Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: October 28, 2008
• Run Time: 351 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001CR49HK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,950 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Classic tales of love and loss based on the fiction of Henry James

All the dramas and desires of late Victorian high society are on display in these vintage adaptations of the writings of Henry James. Romantic tales of love and loss unfold from the country houses of England to the drawing rooms of New York, from the palazzos of Venice to the art studios of London. Scoundrels and schemers collide with ingénues and admirers in the terribly intricate affairs of the heart.

This enchanting anthology features a treasure trove of British actors, including Diana Rigg (The Avengers), Margaret Tyzack (Cousin Bette), Pamela Brown (Becket), Patricia Routledge (Hetty Wainthropp Investigates), Ian Ogilvy (I, Claudius), Anton Rodgers (Scrooge), and Jeremy Brett (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes). The hour-long dramas plumb the exquisite tensions of Henry James’s best-loved stories, including Washington Square, The Aspern Papers, and The Wings of the Dove, with a subtlety and nuance unmatched by more recent adaptations.

DVD FEATURES INCLUDE Henry James biography and cast filmographies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SEVEN EPISODES OF ROMANTIC LITERATURE TURNED VIDEO, October 8, 2008

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Affairs of the Heart: Series 1 (DVD)

Five stars for American born (1843), turned British subject prior to death, author Henry James and his tales of romantic conquest in an English setting. Stories are primarily Victorian era, as Henry James himself died in 1916. He left behind many very interesting stories and in this DVD set, seven of them have been brought to life in a fun way.

Each of the episodes is based on a separate book. Author James has a way of leaving the ending a surprise. Not always does boy get girl, or girl get boy, or all's-well-that-ends-well. You CAN expect the unexpected. That is the delight of this set. Some are romantic tragedy, some comedy, some suspense, a full smorgasbord of high living played out with a wide range of accomplished British actors and actresses.

Episode 1: "Catherine" based on "Washington Square"
Episode 2: "Adela" based on "The Marriages"
Episode 3: "Miss Tita" based on "The Aspern Papers"
Episode 4: "Grace" based on "Covering End"
Episode 5: "Milly" based on The Wings of the Dove"
Episode 6: "Flora" based on "Glasses"
Episode 7: "Mary and Louisa" based on "The Tone of Time" and "The Real Thing"

If you don't know of Henry James and his writing, the included biography on the DVD set will help. After seeing this group of his stories, you'll be looking for more from his books. With "Affairs of the Heart" you could enjoy him for a week, one DVD segment per day. More likely, however, you'll not be able to put 23 hours between watching each episode.

With Henry James having written over 50 published works, let us hope there will be an "Affairs of the Heart Series Two" in the future.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Series 2 is Coming!, April 8, 2009

By 

Little Dorrit "ldorrit" (WA state) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Affairs of the Heart: Series 1 (DVD)

I can't add much to the previous review, I agree completely with the excellence of this set. I can only say that I contacted the company that put this out and they tell me the Second series will be out in September 09 and I'll definitely have it on preorder!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An example of good acting, May 5, 2010

By 

Bretfan "Brettfan" (Douai, France) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Affairs of the Heart: Series 1 (DVD)

I bought this series, at first for Jeremy Brett, who plays in the episode "Grace", a witty and charming one. Brett is, as usual, a dashing and perfect performer. (people who wish to provide this unfairly underrated actor with a posthumous Bafta may go to facebook:"posthumous BAFTA for Jeremy Brett). But in fact, I enjoyed very much all the episodes. The stories are enthralling, deep, behind a light appearance. The actors are very good and their delivery is perfect. Moreover there are english subtitles, very helpful for people who can't hear...and for foreigners. I'm delighted with this series.