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This brilliant and fascinating 1981 landmark TV series by the BBC has never been released on vhs or dvd, despite his other series' proving very popular. Why?
It's six episodes covered Anglo-saxon Kings Arthur, Alfred, Athelstan, Ethelred II, Erik Bloodaxe and also William! He also covered the important input of kings Edmund Ironside, Edward the Elder and Harold II.
Written and presented by the charismatic Wood as he energetically brushed through woodlands to get to dolmens and old burhs etc, with the cameraman struggling to keep up, the enthusiasm and passion of this Anglo-saxon-speaking historian was evident from the start. And the great incidental music, creative graphics and locations only added to the whole series.
Yet it's also his only work never released on vhs or dvd! I've emailed the BBC several times but get the same old waffle about archives and copyrights etc. With constant interest in this period, surely this series would sell well, as his other series do?
You'd have thought that this renowned historian would be the champion of Anglo-Saxon history, and want to release this series?
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Release of Thje Dark Ages on DVD
After the series "The World at War", the BBC produced a later series "The Cold War". To this day I cannot understand why they haven't released it on DVD. Reading your comment reminded me of this. Maybe it's just the BBC.
Michael Wood- In search of...the Dark ages
This brilliant and fascinating 1981 landmark TV series by the BBC has never been released on vhs or dvd, despite his other series' proving very popular. Why?
It's six episodes covered Anglo-saxon Kings Arthur, Alfred, Athelstan, Ethelred II, Erik Bloodaxe and also William! He also covered the important input of kings Edmund Ironside, Edward the Elder and Harold II.
Written and presented by the charismatic Wood as he energetically brushed through woodlands to get to dolmens and old burhs etc, with the cameraman struggling to keep up, the enthusiasm and passion of this Anglo-saxon-speaking historian was evident from the start. And the great incidental music, creative graphics and locations only added to the whole series.
Yet it's also his only work never released on vhs or dvd! I've emailed the BBC several times but get the same old waffle about archives and copyrights etc. With constant interest in this period, surely this series would sell well, as his other series do?
You'd have thought that this renowned historian would be the champion of Anglo-Saxon history, and want to release this series?
Re: Michael Wood- In search of...the Dark ages
It is a pity that not enough is shown about the Dark Ages. This is a period, like pre-Roman times that new findings are showing so much about the people. I am not a historian but these are periods that are mostly ignored except for Boudicca. I would like to see this version by Michael Wood
Re: Michael Wood- In search of...the Dark ages
The book by Michael Wood was published by Penguin in 1994; Checkmark Books, New York in 2001. I’ve got the 1981 BBC edition, based upon the In Search Of series. And I believe the most recent is 2005.
His In Search of Myths and Heroes, In Search of Shakespeare, In Search of the Trojan War, and In The Footsteps of Alexander The Great, and Conquistadors, are available on DVD. Individually or in a box set. All are on video. But sadly, you're right, I don’t think The Dark Ages has been put on DVD.