{"product_id":"the-magic-box-viewing-britain-through-the-rectangular-window-9780571284603","title":"The Magic Box: Viewing Britain through the Rectangular Window","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThe Magic Box is a book that explores the golden age of British television and film, from the late 1950s to the late 1980s. It is a cross-genre feast of moving pictures that reflects the nation's visual self-portrait in technicolor detail. The book is praised for its gripping content, its lovingly researched history, and its ability to reclaim Britain as a darkly magical place. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 528 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 18 August 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Faber \u0026amp; Faber\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA LOUDER THAN WAR BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA captivating exploration of Britain's vibrant television and film era, The Magic Box presents a captivating visual self-portrait of the nation in technicolor detail. This captivating journey delves into the psyche of Britain during its golden age, encompassing a diverse range of moving pictures, from timeless classics to occult hidden gems. Benjamin Myers, in his review for the Guardian, praises the book as a lovingly researched history of British TV, capturing the brilliance, the bizarre, and the unworldly aspects of this era. The Spectator hails it as a remarkable feat of argument, description, and affection, while the Financial Times acknowledges Young's achievement in unearthing the ghosts of TV's past and delving into Britain's dark psyche. The Herald describes the book as highly entertaining and a fabulous treasure trove, while the Scotsman praises Young as a phenomenal scholar. The Observer and The Critic both express admiration for Young's passionate storytelling, with the former describing it as impassioned and the latter praising his scholarship. Growing up in the 1970s, Rob Young's primary storyteller was the wooden box with the glass window in the corner of the family living room, known as the TV set. Before the advent of DVDs, Blu-ray discs, YouTube, and commercial streaming services, watching television was a vastly different experience. You turned on the TV, settled back, and watched without the convenience of pause or fast-forward buttons. The cross-genre feast of moving pictures produced in Britain during this period played a significant role in shaping a national conversation and fostering a collective memory. British-made sci-fi, folk horror, period drama, and televisual grand tours emerged as popular genres, exploring themes of tension between the old and the new, the supernatural and the mundane, and the exploration of different cultures and landscapes. These programs not only entertained but also contributed to the cultural and social fabric of the nation, leaving a lasting impact on generations of viewers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 420g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 129 x 199 x 37 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780571284603\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEdition number\u003c\/strong\u003e: Main\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rob Young","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":44097006895354,"sku":"9780571284603","price":9.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1660937436541_book.jpg?v=1661254178","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/the-magic-box-viewing-britain-through-the-rectangular-window-9780571284603","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}