Julian Fellowes' newest series, The Gilded Age, explores the ins and outs of high society in New York during the 1880s. The historical drama features a clash between old families and new money that truly existed at that time, even centering their conflicts around actual events, like the building of the Metropolitan Opera House. One of the leading families, the Russells, represents many people who made their fortune in that era. Though the Russells are entirely fictional, there is a clear comparison between them and the Vanderbilt family, who became wealthy in the same time frame. Both families made their money in railroads and shared similar experiences breaking into New York society, although the show has mentioned the real family before, proving they are not quite the same. The Vanderbilts inspired the Russells, yet the fictional nature of the Russells allows The Gilded Age freedom to take their own path when the story calls for it. Yet this is not because of laziness on the part of the creators, as the show doesn't shy away from direct recreations of real people from the era.
https://ift.tt/hQPXGsu February 11, 2024 at 07:45AM
