I was captivated by the bits of this I've gotten to see (it comes on just before I am leaving for work) and then I was completely taken by the episodes I got to see the few days I was out sick or on vacation.
I confess I was at first interested in the books in order to see how these themes had been covered (the laudanum, kidnapping, etc) and as I suspected they were add-ons, and probably necessary to hold the audience. But the books are absolutely delightful, and the writing about nature is absolutely magnificent.
So: Watch the series, then read the book. (All ages--I am well beyond the original target audience age, I think).
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