The "Prisoner": The Official Companion to the Classic TV Series (Paperback)

After the foreword and an introduction from Robert Fairclough, we get on to the first section, Number One. This section traces McGoohan's childhood, television and film career ending with his most recent work in Braveheart, and The Simpson's voice over etc. This section reveals nothing new but is an interesting read just the same.
Section Two titled Drugs, Vietnam, the Bomb and The Beatles describes why The Prisoner was filmed at the right time, embracing and reflecting the then new drug culture, fear of the bomb and the inclusion of The Beatles in its soundtrack. The cold war, scientific breakthrough and development and comparisons with films of the era like The Trial (1962) and Lindsay Anderson's later film 'If...(1968)' and why and how the series has been elevated to cult status. This is a fascinating chapter and makes for a more in depth view than just another episode review book.

Reviews are there, and they too are done in a painstakingly well-researched way. Each episode review starts with a brief, but not too brief, synopsis followed by more in-depth analysis. Sections include who was number two for that episode; in what order is was or should have been shown and general information. Included are some well-produced photographs, which are certainly on par with the French book The Prisoner - a televisionary masterpiece published back in 1989 (1990 in Britain). The Jack Shampan artwork is also included in these sections, enabling the viewer to compare the artwork with the actual sets. We get to glimpse some of the Borehamwood sets including the mock up of the old peoples home and the backdrops being prepared for Number 6 and Madame Engadine's car journey for A, B and C. This section also includes production information, writer's history and comparison information. What could have been another boring read of episode synopsis, is prepared, in such a way, it is quite unputdownable!

Sections such as 'A Home for Fallen Buildings' includes a look at all the Portmeirion location. A history of not only the village (Portmeirion) but also includes photographs of Prisoner extras. Mr Fairclough has also included the village breakaway section, which was produced by Cult TV magazine (now defunct), which gives us an artist's view (Graham Bleathman 1998) of where all the hidden chambers beneath the village may be. This includes the rocket, the embryo and surveillance rooms etc.

Six of One gets a mention and is perhaps a little too brief, maybe because of lack of space.

I did discover one or two errors such as Robert stating that the Green Dome's (Portmeirion's Pantheon) copper roof had faded over the years, when in fact the roof was replaced with a copper dome several years ago. The original was of wood construction. Also in a section about The Laughing Prisoner starring Jools Holland first shown on Channel Four in 1987, Robert states that Jools appears to be squatting in The Prisoner's house in 1 Buckingham Place, when in fact the film shows him using both the interior and exterior of Telfords' Tower in Portmeirion. These are however minor faults and all in all, the book does deliver.

A eesential buy for Prisoner fans.