Why Portmeirion?
Why Number 6?
Why did he resign?

George Markstein was story editor of thirteen episodes of The Prisoner, co-author of the opening episode, Arrival, and the man responsible for identifying and incentivising the majority of the scriptwriters on the 1960s TV series that starred Patrick McGoohan and was filmed in Portmeirion.

A wartime career in journalism led to exciting work in television with a fine collection of TV programmes with award-winning screenplays to his name. A string of gripping espionage novels followed, as well as review work for the media.

It is probably for creating The Prisoner that he will be most remembered. But did he create it? Subsequent years of research by Prisoner aficionados has revealed conflicting testimony from many other members of the series' crew.

George Markstein and The Prisoner examines the various claims, counterclaims and downright confusion that has muddled the genesis of one of the most controversial and iconic television programmes of all time with screenings and rescreenings throughout the world, utterly memorable, and regularly registering in "best of" listings and popularity polls.

George Markstein and The Prisoner also takes a thorough look at the rest of his career inside and outside television with Patrick McGoohan interviewer Roger Goodman bringing together knowledgeable writers and historic material to provide a book, invaluable to both the casual fan and the ardent TV show historian.

Correspondence from Markstein himself, the transcript of his only in-depth, audience-participation interview, an "alternative" resolution to the series and a number of never before published photographs fill the pages all to set you on the trail of who created The Prisoner.

Book Reviews on Amazon:

"Very impressive - an essential purchase for Prisoner fans" - Steven Paul Davies, author of 'The Prisoner Handbook'.

"Impressively researched and very informative." - Robert Fairclough, author of 'The Prisoner: The Official Companion to the Classic TV Series'.

"Thoroughly enjoyed. Fascinating especially to have some more light shed on the mysterious Markstein. Beautifully presented too. Lovely item to have in my collection. Kudos to you!" - Rupert Booth, author of Patrick McGoohan's recent biography.

"I learnt so much from your splendid Prisoner book and feel that the work really fills a gap in the literature on the series. I was particularly impressed at how you use evidence from different sources when considering the "for" and "against" perspectives on the various arguments. In a phrase: "informative, well balanced and nicely judged". It's also beautifully illustrated! My knowledge of 'The Prisoner' today would be significantly poorer without it." - Andrew K Shenton, author of 'Unique But Similar: The Prisoner Compared'.

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Your interview with George Markstein was a revelation and brought him to life" - Leslie Glenn, author of 'The Prisoner Interrogations'.

"What an excellent piece of work. Extremely accomplished. The content is informative, original, gripping. As a work of reference it brings fresh information and it is an insightful portrait of the man." - David Barrie, founder Six of One, The Prisoner Appreciation Society.

Why Portmeirion? Why Number 6? Why did he resign? These questions and more are all answered with correspondence from Markstein himself, the transcript of his only audience-participation interview, an "alternative" resolution to the series and several never before published photographs and memorabilia, all to set you on the trail of who created The Prisoner. The hardback edition is limited to 500 copies, individually numbered and signed by four of the contributors to the book. A5, 100 pages.

 

George Markstein And The Prisoner is available at Portmeirion and from Amazon.

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