What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedC
Tom McCarthy · Book · 2011
If you loved C, start with Tales of the City (Armistead Maupin, 1993) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to C across media.
What hooked you in C was the way the cold, mechanical precision of history inevitably collides with the messy, intimate secrets of family.
Films on the same thread
Incendies
Film · 2010
Explores: Family Secrets, Generational Trauma, The Horrors of War.
Like the characters in C, these protagonists are forced to unspool the heavy burden of their family history, connecting personal trauma to the larger, violent machinery of the world.
The Reader
Stephen Daldry · Film · 2008
Explores: Guilt and Redemption, Intergenerational Relationships, Illiteracy.
This narrative mirrors the moral ambiguity found in C, examining how individuals become entangled in the historical currents of their time while struggling with their own private, illicit desires.
Maurice
James Ivory · Film · 1987
Explores: homosexuality in Edwardian England, social repression, self-discovery.
If the Edwardian atmosphere of C captivated you, this film offers a similar exploration of the rigid social codes and personal repression that define life in that specific era.
The Circus
Charlie Chaplin · Film · 1928
Explores: The Tramp, Underdog Story, Class Differences.
This film captures the early twentieth-century fascination with mechanical spectacle and performance, providing a visual counterpoint to the technological obsession and sensory isolation experienced by Serge in C.
Series on the same thread
The O.C.
Josh Schwartz · Series · 2003
Explores: Class Differences, Privilege, Identity.
This drama echoes the themes of class friction and identity formation present in C, showing how a sudden shift in environment can force a fundamental transformation of the self.
Tales of the City
Armistead Maupin · Series · 1993
Explores: Coming-of-age, Sexual awakening, Urban life.
Just as C explores the development of personal identity within a changing social landscape, this series navigates the process of finding one's place within a complex, evolving urban environment.
Sherlock
Mark Gatiss · Series · 2010
Explores: Genius detective, High-functioning sociopath, Unconventional crime solving.
The intellectual detachment and obsession with detail that define the protagonist of C are reflected in this modern reimagining of a genius who views the world as a puzzle.
The Great
Tony McNamara · Series · 2020
Explores: Political Intrigue, Gender Politics, Royal Court.
This series shares the interest in the historical evolution of power dynamics seen in C, blending the weight of tradition with a modern, satirical lens on human behavior.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
The analytical, detached perspective used to dissect historical collapse in this podcast mirrors the post-structuralist approach McCarthy takes toward the evolution of communication technology throughout the pages of C.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
This narrative history provides the same structural fascination with the repeating cycles of human society that makes the historical bildungsroman of C feel so profound and deeply researched.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary setting of C by Tom McCarthy?
The narrative of C spans several locations during the early twentieth century. The story begins at Versoie House in western England and expands its scope across various regions of Europe and North Africa as Serge Carrefax experiences his childhood and travels.
Who is the main protagonist in C?
The central character in C is Serge Carrefax. The novel follows his development from his youth spent at Versoie House, where his father conducts experiments with wireless telegraphy and teaches deaf children to speak, through his experiences across Europe and North Africa.
Is C related to the book Remainder?
Both C and Remainder were written by the acclaimed author Tom McCarthy. While they share the same author, C is an independent epochal saga set in the early twentieth century that follows the life of Serge Carrefax across England, Europe, and North Africa.
What is the role of the father in C?
In C, Serge Carrefax's father is a significant figure residing at Versoie House. His primary activities include teaching deaf children how to speak and conducting various experiments involving wireless telegraphy, which serves as a backdrop for the early life of the protagonist.