Boardwalk Empire

Paul Lay, editor of History Today, has written in praise of some of the latest US dramas to be found on Sky's new "Atlantic" channel. These include Boardwalk Empire, set in the casinos of Atlantic City during the Prohibition, and Mad Men, set in the world of advertising in 1960s New York. Both pay excellent attention to period detail, and through their scope and ambition give a very real sense of what it might be like to live through that period, in the same way that "The Wire" recently portrayed the political, judicial and criminal worlds of Baltimore. Have you been watching any of these? If so, please let us know what you think, and whether they have lived up to their billing.

PS: We should point out that these shows contain adult themes and language and should only be watched by those aged appropriately to appreciate them...

Mad Men and the 60s

Here is a BBC article about how "Mad Men" - the drama about the staff of an advertising company during the 60s - covers the decade. Each season covers a different year, so season 4 is about 1964. Key events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and Kennedy assassination are referred to, and affect the storyline but unlike in Forrest Gump, where our hero is right at the forefront of these events, their position is more oblique. The programme is more interested in the steady changes in culture and society and how these affect the roles of the characters, particularly the women.

Have you been watching the programme? Does it do its History well? Let us know your thoughts as the series progresses.