Polly Walker is a legend.

I absolutely loved this. Great fun and the representation of a lavender marriage is beautiful. I was in a lavender relationship with a gay boy in school as his parents were showing terrible homophobia. Just before we went off to university he told them.

These are two of my favorite actors.  We do not see enough of Polly Walker.  I'm afraid the real awards for Bookish go to the Set Dressers and Make Up artist for the show.

Polly Walker is just so bloody BEAUTIFUL!!! 😍😍😍

This could become one pf the most enduring detective noir series on TV. I watch it on KQED!

She has such beautiful eyes.

My favorite new mystery series, crafted so well in the writing, acting, setting. Love the relationship between Book and Trottie... and Jack. Can't wait for season 2.

Crime fiction fans should regard this series with glee. So many nods to the genre, to be spotted and noted with a grin, but also nods to historical reality, like D. And a raft of characters with intriguing back stories we do not yet know. This series is clearly so lovingly crafted, and shows almost every book or influence that have made Mark Gatiss the creative life force he has become. Beautifully written, carefully cast, despite the problems of getting an introductory episode just right, and identical tropes to A Study In Pink, this is a treat that could and should run and run.

Old Style Hollywood was famous/infamous for Lavender Marriages or variations on the theme, but of course most were arranged and overseen by the studios

Watched all episodes, really excellent stories. The post war period is an interesting time.

This series is brilliant, everything about it is excellent. Just finished ep 6 and am now sad that I’ll have to wait a year for season 2.

I loved Polly in Rome on HBO. She was fantastic.😊

This is the kind of show we would normally get on Public Broadcasting in the US, but with the horrendous government we have in place now, denying funding to said structure, we may have to rely on a streaming service to see this program. Either way, I look forward to seeing the show.

Who tuned into Bookish last night? 🔍

In the UK, they decriminalized same sex relationships in 1967. But arrests actually tripled in the years that followed. It wasn't until 2013, I think, that it was made legal.

So in Book's era, a Lavender Marriage was a way to stay out of prison, not just dealing with people's ignorant prejudices.

A lot of Bookish is subtext. I might be misreading it but I think the reason the cop hates Book so much is because he'd arrested Book on 'moral offenses' charges. But Tottie saved him by marching in and saying they were engaged, and then quickly married.

The 'letter from Churchill' is often referenced. Which is interesting. It is assumed it is related to his intelligence work during the war. And it no doubt did. But Churchill was also often believed to have been bi, or bi curious. And even though he was in the very conservative Tory party, he set the groundwork for decriminalizing same sex relationships.  So in that lens, it can also be seen as Churchill writing a letter to help shield a man he knew to be gay.

I like the series a lot. It isn't perfect but the relationship is sweet.

A great mystery series - highly recommended - can't wait for season 2 ....

Say this on BBC NL and I found this excellent one of the best series I have seen. And I have seen a lot.
Did not know the meaning of a lavender marriage. In Holand we don't have a name for it. Great that
there will be a second series. petje af hiervoor

Everything seems to look good, I keep falling asleep after 30 mins,  maybe someday I might just be able to stay awake to see it to the end.

Love Polly Walker and seems a great pairing

Wonderful series, well written and amazing acting, great back story. Wonderfully shot great settings and costuming spot on. Can't wait for second series.