The Love School (broadcast in the U.S. as The Brotherhood) is a BBC television drama series originally broadcast in 1975 about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, written by John Hale, Ray Lawler, Robin Chapman and John Prebble. It was directed by Piers Haggard, John Glenister and Robert Knights. It was shown during January and February 1975.[1] It includes six episodes, each episode is 75 minutes in length.

The Love School
Holman Hunt caresses Annie Miller while painting The Light of the World
Created byJohn Hale
Ray Lawler
Robin Chapman
John Prebble
Developed byBBC Television
StarringBen Kingsley
Peter Egan
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducersPiers Haggard
John Glenister
Robert Knights
Running time75 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC2
Release22 January (1975-01-22) –
26 February 1975 (1975-02-26)

The drama was a significant influence on the subsequent 2009 series Desperate Romantics.[2] It was also the basis of the historical novel of the same name by Hale.[3] Until a few years ago, it appeared never to have been released on DVD anywhere in the world despite fans calling for such a release on IMDb and elsewhere. However, on 8 April 2019, the DVD of all six episodes was released thanks to the efforts of the team at Simply Media TV. The DVD consists of 2 discs in PAL format for region 2, with a total run time of 450 minutes.

Cast

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Episodes

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# Episode Director Screenwriter Original airdate
1"The Brotherhood"Robert KnightsJohn Hale22 January 1975 (1975-01-22)
In 1848, social unrest abounds. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a secret group of young artists, forms in order to take on the sclerotic Royal Academy. The original three members are joined by four friends.
2"An Impeccable Elopement"Piers HaggardJohn Hale29 January 1975 (1975-01-29)
Art critic John Ruskin and his wife Effie travel to Scotland with John Everett Millais, one of leaders of the PRB. Millais falls in love with Effie and learns that the Ruskins' marriage is a sham.
3"Seeking the Bubbles"Piers HaggardRay Lawler5 February 1975 (1975-02-05)
Millais has married Effie after the annulment of her first marriage. William Holman Hunt and Millais both become successful artists.
4"Remember Me"John GlenisterRobin Chapman12 February 1975 (1975-02-12)
Dante Gabriel Rossetti's life and relationships become complicated, especially after the tragic death of his wife Lizzie.
5"Beata Beatrix"Piers HaggardRobin Chapman19 February 1975 (1975-02-19)
Rossetti acquires a follower in William Morris but his life is troubled by drug addiction, and he becomes increasingly isolated.
6"The Artisan"Piers HaggardJohn Prebble26 February 1975 (1975-02-26)
Pre-Raphaelitism begins to disintegrate when William Morris adopts a new ideal in socialism.

Notes

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  1. ^ BFI database
  2. ^ Chloe Johnson, "Presenting the Pre-Raphaelites: From Radio Reminiscences to Desperate Romantics", Visual Culture in Britain, 1941-8361, Volume 11, Issue 1, 1 March 2010, pp. 67–92.
  3. ^ John Hale, The Love School, Macmillan, 1975.
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