Best movies & TV Shows like The Beauty of Books

Readers across the world are in love with author Sally Carmichael's series of romance novels that chronicle the epic love story between a human girl and a merman. But no one knows that Sally Carmichael is really Simon Hayes, a bitter, serious novelist - and Simon would like to keep it that way. When he is forced to meet a movie star about the movie adaptation, his life of anonymity starts to crumble.

For decades, a nice Jewish couple ran Circus of Books, a porn shop and epicenter for gay LA. Their director daughter documents their life and times.

Lifestyle guru and romance expert, Joanna Moret, has developed a fool-proof strategy for ending holiday loneliness and it's all detailed in her best-selling book, The Love Audit. After appearing on a morning show, she is offered the biggest opportunity of her career—to throw the MacAllen Holiday Gala—and if all goes well she'll get her own TV show. Little do her fans, or the MacAllen's, know that she is newly single and can't seem to apply her principles to her own love life. Joanna asks the morning show producer, Ted to pretend they are a couple or risk being exposed as a fraud.

This trial of the century was the first nationally televised TRUE LIFE soap opera, a tangle of salacious plotlines. OJ SIMPSON TRIAL: THE REAL STORY reveals the true story behind the trial of O.J. Simpson the most highly publicized American criminal trial, ever. The documentary relies on contemporaneous archival material alone to illustrate the course of events. Without the interruption of modern interviews to provide hindsight, the storytelling triggers the same raw emotion and real-time perspective as when the events transpired all those years ago.

This fascinating documentary reveals the behind the scenes story of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, drawing on rare archive footage and made using eyewitness accounts of participants and historical experts.

At 89 years old, Stan Lee's name appears on more than one BILLION comics in 75 countries in 25 languages. Arguably the most recognized name in comics, Stan Lee has co-created over 500 legendary pop culture characters including Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Iron Man, Thor and The Hulk. Stan continues to create new material and entertain fans of all ages with fantastic stories and characters in all areas of entertainment. With Great Power: the Stan Lee Story, explores the vivid life and imagination of Stan Lee, from the early days of his Depression-era upbringing through the Marvel Age of Comics and beyond! The film uncovers original transcripts, illustrations, photographs and stories of Lee's fascinating journey from his early years at Timely Comics and World War Two, the comic book industry's censorship battle of the 1950's led by Dr. Fredric Wertham, the dawn of Marvel Comics and the legendary characters Stan co-created, to his current company POW! Entertainment.

With archive film including home movies and FBI surveillance material, the award-winning Crime Inc. tells the true story behind the world's most powerful crime syndicate, the Mob, La Cosa Nostra or The Mafia. Interviews with mob members turned informants, including former boss Jimmy 'The Weasel' Fratianno, reveal the inner workings of the mafia, from the ritual of becoming a "made" man and their code of honor, to the harrowing and detailed descriptions of their work, accompanied by equally graphic images and film footage.

Lucy Worsley, chief curator of the historic royal palaces, takes us through 800 years of domestic history by exploring the British home through four rooms, meeting experts and historians on the way.

Explore the nitty-gritty of ground warfare in an engaging and unpredictable way. From Ancient Egypt to Afghanistan in 2008; Crusader castle-builders to 21st century robotics experts and from Roman slashing weapons to AK47s – we tell the fascinating story of how Ground Warfare has evolved through more than 3000 years of human experience. Featuring hands-on demonstrations, lively reconstruction archaeology interspersed with dramatic archive footage and international expert opinion, this powerful four-part series demonstrates everything from how chain mail stops an arrow and how night-vision goggles can make a mouse look the size of a small dog, to how cutting edge 'invisibility shields' can hide a tank.

Archival footage and interviews with historians mark this fascinating documentary on the 1950s, based on David Halberstam's bestseller. Among the subjects covered: work and the family; the impact of TV; the Cold War; and the beginnings of the civil-rights movement and the sexual revolution.

Bear Grylls takes his survival expertise one step further as he reveals the incredible stories of ordinary people stranded in devastatingly dire situations. Coupled with incredible archive footage and interviews with the survivors, Bear will pit himself against the very same dangers and scenarios, reliving their journeys through first-hand experience and showing us how to survive through some of the world's most desolate landscapes.

Classic books are considered with a fresh eye. Returning to the authors' original manuscripts and letters, expert writers and performers bring their personal insights to these great works.

Each pulse-pounding hour-long episode centers around an incredible and dangerous romance. Shocking crime, kidnapping or even murder is only half of the story! In the end, the “true love” that draws these couples together isn’t the kind that celebrates silver anniversaries – instead it leads to cross-country manhunts, bizarre cover-ups and dramatic trials. Driven by powerful, real-life stories, Fatal Attraction weaves together intimate, first-person interviews, exclusive interrogation footage and rare archival material. Along the way, it gives you a glimpse into the dark heart of a dangerous romance. Listen as the key players, family of the survivors and those that investigated the horrific crimes reveal the secrets to each sordid tale. Fatal Attraction… because love doesn’t just hurt, it can kill!

The documentary - featuring a combination of rarely seen archival footage, new segments filmed on location worldwide, and interviews with leading international experts - also uncovers the untold story of the central role Irish Americans played in the lead-up to the rebellion. Although defeated militarily, the men and women of the Easter Rising would wring a moral victory from the jaws of defeat and inspire countless freedom struggles throughout the world - from Ireland to India.

A six-part documentary series that takes a deeper look into the stories, people and events that have transformed the world of comic books.

In this unique take on British history, Professor Alice Roberts explores Britain's rich and varied past through the stories of individual towns and cities. In each programme Alice studies one key period in history by delving into the secrets of a historic town that encapsulates the era, providing an accurate impression of what life was really like at key moments in our turbulent past. At the climax of each programme, cutting-edge CGI reveals the entire historic town in all its former glory.

Explore the Bush family’s internal dynamics: the influential matriarchs, sibling ambitions and unceasing competitive spirit which drove them to power. Through archival footage and interviews with historians, journalists, political figures and Bush family members, the series reveals a story of triumph, tragedy, heroism, faith, and an evolving conservatism.

Explore Richard Nixon’s life and times; tracking his rise, fall, incredible comeback and political destruction during some of America’s most tumultuous decades. From his early political maneuvers in California, to the game-changing Kennedy-Nixon debates through his disgraceful Watergate exit, featuring never-before-seen footage this fully archive based series offers fresh insight into a riveting story of politics, power and scandal.

Delve into the world of video game box art with the artists responsible for some of gaming’s most iconic images ever created. Hear about the creation process, discover easter eggs hidden in plain sight, see alternate cover art options, and learn how the gaming industry evolved from infancy until now. Welcome to Video Game Box Art: The Stories Behind the Covers.

Through extensive archive and expert interviews this series explores the stories behind mankind's greatest engineering disasters.

From the producers of "The Kennedys," this six-part miniseries tells the incredible, dramatic and emotional tale of the British Royal Family known as The Windsors. Using stunning archive and interviews with insiders and experts, the series weaves together the true story of the Windsor dynasty.

The story of bookshop owner, Dog and his best friend, Pug. Whenever they have a problem or a question, they look for the answer in one of their beloved books.

An international team of archaeological experts reveal the true stories behind ancient Egypt's most infamous mummies, using modern forensic science, they uncover tales of life and death in one of history's most mysterious civilizations.

Narrated by Sterling K. Brown, this six-part docuseries takes a comprehensive look at the remarkable and unexpected story of Abraham Lincoln by exploring his complicated inner world, seamlessly interweaving his tragic personal life with his history making political career. The series uses a mix of expert interviews, cinematic recreations, rare artifacts, and never before broadcast photos and letters to take viewers on a transcendent journey into the life and times of this iconic U.S. president.

The true stories of the successes, failures, thrills and miseries that accompany the kind of wealth that ordinary people can never understand. Using a combination of powerful interviews, unique archive and atmospheric visuals, Rich & Shameless goes behind the public facade to reveal the dangers of great prosperity.

Reveals the facts behind battles we know barely anything about. Digging deep into the archives and quizzing experts and journalists, this UK series takes the audience through some of the most controversial, covered up and shocking military events of recent times.

Follows the cold case and controversial investigation into the murder of Beverly Lynn Smith in her home in Oshawa, Ontario. Woven together from first hand accounts, expert interviews, family archives, and rare access to key participants, The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith is an unpredictable tale that explores the unrelenting enigma of ethics and accountability in this provocative criminal case.

Chip and Joanna take on their biggest fixer yet: the famous castle in Waco, Texas. As they breathe new life into the historic landmark, they must also tackle its challenging infrastructure while preserving its original beauty.

The real-life stories behind unique homicide cases with in-depth interviews, authentic archival material and cinematic recreations all packaged together into a fresh spin in the genre.

Sex: A Naughty History, an original series from HISTORY, follows actress, singer and presenter Amanda Holden and bestselling author and historian Dan Jones as they explore how, through the ages, sexual behavior has influenced civilizations. The series uses archival footage and drama reconstructions-which Amanda Holden and Dan Jones participate in-to highlight the best sex stories in history. Amanda and Dan also meet experts in the history ofsex, including sex historian Dr. Kate Lister, author of "ACurious History of Sex," international lecturer in Dominance Studies Anne O Nomis, author of "The History Arts of theDominatrix," and the late Jacqueline Gold CBE, general manager of Ann Summers, in her very last television interview.

This new CBC documentary series uses contemporary interviews and archival footage to chronicle Canada’s long history of anti-Black racism, including episodes on police brutality and the rise of hip-hop music.

Each episode opens up a cabinet of curiosities to reveal the strangest-but-true stories in human history, brought to life through dynamic recreation, compelling graphics, and arresting archival. From Boston’s Great Molasses Flood to a man who survived being struck by lightning not once, not twice, but SEVEN times, these seemingly tall tales all actually happened, and our cast of experts dives into the historical record to tell you how and why.

Featuring archival footage, insightful interviews with active-duty military members, renowned experts, and historians, "Beyond the Battlefield" takes a closer look at crucial moments in the history of the U.S. Army Special Forces, as well as Marine and Naval Aviation.

American writer and reader Connie Martinson interviews authors on their latest publications.

Expert interviews and gripping reenactments combine to reveal the extraordinary life of Alexander the Great and his burning desire to conquer the world.