A Family Vacation Across Europe – What Could Go Wrong?
Tuesday, June 22nd at 8pm ET: PBS Books presents this Author Talk with David Nicholls, discussing the forthcoming adaptation of his bestselling 2014 novel Us on PBS’s MASTERPIECE, produced by GBH. This exciting event will trace the process of placing words into pictures and making a clever story about family dynamics come alive on screen. As Nicholls showcases in his own distinct style, dramas can be complex, charming, and honest. In the conversation, Nicholls will explore the real-life lessons one can gleam from this fictional story, at once a journey far away and an experience close to home. This event can be streamed on Facebook in addition to the site pbsbooks.org/davidnicholls .
About the Author:
David Nicholls is a screenwriter, as well as the author of five novels. He worked as an actor before moving into script-editing for theatre, radio and TV. His first produced screenplay was an adaptation of Sam Shepard’s play Simpatico. He then worked in British TV, writing episodes of Cold Feet, original series Rescue Me I Saw You and The 7.39 as well as adaptations of Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Much Ado About Nothing.
David’s third novel, One Day, has sold 5 million copies around the world and is published in over 40 languages. His latest novel, Us, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and in the year that it was published (2014) he was named UK Author of the Year at the National Book Awards.
About the Book:
With the same captivating approach of his New York Times bestseller One Day, David Nicholls’ Us is a striking, humorous, and candid novel about what holds marriages and families together—and what happens, and what we learn about ourselves, when everything threatens to fall apart.
Us follows one man, Douglas Petersen, in his mission to reconnect with his wife, as he simultaneously tries to get closer to a son who’s always felt like a stranger. It is a moving meditation on the demands of everyday life: marriage, parenthood, and the continual exploration of identity. The novel also foregrounds the regrets of abandoning youth for middle age, and the intricate relationship between the heart and the head.
About the MASTERPIECE Adaptation:
Douglas, his wife and his teenage son take a European summer vacation together. What could go wrong? Tom Hollander, Saskia Reeves, and Tom Taylor star in an adaptation of David Nicholls’ bittersweet, bestselling novel about a family giving their relationship one last shot. “Funny and touching and acutely observed,” applauded The Independent (London).
Adapted from David Nicholls’ Booker Prize–nominated novel, #UsPBS airs in two two-hour episodes on MASTERPIECE, Sundays, June 20 and 27, 2021 at 9/8c on PBS. MASTERPIECE is presented by GBH Boston.
Episode One
Sunday, June 20; 9 – 11pm ET
Connie tells Douglas she wants to end their 20-year marriage, but not before they take a European vacation with Albie, their rebellious teenage son.
Episode Two
Sunday, June 27; 9 – 11pm ET
Searching for Albie in Venice, Douglas makes a new friend, Freja. Later, he lands in jail. Back in England, Connie wonders what’s going on.
Us is a Drama Republic and Bandstand Productions for BBC and MASTERPIECE. David Nicholls is the writer and executive producer. Greg Brenman and Roanna Benn are the executive producers for Drama Republic and Hannah Pescod and Tom Hollander are the executive producers for Bandstand Productions. The director is Geoffrey Sax. The producer is Hannah Pescod. Jo McClellan is the executive producer for BBC One.
About MASTERPIECE:
Winner of 83 Primetime Emmys® and 18 Peabody Awards, MASTERPIECE has been
essential Sunday night viewing for millions of fans since 1971. Susanne Simpson is the executive producer and Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer-at-large for the series. Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust. Produced for PBS by GBH Boston, MASTERPIECE is known for hits such as All Creatures Great and Small, Sherlock, Downton Abbey and Victoria, and beloved classics such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsyte Saga and Poldark.