I kept seeing the ads for it but ignored it. When I got an email from our local PBS station about it, and read it, I tuned in. I had no idea it was kind of a mystery. Would you call it that?
So I watched it and was spellbound. No pun intended. What's more, I realized of have the ebook and hadn't looked at it. Geez.
About:
Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam--a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion--a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant.
"There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . ."
On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office--leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.
But Nella's world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist--an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .
Johannes' gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand--and fear--the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?
Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth."
This television adaptation has wonderful scenery and costumes. It is also very eerie. Nella's mother encourages Nella to accept a marriage to Johannes Brandt, a man she has never met. He will pay off the family debts if Nella agrees to marry him. When Nella arrives at the house, Johannes isn't there to greet her. Only two servants and Marin, Johannes' sister are there. She is stern and weird. Right away, she won't let Nella keep her parakeet she has brought with her, in her room. He is banished to the kitchen. (I am a little worried about him.) Marin instructs Nella to keep the huge draperies opened at all times so the town can see Johannes' "new wife".
As above, Johannes finally shows up and gives her a large replica of the house, to do with what she wants. Marin puts her in touch with a person in town that can make miniatures for it. When Nella visits the shop, there is no one there and it is closed. But she places her order for a few items under the door. Her order is delivered but in addition to what she ordered, there are other items that she did not order. A cradle. A replica of Johanne's dog. A desk including a key. A chair. Dolls of Johannes and Marin. Nella promptly stands the Marin doll on her head in her room. lol
Soon Nella realizes the things are exactly as things in her room, i.e. the chair. She freaks out, sure that someone is spying on her and sends a note to pay for the items but says she will not order anything else.
Johanne is kind of nice to her, bought her a bunch of new dresses to show her off in etc. But otherwise he ignores her. Between his treatment of her and the creepy "doll house", Nella is not very happy.
I won't spoil the ending of the first episode. I highly recommend this series. It is creepy and mysterious.
There are two more episodes. Sunday's on PBS, 7 p.m. central time. Looks like you will have to watch the first online, but well worth it.
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