‘The Gilded Age,’ created by Julian Fellowes (‘Downton Abbey,’) is a historical drama series set in late-nineteenth-century New York.
It follows Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) as she moves to New York to reside with her aunts Agnes (Christine Baranski) and Ada (Cynthia Nixon) and experiences firsthand the struggle for power and influence in society between old and new money.
She also develops a strong bond with the Russell family.
Its patriarch, George (Morgan Spector), has made a vast fortune in the railroad company and is thus viewed as an upstart by his critics.
Bertha (Carrie Coon), his wife, is just as vicious and ambitious as he is, and she wants to bring about drastic changes in polite society.
HBO drama ‘The Gilded Age,’ like ‘Downton Abbey,’ is profoundly rooted in its setting. It glorifies the past while also portraying the hypocrisy and flaws of its protagonists, as well as the social evils of the time.
This is all you need to know if the settings, clothes, dialogues, and characterizations leave you wondering if ‘The Gilded Age‘ is based on historical events.
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Is There a True Story Behind ‘The Gilded Age’ Series?
‘The Gilded Age,’ however, is NOT based on the true story. Fellowes and Sonja Warfield wrote the storey, which is mostly imaginary.
However, some of the show’s characters are historical persons. Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner invented the term “gilded era” in their 1873 novel “The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.”
Following the Civil War’s conclusion, the Americans looked for a golden age to follow such massive violence.
Instead, the country was beset by a slew of social and political problems that were overshadowed by the country’s fast economic growth and technological advancements.
The economy and technology appeared to be thin gold gilding the difficulties that plague modern life.
Later historians, philosophers, and reviewers almost generally agreed on the statement and its meaning.
The metaphor is now mostly used to describe the period from the 1870s to roughly 1900. Because of the flood of riches, the Gilded Age brought about significant changes in American culture.
.@HBO drama series The Gilded Age, from creator Julian Fellowes, debuts Monday, January 24 at 9PM ET on @HBO and will be available to stream on @HBOMax: https://t.co/pcn5LYrXe5 pic.twitter.com/s4OaEqUPKD
— HBO PR (@HBOPR) November 18, 2021
Millions of Europeans crossed the Atlantic as a result of increasing industrialization, resulting in widespread urbanisation and the creation of a new class of rich individuals.
In an interview, Fellowes noted, “What happened after the Civil War was how these great fortunes arose out of it.” “You saw these huge railway fortunes, maritime fortunes, copper fortunes, coal fortunes.”
These incredibly wealthy individuals descended to New York, where they discovered a nicely settled indigenous upper class founded on Scottish and English families who had arrived 200 or 300 years ago.”
“However, they were more humble,” the creator continued. They were residing in houses that were not particularly large in Washington Square.
They led respectable lives, which was the norm in New York at the time. That wasn’t enough for the newcomers, however.
They desired to accomplish something larger and more significant. They began construction on these palaces on 5th Avenue and subsequently moved north.
So you have these huge rivalries between the new and old families.”
In ‘The Gilded Age,’ George and Bertha represent new money, while Agnes represents old money.
Alva and William K. Vanderbilt have some similarities to the Russells. William, like George, worked in the railway industry, and Alva possessed the same tenacious energy as Bertha.
Furthermore, the tale includes Caroline “Lina” Schermerhorn Astor (Donna Murphy) or Mrs. Astor, possibly the most prominent socialite of the time, as well as her partner-in-crime, Ward McAllister (Nathan Lane).
They acted as the gatekeepers of New York’s sophisticated society as a pair.
The creators of “The Gilded Age” wanted to represent every facet of modern civilization. One of the series’ characters is Clara Barton (Linda Emond), a nurse and the creator of the American Red Cross, as well as Mrs. Astor’s notably attractive daughter, Caroline (Amy Forsyth).
In ‘The Gilded Age,’ Marian’s companion and confidante Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) is mentored by renowned Civil Rights advocate and journalist T. Thomas Fortune (Sullivan Jones).
They sought to build a drama with a strong actual base, according to Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar, who was involved with the first season’s production as an executive producer and historical consultant.
“While The Gilded Age is a fictional drama, it’s critical that the storytelling be grounded in reality,” she remarked. “We want viewers to experience and see a landscape from the past that is believable and accurate,” says the director.
#TheGildedAge premieres on HBO Max on January 24. pic.twitter.com/KYQ0U077B0
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) January 10, 2022
“The drama takes place in late nineteenth-century America as the country transitions into the modern period,” Dunbar continued.
‘The Gilded Age‘ is clearly intertwined with its setting. So it’s understandable if someone thinks it’s based on true events despite the fact that it isn’t.
We want viewers to be able to enjoy and marvel at that moment’s accomplishments while also understanding the very real challenges that many Americans faced.”
