A three-episode miniseries based on Eugene McCabe’s Kirkus-starred 2001 historical novel, Death and Nightingales, will air on the American premium-cable network Starz on May 16. It originally appeared on the Irish TV network RTÉ One and BBC Two in late 2018. Starz released a trailer for the drama, which stars The Nevers’ Ann Skelly, Perry Mason’s Matthew Rhys, and Jamie Dornan, best known for playing Christian Grey in three films based on E.L. James’ bestselling Fifty Shades Trilogy.
In the novel, which takes place in rural Ireland in 1883, 23-year-old Irishwoman Beth Winters is hoping to escape the household of her despised, widowed English stepfather, Billy Winters, with one of his land tenants, Liam Ward, who’s secretly involved with a violent revolutionary nationalist group. The couple’s scheme also involves the theft of a trunkful of gold. But before the pair can put their plan into action, a government agent visits Billy to talk about Liam. Kirkus’ reviewer called the novel “brilliant, richly conceived, and perfectly narrated with the suspense of a good thriller.” Skelly, Rhys, and Dornan play Beth, Billy, and Liam in the adaptation, respectively.
This is just the latest book-based historical production to appear on Starz; the network just aired a six-episode New Zealand–British adaptation of Eleanor Catton’s novel The Luminaries in February. It’s also had a great deal of success with its ongoing original series Outlander, based on Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling time-travel historical romance novels; that show began filming its sixth season in February.
David Rapp is the senior Indie editor.
