A house of cards (Dobbs)

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A house of cards (original title: House of Cards ) is a novel by the British writer Michael Dobbs from 1989. The political thriller describes the amalgamations between corrupt politicians and compliant journalists in Great Britain . The novel was published in Germany in 1992. The novel is the first part of a trilogy with Francis Urquhart as the main character; He was followed in 1992 To Play the King (German translation: Um Kopf und Krone ) and 1994 The Final Cut (German translation: Schach dem König ). When writing the novels, Dobbs was able to draw on his own experience in leading positions in British politics.

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After the resignation of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1990, the Conservative Party is led by Henry Collingridge, who is considered weak and lacking in ideas. The parliamentary majority, which was reduced in the last elections, threatens to shrink further through local by-elections. The up-and-coming journalist Mattie works as a political reporter for the British daily newspaper The Chronicle after moving to London . The parliamentary executive director of the Tories, Francis Urquhart, feels that he has been left out again when the cabinet posts are awarded. He lets the party leak out and spins an intrigue in which Collingridge's brother allegedly speculates on shares in a pharmaceutical company that is supposed to receive government contracts, and thus comes under suspicion of insider trading . Collingridge must resign. Urquhart wants to become Prime Minister with the help of a media mogul, but Mattie gradually sees through his machinations.

Adaptations

In the years 1990 to 1995, each of the three novels was filmed by the BBC in a miniseries with four episodes each:

  • A House of Cards (1990) - DVD / Blu-ray title: House of Cards - The Original or House of Cards - The complete first mini-series
  • Um Kopf und Krone (1993) - DVD / Blu-ray title: House of Cards - Um Kopf und Krone or House of Cards - The complete second mini-series
  • The Final Cut (1995) - DVD / Blu-ray title: House of Cards - the final chapter or House of Cards - the complete third mini-series

The trilogy received 14 BAFTA nominations and two BAFTA wins; it was voted the 84th Best British Show in History .

On the basis of the first novel and its BBC adaptation, a series under the title House of Cards was adapted by director David Fincher as an in-house production of the Internet service Netflix . The main role is played by Kevin Spacey .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Dobbs, Joachim Honnef (trans.): A house of cards. Bastei-Verlag Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1992, ISBN 3-404-13416-8
  2. ↑ Michael Dobbs, Joachim Honnef (trans.): To head and crown. Bastei-Verlag Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1996, ISBN 3-404-13781-7
  3. ↑ Michael Dobbs, Bettina Arnold (trans.): Schach dem König. Bastei-Verlag Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1997, ISBN 3-404-13877-5
  4. ↑ a b Literary Lunches - Previous Lunch - Baroness (Anne) Jenkin in conversation with Lord (Michael) Dobbs ( Memento of the original from October 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on Wellbeing of Women , a conversation from 2011  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk
  5. ↑ A house of cards on imdb.com
  6. ↑ To head and crown on imdb.com
  7. ↑ The Final Cut on imdb.com
  8. ↑ Denis Krick on Spiegel Online : New series "House of Cards": The dark side of power