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Rafael Alvarez

The Wire: Truth Be Told Paperback – May 5, 2010

by Rafael Alvarez (Author), David Simon (Introduction)

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Widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows ever made, The Wire, often called a novel-as-television, is a Dickensian masterpiece that weaves together complex stories and complicated characters into a sprawling, textured portrait of an American city in decline. The Wire: Truth Be Told is the ultimate companion to this spectacular show. Essays from David Simon, George Pelecanos, Laura Lippman, William F. Zorzi, and others join interviews with the show’s creators, entertaining summaries of all sixty episodes and overviews of each of its seasons. Above all, The Wire: Truth Be Told offers a captivating behind the scenes look at the show, from the struggle to get it on the air, to the response from Baltimore’s residents and politicians, to the fascinating true stories and real life inspiration behind favorite scenes and characters. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of photos, this is a must have book and a fitting guide to, and celebration of, a monumental show.

Print length

608 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Grove Press
Publication date

May 5, 2010
Dimensions

5.9 x 1.6 x 8.9 inches
ISBN-10

0802144993
ISBN-13

978-0802144997
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After HBO launched its gritty, Baltimore-based series, The Wire, in 2002, it ran for five seasons and 60 episodes. The show was created by former Baltimore Sun crime reporter Simon, who pitched the drama series as an anti–cop show and as a novel for television, bolstering his writing staff with such novelists as Richard Price, Dennis Lehane, and George Pelecanos. Initially perceived as a crime show, Simon wanted to explore larger themes of politics, sociology, and economics while depicting all angles of life in Baltimore, from news media mediocrity to the life of addicts, dealers, whores, johns, and the homeless: This is the world of The Wire, the America left behind. Low ratings were followed by critical acclaim. In addition to detailed episode guides, total cast/character breakdowns, crew listings, 300+ b&w photos, and a glossary of the street slang employed in the show's dialogue, the book includes a dozen insightful, informative contributions by a variety of journalists, directors, screenwriters, and novelists, including Pelecanos, Laura Lippman, and Nick Hornby, who interviewed Simon. Other interviews include Little Melvin Williams, one of the legendary kingpins in the annals of Baltimore narcotics, who from prison went into the show's third-season cast. Weaving a sprawling tapestry of both the TV drama and the Baltimore cityscape, Alvarez, a Baltimore Sun reporter for 20 years and The Wire staff writer, has compiled engrossing, definitive coverage certain to lure HBO viewers into bookstores. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Not the usual coffee-table photo book, but something substantial, complex, honest, challenging, revealing, funny, and also unprecedented, and unique--a book, in other words, worthy of The Wire." -- Tony Kushner

"The breadth and ambition of The Wire are unrivaled . . . taken cumulatively over the course of a season--any season--it's an astonishing display of writing, acting, and storytelling that must be considered alongside the best literature and filmmaking in the modern era." -- Tim Goodman

"The Wire will knock the breath out of you . . . literary television that broadens the mind and blows the heart open . . . a beautiful, brave series." -- Virginia Heffernan

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press; Media Tie In edition (May 5, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802144993
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802144997
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 1.6 x 8.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #524,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #326 in TV History & Criticism
- #5,183 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- #6,106 in Women's Biographies

Customer Reviews:
218 ratings

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Customer reviews

5 star		69%
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3 star		8%
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1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Linda

Excellent!

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2022

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I've watch it twice already. I even bought the book. I am ready to watch it again. The only thing I didn't like about the show was the actor who played McNulty....Yuck!

Helpful

A fine companion to a brilliant and underrated series

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2008

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HBO's brilliant, riveting, and sadly underrated series The Wire wrapped up just a short time ago, which makes it all the more worthwhile to revisit or discover this hardcover companion to David Simon's critically acclaimed crime drama. Compiled by series writer and novelist Rafael Alvarez, The Wire: Truth Be Told features insightful commentaries from series creators Simon and Ed Burns, as well as essays by authors George Pelecanos, Laura Lippman, Anthony Walton, and Joy Lusco Kecken, and episode summarizations of the first two seasons of the series, concluding with the beginning of the third season. Peppered throughout the book are pictures of the actors and scenes from the series, as well as discussions of some of the characters' real-life counterparts, and tributes to late producer Robert F. Colesberry; who if it were not for his involvement, the show possibly would never have existed, let alone made it for five seasons on HBO. Though there are many insightful observations and interesting tales to be found here, as a Wire purist one may wish that there was just more included here. The book itself is a pretty quick read, but is an essential one nevertheless for devoted fans of what may very well have been one of, if not the, greatest programs to ever grace the television screen. All in all, The Wire: Truth Be Told is a more than fine companion piece to the beloved drama, and is by all means worth picking up.

4 people found this helpful

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Flash

A Worthy Chronicle of the The Wire (All Five Seasons)

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2010

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Finally, the companion and episode guide for the TV show The Wire has arrived! This edition chronicles all five seasons of the critically acclaimed show. At 500+ pages, there is a lot of material to get through. In addition to season summaries, commentaries and individual episode synopsises, there a number of essays that analyze the massive impact of this show in and outside of the entertainment industry. David Simon, the show's creator has even provided an updated introduction.

I think this book is an absolute must-have for any fan of The Wire. Those who have already watched the show will find lots of background information. Those who are watching the show for the first time will find the book helpful to keep track of the multitude of characters, although I really think the better approach is just to immerse yourself in the show, and become the fly on the wall as you piece it all together. I envy anyone watching The Wire for the first time. I remember what that felt like. The Wire is one smart and profound show! This book is it's definitive and authoritative reference work.

13 people found this helpful

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NA

Mostly just episode summaries

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2020

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Too much of the book is taken up by episode summaries and not enough by commentary or analysis. This is only interesting if you struggled to understand the plot and need the “Cliff’s Notes” (so to speak). I’ve read free stuff online including on viewer forums that had more insight into The Wire than most of what fills this book. I had high expectations for it but feel let down.

One person found this helpful

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stu-man

This edition includes ALL 60 EPISODES!

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2021

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Ignore the many reviews that state that the book only includes seasons 1-3 of The Wire.
All episodes are included. It's a must for die hard fans of the show.

2 people found this helpful

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Juha K.

One for the fans

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2007

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This book will be the most rewarding if you're already familiar with The Wire as well as David Simon's earlier work (Homicide; The Corner).

I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews (such as the one with a real-life drugs kingpin), background stories (like the tale of the "real Bubbles") and trivia (cameo roles, music picks etc.) They brought a lot more depth to the show and made me love it even more.

Episode capsules from the first two seasons take up quite a bit of the book, but there's still plenty to discover for devoted fans. Those unfamiliar with the show should probably start with the DVD sets before picking up this book.

20 people found this helpful

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Sedona Cota

My new Bible for all things "The Wire" Excellent resource - Loved the glossary

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2014

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My new Bible for all things "The Wire" Excellent resource - Loved the glossary, wish I had it before watching the series. So glad this book was written, made even my TV hating mom take note of it and watch an episode with me! Further helped me appreciate this show and if I live long enough to watch it again, I'll so be enjoying the guides and information. Well Done! One of the first things I learned here was that Obama said this was his favorite show, back when he was running in 2008, Gutsy move Mr. President! Great factoid. Still savoring this 500 page book, and will be for some time.

3 people found this helpful

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Virginia Widdoes

More on the Wire for those who loved it!

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020

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We watched the series two times because we liked it so much. It was really exciting to get some of the backstory given in this book.

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Top reviews from other countries

Keith M

Plenty Of Insights

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2013

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Although it could be argued that Rafael Alvarez's Truth Be Told analysis of TV's The Wire contains around two-thirds of its near-600 pages of (for me) superfluous material, namely a synopsis of every episode (surely just watch the series instead?) together with a host of 'supporting' detail (cast & crew, glossary, etc), the 'critical essays' included here contain such a plethora of interesting and insightful facts, that they alone should be enough to keep any self-respecting aficionado of the series riveted.

Indeed, even if this weighty tome were slimmed down so as to contain only David Simon's 30-page introductory prologue, this of itself would almost (but not quite) justify the book's rather exorbitant RRP of £15. Simon's lead-in provides as lucid and rational an account of the USA's (extrapolated from Baltimore's) social ills, whether these be political, educational or criminal, as you're ever likely to read (and certainly something you could never hope to attain via any US party political manifesto).

In addition to Simon's essay, Alvarez's book contains many interesting snippets, including identifying the wide range of real-life (normally past) politicians, policemen, etc, given bit parts in the series, plus (maybe rather predictably) the fact that Barack Obama is a big fan and gave Andre Royo (Bubbles) a 'shout out' when he spotted him on a film-set in Prague. Also included are a number of individual essays on key series characters, including (I was pleased to see) my four personal favourites - Omar, Bunk, Bubbles and Stringer - as well as McNulty, Frank Sobotka, Ziggy, Prop. Joe and Snoop (this latter giving the true account of Felicia Pearson's life providing another remarkable tale). In addition, in what reads (to me, at least) as something of a defensive one-pager, David Simon has written a glowing appraisal of Jamie Hector's portrayal as Marlo. I would admit to having seen nothing of Hector's other work, but for me Marlo remains one of the (or maybe the only) weakest characters in the series (I would have gone for Gbenga Akinnagbe - who played Chris Partlow - in preference to Hector).

All-in-all then, an essential read for all fans of the series.

9 people found this helpful

chelmsford1

If you liked the series you will like this

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2020

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This book is second hand but it looks and feels new great bargain.
The Wire is a great series and this book compliments it

Mrs. V. J. Charles

Purchased for my husband

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2015

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My husband has seen all the episodes of the Wire on DVD and wanted this book. Its pretty large but he has really enjoyed reading it but advises anyone to see the series first before reading this book.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Like I say

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2016

Verified Purchase

Became obsessed with the Wire recently. This book is brill as keeping the stories alive and it makes sense of some of the stuff I missed with the first viewing. Even with subtitles I struggled with some of the vernacular but this is helping. When I have finished reading it I will probably watch all 5 series again. Like I say, Obsessed.
Highly recommend if you are too !

2 people found this helpful

BlameThePlotBunnies

excellent for any fan of the series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

Bought as a gift, excellent for any fan of the series.

One person found this helpful

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