Fargo: This Is a True Story

by Noah Hawley

The making of the acclaimed, award-winning TV show told exactly as it occurred.

From bestselling, Edgar Award-winning author Noah Hawley ( Before the Fall ) comes the perfect collector's item to the hit TV show based on the film Fargo . This companion to the first three seasons of Fargo , which Hawley created and executive produced, is packed with script selections-including all three pilots-candid, behind-the-scenes photography, exclusive interviews with cast and crew, and much, much more.

Learn about what makes Lorne Malvo tick in a fascinating conversation with Billy Bob Thornton. Discover Kirsten Dunst's and Jesse Plemons's favorite scenes. Find out what it was like for Ewan McGregor to play both Stussy brothers. Hear from Patrick Wilson, Carrie Coon, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and many others as Hawley, in this gorgeous, illuminating journey, takes you behind the curtain to reveal the making of one of the best shows on television.

Genres: Nonfiction, Tv

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 2019

About the author

Noah Hawley is an Emmy, Golden Globe, PEN, Critics' Choice, and Peabody Award-winning author, screenwriter, and producer. He has published four novels and penned the script for the feature film Lies and Alibis. He created, executive produced, and served as showrunner for ABC's My Generation and The Unusuals and was a writer and producer on the hit series Bones. Hawley is currently executive producer, writer, and showrunner on FX's award-winning series, Fargo.

Reviews

[Lew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fargo the TV series is one my favorite series and therefore was excited to read this coffee table size book. It is a gorgeous looking book with beautifully reproduced still photos from the show. Unfortunately, that is all that is good about the book unless you like reading TV scripts. I would rather re-watch the show than read the script. Approximately, 78% of the book is actual scripts from the three seasons. The script for each of the three first episodes are included in their entirety. Noah Hawley is a great writer and show runner but based on the interviews in this book, IMO he is not good at interviewing people.
I would still recommend that any fan of the Fargo series check this book out at least to look at all the great photographs. I'm sure there are fans out there that will like reading the scripts and the lame interviews. There are a lot more informative interviews on YouTube.
One last important note for Fargo Fans, there is a two page teaser script for the first episode of season four.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made my nerdy Fargo heart happy. I've always been obsessed with behind-the-scenes information, especially regarding my favorite tv shows and the like. I learned a lot from those interviews even though I thought I already knew a lot, so it did not disappoint. Plus it was a ton of fun reading full scripts.

I would give it 10 stars but I'm always a bit miffed when a book like this jumps the gun before the finalized product--season four hasn't started yet (which I'm very excited for)--so obviously this isn't a complete collection of the series. Hopefully this book gets expanded upon when Hawley ends the show for good.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, Noah Hawley and his writing, characters and storytelling are amazing. The show is A++.
The book was great.

[Beththena Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and fun to read screenplays for the show. I haven’t seen the show but I’m now interested in seeing what he will do with Season 4 of the show.

[Olivia Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is realistically more of a 4/5 stars but i love this show with my whole heart so it gets 5.

“You are Yuri Gurka, Cossack of the plains, grandchild of the Wolves’ Hundred. I have a message from Helga Abrecht and Rabbi Nachman.”

noah hawley’s writing is amazing. i will probably reread these scripts over and over again. comfort show and comfort book!

[Mjdrean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I thought it would be. Every bit of dialog from every scene was in this book! There was some narrative. It felt more like an excuse to write a book that was slam-bam.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge fan of the series, and I needed something to tide me over while they are making season 4. This was pretty great, though I would have liked a few more tidbits of information on certain things that happen in the show. The recent interviews with previous starring cast members was great, though a few were definitely missing! (Would love to hear Bokeem's thoughts on Mike Milligan, for example.) If you're a fan of the show at all, I highly recommend checking this out. It's a pretty quick read for one of the heavier books I've ever checked out of the library.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only read the screenplay for the pilot of the first season and have not read much for the following two seasons. But Mr. Hawley has such a fantastic understanding of who people are and the human condition through use of dialogue and themes. While reading this screenplay, I genuinely had trouble putting it down since I was so captivated by Lorne Malvo and Lester Nygaard. I am glad that this book does not include season 4 material as that would have brought my rating down, since the first three seasons are some of the best seasons of television ever put out.

[David Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly what I needed - a reminder of exactly how great this show is. But this gives you all new reasons to believe it. The show is so good that you knew the scripts had to be great too but seeing them on the page. Seeing the novelistic approach Hawley takes with the description. So much of the colour and life that ends up on the screen is there already.

[Victoria W · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the photos and some of the behind the scenes info, the book was mostly just scripts from select episodes in seasons 1-3, since I’ve watched all five seasons I glossed over all scripts. I hoping for more behind the scenes trivia and more about Hawley’s creative process and inspiration for the seasons.

[Nau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book's dominated with the 3-seasons' scripts, it brings me joy to look at the interviews and behind the scenes of Fargo (honestly, if you're not watching the show, what are you doing?). I wonder when we will have extra pages for Season 4...

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treat for fans of the series Fargo. It's full of Noah Hawley's screenplays for a full episode from each season as well as excerpts from various episodes and interviews between Hawley and the cast. Reading this book has me wanting to rewatch the entire series.

[Berit Ericson · Rating 3 out of 5]

my love for this show is real and this reminded me exactly why I love it so much. can’t wait for season four.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Kindle version of this book is virtually unreadable. What were they thinking?!

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.1 good coffee table book if you are a tan of the Fargo TV series