- Author: Marcus Hearn
- Hardcover: 160 pages
- Publisher: Titan Books
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1848566727
- ISBN- 978-1848566729
Synopsis:
Fifty years ago, production began on The Avengers, a TV series that has yet to be rivaled for its wit, adventure and sheer style. Here, thanks to unprecedented access to the show’s archive, is a glorious visual celebration of the show that defined 60s television, packed with rare and previously unpublished photographs, and memories from the cast and crew.
“Mrs Peel, We’re Needed.” – John Steed
The Avengers: A Celebration: 50 Years of a Television Classic by Marcus Hearn is a photographic trip through the history of the 1960s British Spy-Fi television series that followed John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and his partner working as government agents for the “Ministry”. Steed’s partners included Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman), followed by Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), and later Tara King (Linda Thorson).
Thankfully the book focuses plenty on the on the Peel years, as I’m most familiar with them. The gorgeous Diana Rigg as Emma Peel was the brightest and toughest of the three, never played the damsel in distress, and was arguably the sexiest as well, sporting her famous catsuits.
The book contains a foreword written by series star Patrick Macnee, and each of the six seasons from 1961 to 1967 is covered by its own chapter in the book and includes rare, unpublished candid, on-set photos and publicity shots. The book holds a veritable treasure trove of both black & white, and color photographs of the stars of the series, along with detailed descriptions and behind-the-scenes/making of info that corresponds with each photo, which gives you a rare glimpse into the day to day production of a classic television show.
The book seems so chronologically accurate that even the final image in the book is fittingly the backs of John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Tara King (Linda Thorson) walking off the set hand in hand, presumably after filming the final episode on March 3rd, 1969. The Avengers: A Celebration: 50 Years of a Television Classic is a definite must have for fans of the classic television series, the only problem I had with it was that it left me wanting more, and I wish it had been twice as long.
I give The Avengers: A Celebration: 50 Years of a Television Classic Four out of Five Stars.
