This book is about the life and work of David Milch, the writer who created NYPD Blue, Deadwood and a number of other important US television dramas. It provides a detailed account of Milch's journey from academia to the heights of the television industry, locating him within the traditions of achievement in American literature over the past in order to evaluate his contribution to fiction writing. It also draws on behind-the-scenes materials to analyse the significance of NYPD Blue, Deadwood, John From Cincinatti and Luck. Contributing to academic debates in film, television and literary studies on authorship, the book will be of interest to fans of Milch's work, as well as those engaged with the intersection between literature and popular television.
As the creator of NYPD Blue and Deadwood, David Milch is one of the most celebrated television writers of his generation. This book provides the first focused scholarly analysis of his life and work. Following Milch's journey from academia to the heights of the television industry, the book explores his working practices and major themes, notably human fragility, failure and redemption. In doing so it provides original insights into the relationship between auteurship and television, while locating Milch within the traditions of achievement in American literature over the past in order to evaluate his contribution to fiction writing. It also draws on behind-the-scenes materials to analyse the significance of NYPD Blue (1993-2005), Deadwood (2004-6), John from Cincinnati (2007) and Luck (2011-12).Contributing to academic debates in film, television and literary studies on authorship, the book will be of interest to fans of Milch's work, as well as those engaged with the intersection between literature and popular television.
