Book Review: The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful

The Showtime series Penny Dreadful, written and created by John Logan, breathes life into some of classic horror’s most iconic characters. So while we wait patiently for the second series, Sharon Gosling delights us with a wonderful companion book.

The show is set between reality and the supernatural with a cast of incredible talent that includes the likes of Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton and Eva Green. The show cleverly weaves together stories of original characters Sir Malcolm Murray, Ethan Chandler and Vanessa Ives with literary figures; Doctor Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and figures from Dracula. Confronting personal demons and real monstersPenny Dreadful revitalises our love in gothic literature with an original show that keeps viewers possessed.

Gosling presents a lavish companion as The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful is filled with beautiful set photos, stills and in-depth profiles of our favourite characters plus secrets of making the awe-inspiring show. The gothic-inspired front cover is filled with so much detail and presents a tempting offering; it’s a small window to the fact-filled exploration that Gosling compiles. She’s no stranger this style of collection and her expertise is truly appreciated with an in-depth and entertaining look at the series.

The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful details some wonderful illustrations from unseen images, storyboards to stills and blueprints to sets. The lavish displays of images are just a small part of the books value. A stand-out feature is the exclusive interview material with the show’s creator and executive producer John Logan, executive producer Sam Mendes and supervising producer Chris King, as well as key crew and the main cast.

Watching the show there are some scenes you watch in amazement, for instance Eva Green as Vanessa Ives performs some impossible contortions during a séance. The magic is not lost when looking at the technology and techniques used to achieve the scene, Gosling casts her spell with words, narrating the process in a way that keeps you intrigued.

The book itself is intelligently laid out, so there’s no excess of continual interviews or static character profiles, it’s a tantalising teaser to Season Two. The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful is a must-have for lovers of the show and those new to the show will also find it an enjoyable read.

[usr=4] The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful is available to order now from Titan Books.