Stories by Julia Maish

Masterpiece is lauded for its literary adaptations. Some authors have proven to be so popular with audiences that several of their works (and sometimes their life stories as well) have been adapted for television, with some reimagined more than once.

As PBS's Masterpiece celebrates its 50 years of bringing exceptional drama and mystery to your homes, look back on some of its notable adaptations of classic books, many of which can still be streamed.

2020 has been a year unlike any other in memory, with a worldwide pandemic, a recession, racial reckoning, and a presidential election. As COVID-19 turned life upside down, Chicagoans were left with more questions than answers, and WTTW News had to innovate as they tried to provide them.

Margaret works to save her relationship with Henry and Helen both, but Helen disappears to Germany and refuses much further contact. When she eventualyl returns to England, all the characters meet and events get out of control, in the final part of Howards End.

Margaret receives an unexpected offer from Henry, while he is impressed by her independence. Helen is angered by the increasing difficulties of Leonard's life, and her attempt to redress them leads to a crisis in Margaret's life. 

A surprising request from Ruth Wilcox and a change of circumstances draws Henry Wilcox closer to Margaret Schlegel, while she and Helen attempt to help the principled Leonard Bast. The Schlegels face a decision as they look for new housing.

Sisters Margaret and Helen Schlegel are independent and idealistic, but their increasing connection to the affluent, industrialist Wilcox family causes some tension. The downtrodden Leonard Bast offers a completely different perspective from either family. 

Go behind the scenes of the upcoming digital series FIRSTHAND: Living in Poverty, which follows five people experiencing intergenerational poverty to better understand the daily challenges that make their circumstances difficult to escape.

When the future star Louise Brooks is accepted at a prestigious dance school in New York, she needs a chaperone to escort her from Wichita and rein in her wild impulses. Norma Brooks senses her own opportunity to change a staid life, and joins Louise on the journey East. 

It's the series finale of Poldark, and it's chock-full of drama, action, romance, treason, and more, as Ross goes off the rails, George surpries everyone, and England's security hangs in the balance. Recap and stream it here. 

In the penultimate episode of Poldark, Ross begins to try to take down a shadowy conspiracy (and possibly joins his own), Geoffrey Charles's romance reaches a crisis, Caroline confronts a hidden danger, and Demelza begins to address an illegal plan. 

Ross makes several last-ditch efforts to save his hot-headed friend Ned, but a shadowy conspiracy is working against him. George and Hanson move forward with plans that will break Geoffrey Charles's heart, and Demelza tries to help the villagers while uncovering theft.

While Demelza deals with a counterfeit money racket, Ross is drawn into trouble by his loyalty to Ned. George seems to have recovered and is back on his nefarious and wrong-headed ideas, spurred on by his shady business partner Hanson. 

George is still not recovering, so Cary turns to Dwight for help, which in turn makes Caroline suspicious. Greater problems await George as Ned, Tess, and Hanson stir up revolt among his workers, and Ross and Demelza must step in once again to help him. 

Even if you're a devoted Poldark fan, it can be hard to keep track of everyone: who they hate, where they live, if they're a real historical character, who they jilted at the altar. So we've put together a map tracking the relationships of the important characters.