato Essandoh and Kyle Schmid starred.





7. "He Knew He Was Right" (2004) - Andrew Davies adapted this television version of Anthony Trollope's 1869 novel about a failed marriage and its impact upon other relationships in mid-Victorian Britain. Directed by Tom Vaughan, the four-part miniseries starred Oliver Dimsdale and Laura Fraser.





8. "Heaven and Hell: North and South Book 3" (1994) - Larry Peerce directed this television adaptation of John Jakes' 1987 novel, "Heaven and Hell", the third one in his North and South literary series. James Read, Lesley-Anne Down and Kyle Chandler starred in this three-part miniserise.





9. "North and South: Book 2" (1986) - Kevin O'Connor directed this television adaptation of John Jakes' 1984 novel, "Love and War", the second one in his North and South literary series. James Read and Patrick Swayze starred in this six-part miniseries.





10. "The Young Riders" (1989-1992) - Ed Spielman created this American Western about a group of Pony Express riders operating in the Nebraska Territory between early 1860 and late 1861. Ty Miller, Josh Brolin, Stephen Baldwin and Anthony Zerbe starred.