Introduction: "The allure of tradition" -- Mastering television -- Upstairs, downstairs and Downton Abbey -- The politics and culture of being Masterpiece -- Loving literature -- History lessons -- Masterly mysteries -- Quality assurance -- Acting up -- A Masterpiece travel guide

"What accounts for Masterpiece's longevity and influence? This book offers two reasons: the power of its drama and its aspirational appeal. Masterpiece delivers great stories, stories that transport, enthrall, enrich, and comfort us. But it also speaks to a uniquely American belief in the possibility of self-improvement, even self-transformation, through the acquisition of "culture""--