Wilsberg

Wilsberg is a German TV series based on novels about the fictional private detective Georg Wilsberg. A first TV episode was aired in 1995, five years after the release of the first novel, starring Joachim Król. Since the second episode (aired more than three years later), Georg Wilsberg is portrayed by Leonard Lansink.

Synopsis

Wilsberg is not only a private detective, he also runs a bookshop for antiquarian books^[1] in Münster.^[2] Both jobs mix very well. He purchases whole libraries if he can, preferably striking bargains by buying the bequest of a recently deceased. He has got a business card which gives his side job away. So if there are any doubts concerning the circumstances of the demise, the relatives are inclined to employ Wilsberg. Other customers appreciate the chance to hire a private detective discreetly by pretending they are just looking for rare books when they visit him. Wilsberg investigates cases all over Münster and its outskirts.

Disparities between films and books

While readers of the novels usually know the locations and relish their déjà-vus, the TV show is broadcast throughout Germany and needs to intelligible for all audiences. That required already a different approach. However, it wasn't enough to modify existing stories. Due to the success of the series original scripts were necessary because the number of available novels wasn't sufficient. Some characters appeared therefore more often in the TV series than in the novels and their interactions with protagonist Wilsberg became a part of the show. So the protagonist of the novels and the hero of the TV show have drifted apart but that affected neither the success of the novels nor the success of the TV series.

External links

• Wilsberg at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Homepage for Wilsberg

References