10 Best TV Adaptations of Classic Books

Since the beginning of television, stories from books have always been a popular source for TV shows and movies. Recently, we’ve seen even more books turned into shows, with new novels like Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry and Sally Rooney’s Normal People becoming hugely successful on screen. Some adaptations, like Bridgerton (based on the books by Julia Quinn), take more liberties with the original stories and add their own creative twists.

When people discuss books that would make good TV shows, it’s usually a smart move to consider older titles. While great books are written in every era, the ones we still talk about today are often quite old – decades, or even centuries. It’s no surprise, then, that many of the best TV shows are based on classic literature.

Pride and Prejudice

Based On Jane Austen’s 1813 novel

Jane Austen is a highly respected author, and her novel Pride and Prejudice is her most famous work. The story centers on Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, who initially seem completely different but ultimately fall in love. Although there have been many versions of Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 television miniseries is considered exceptional.

Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth perfectly embody Elizabeth and Darcy in the BBC miniseries, bringing the characters to life as if they stepped right out of the novel. Their strong connection makes the audience eager for them to fall in love, even before they recognize their feelings for each other. While some adaptations of Pride and Prejudice prioritize entertainment over staying true to the source material, the 1995 miniseries is both a faithful and compelling version of the story.

The Fall of the House of Usher

Based On The Works Of Edgar Allan Poe

Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher appeared at first to be a simple retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic 1839 story. However, it soon became clear that the series was a clever blend of nearly all of Poe’s work – including his famous poems, short stories, his one novel, and even an unfinished play he wrote in 1835.

While The Fall of the House of Usher includes subtle connections to other stories, the most impressive part of this adaptation is its overall plot. Creator Mike Flanagan skillfully wove together elements from nearly all of Edgar Allan Poe’s works, treating each famous story as a piece of a larger, dreamlike puzzle.

Middlemarch

Based On Mary Ann Evans AKA George Eliot’s 1871 Novel

Mary Ann Evans was a remarkably talented writer, but because of the social norms of her time, she had to publish under a pen name to be accepted. That’s why her famous novels, including Middlemarch, are known under the name George Eliot. Published in 1871, Middlemarch expertly examines the changes happening in 19th-century England, telling the story through the eyes of many different characters.

In 1994, the BBC created a compelling TV adaptation of Middlemarch. The miniseries skillfully wove together the complex storylines of the novel’s characters. The passionate romance between Dorothea Brooke (played by Juliet Aubrey) and Will Ladislaw (Rufus Sewell) was particularly popular, even boosting book sales in the 1990s and adding to the lasting legacy of author Mary Ann Evans.

Sherlock

Based On The Works Of Arthur Conan Doyle

Although Arthur Conan Doyle only wrote 60 Sherlock Holmes stories throughout his career, his work remains a prime example of detective fiction. Just as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is considered the beginning of science fiction, many familiar elements of crime stories – from detailed police investigations to films about partners working together – can be traced back to Doyle’s influence.

As a total movie and TV buff, it’s amazing to see how much the original Sherlock Holmes has influenced detective characters we see today – think about guys like Gregory House or even Shawn Spencer. But for me, the BBC’s Sherlock from 2010 really stands out. Benedict Cumberbatch absolutely owned the role of Sherlock, and the chemistry between him and Martin Freeman as Watson was just incredible. It’s no surprise that show built such a huge and dedicated following!

Dickinson

Based On The Life & Work Of Emily Dickinson

Some people believe the best TV shows based on books stay very close to the original story, but sometimes changing historical details is actually a smart move. This is true for Apple TV’s Dickinson, a funny and dramatic show about the poet Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld). Each episode gets its name from one of Dickinson’s beautiful poems.

While the show takes significant creative freedoms with history – anachronisms appear constantly – that’s exactly what makes Dickinson Hailee Steinfeld’s strongest performance yet. The series honors the original stories of Emily Dickinson, but it doesn’t shy away from being delightfully strange. Featuring Wiz Khalifa as Death and a soundtrack by Mitski, Dickinson fully embraces its playful and unconventional style.

Anne with an E

Based On Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables Series

Typically, TV shows based on books attract viewers who are already familiar with the original stories. But the Netflix series Anne with an E became popular with a wider audience, and many who watched it didn’t realize it was based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables books, which were originally published between 1908 and 1939.

Amybeth McNulty became a popular star thanks to her role as the spirited Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, and many young girls around the world connected with her character or one of her close friends. The show was a beautiful story about growing up, but unfortunately, “Anne with an E” was cancelled after only three seasons, leaving fans disappointed.

Sandition

Based On Jane Austen’s Manuscript Posthumously Published In 1925

Jane Austen wrote seven finished novels, but after she died, several unfinished works were found, including a novel called Sanditon. Although she only wrote about 24,000 words of it before her death, the manuscript—first published as Fragment of a Novel Written by Jane Austen—showed promise, as PBS noted in 2019.

The British television series Sanditon began with the fragments of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, but the writers added their own stories to flesh out the characters and complete the narrative. While the series took creative liberties, it still captured the spirit and style of Austen, feeling like a loving homage to her work.

The Haunting of Hill House

Based On Shirley Jackson’s 1959 Novel

As a huge fan of horror and Mike Flanagan’s work, I think The Haunting of Hill House is one of his best. What really struck me was how brilliantly he reimagined the original story. Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel is a classic of gothic horror, and while Flanagan took a lot of liberties, he really captured the spirit of it. The book mainly focused on the experiences of two characters, Theodora and Eleanor, and it’s fascinating to see how the series expanded on that foundation.

Because Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting had been adapted before, including a parody, Mike Flanagan used the core setting – Hill House – as a starting point for his series. He then added new characters, storylines, and frightening surprises. While the series incorporates elements of Jackson’s classic, it builds upon that foundation to create what many consider Netflix’s best original horror show. Eleanor and Theodora were reimagined as members of the central Crain family.

Shōgun

Based On James Clavell’s 1975 Novel

While awards don’t always mean something is truly the best, the recent Emmy success of Shōgun is hard to ignore – it won an impressive 18 awards in 2024. The series is a fantastic retelling of James Clavell’s 1975 novel, which tells the story of Japan’s shift into the era ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate.

The new series Shōgun takes some liberties with the original novel, but the core story remains: English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) encounters the powerful and calculating Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada). The show skillfully blends Japanese and English dialogue, offering a fresh and captivating experience that has already earned it a renewal for a second season, despite being initially planned as a limited series.

The Handmaid’s Tale

Based On Margaret Atwood’s 1985 Novel

Published in 1985, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale quickly became a classic. This thought-provoking dystopian novel explores important issues like control over women’s bodies and reproductive rights by imagining a terrifying, male-dominated society called Gilead.

Both the novel and the six-season TV series, The Handmaid’s Tale, center around Offred (played by Elisabeth Moss), a Handmaid whose only purpose is to bear children for powerful Commanders. While the story is deeply tragic and feels increasingly relevant, the novel version offers a small amount of hope by the end.

2026-01-04 01:23