What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Gilded Age
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2022
If you loved The Gilded Age, start with A Well-Behaved Woman (Therese Anne Fowler, 2018) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Gilded Age across media.
What hooked you in The Gilded Age was the way the rigid demands of high society collide with the personal ambitions of those navigating its hierarchies.
Books on the same thread
The Age of Innocence
Edith Wharton · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with The Gilded Age: Social Class.
Like The Gilded Age, this novel meticulously dissects the suffocating social codes and internal conflicts faced by individuals trapped within the expectations of New York's elite social circles.
A Well-Behaved Woman
Therese Anne Fowler · Book · 2018
Explores: Social Climbing, Ambition, Marriage of Convenience.
Readers drawn to the social climbing and female ambition in The Gilded Age will find a kindred spirit in Alva Vanderbilt, who similarly maneuvers through the complexities of nineteenth-century society.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Shares 2 threads with The Gilded Age: American Dream, Social Class.
If you were captivated by the contrast between old money and new money in The Gilded Age, you will recognize those same dynamics fueling the tragic pursuits of Jay Gatsby.
The Golden Bowl
Henry James · Book · 1904
Explores: Adultery, Wealth and power, Betrayal.
Fans of the moral ambiguity and power dynamics in The Gilded Age will appreciate how this story explores the deceptive surfaces of wealthy families who appear perfect to the outside world.
Films on the same thread
The Help
Film · 2011
Shares 2 threads with The Gilded Age: Social Class, Period Drama.
The Gilded Age highlights the overlooked labor and racial identity behind the scenes, a perspective that this film expands upon by centering the lived experiences of African-American domestic staff members.
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
While darker in tone, this thriller mirrors the secrets and power struggles between employers and their household staff that often simmer beneath the polished exterior of The Gilded Age.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2019
Shares a thread with The Gilded Age: Period Drama.
The Gilded Age celebrates women carving out their own paths, a theme that resonates deeply in this story of sisters asserting their independence and creative voices during a turbulent American era.
The Handmaiden
Film · 2016
Shares a thread with The Gilded Age: Period Drama.
This film echoes the hidden tensions and class-based manipulation found in The Gilded Age, focusing on the precarious position of a maid whose loyalty becomes a key to a greater deception.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
For those interested in the historical context of racial identity presented in The Gilded Age, this series provides a crucial, non-fiction examination of the systemic roots of American social hierarchy.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
Viewers invested in the long-form character development and complex community webs of The Gilded Age will find a similar depth in this long-running, character-driven exploration of social and family life.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Gilded Age set in New York City?
Yes, The Gilded Age takes place in New York City beginning in 1882. The story follows Marian Brook as she moves from the South to live with her aunts and navigates the social complexities of her wealthy new neighbors during this historical era.
What is the premise of The Gilded Age?
The Gilded Age follows Marian Brook, an orphaned daughter of a Southern general, who moves to New York City to live with her rigid aunts. She befriends Peggy Scott and becomes involved in the lives of wealthy neighbors while deciding whether to follow social rules or forge her own path.
Who created The Gilded Age?
The Gilded Age, which premiered in 2022, was created by Julian Fellowes. The series focuses on the social dynamics and class struggles of 1882 New York City, centering on the experiences of Marian Brook and her interactions with the city's wealthy elite.
Does The Gilded Age feature characters from the South?
Yes, the main character of The Gilded Age is Marian Brook, who is the orphaned daughter of a Southern general. Her move from the South to New York City to live with her conventional aunts serves as the primary catalyst for the events in the series.