The Wire - by Rafael Alvarez (Paperback)

About the Book

"Parts of the book were first published in the United States in 2004 by Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc."--T.p. verso.

Book Synopsis

Widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows ever made, The Wire, often called a novel-as-television, is a Dickensian masterpiece that weaves together complex stories and complicated characters into a sprawling, textured portrait of an American city in decline. The Wire: Truth Be Told is the ultimate companion to this spectacular show. Essays from David Simon, George Pelecanos, Laura Lippman, William F. Zorzi, and others join interviews with the show's creators, entertaining summaries of all sixty episodes and overviews of each of its seasons. Above all, The Wire: Truth Be Told offers a captivating behind the scenes look at the show, from the struggle to get it on the air, to the response from Baltimore's residents and politicians, to the fascinating true stories and real life inspiration behind favorite scenes and characters. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of photos, this is a must have book and a fitting guide to, and celebration of, a monumental show.

Review Quotes

"Not the usual coffee-table photo book, but something substantial, complex, honest, challenging, revealing, funny, and also unprecedented, and unique--a book, in other words, worthy of The Wire." -- Tony Kushner

"The breadth and ambition of The Wire are unrivaled . . . taken cumulatively over the course of a season--any season--it's an astonishing display of writing, acting, and storytelling that must be considered alongside the best literature and filmmaking in the modern era." -- Tim Goodman

"The Wire will knock the breath out of you . . . literary television that broadens the mind and blows the heart open . . . a beautiful, brave series." -- Virginia Heffernan