‘In Their Own Words’ explores British thinkers with stunning archival footage

Acorn Media Group and the BBC have done the world a great service by making exceptionally rare interviews with British novelists and iconoclasts available on DVD. In Their Own Words features six hours of endlessly interesting audio and visual footage of several iconic voices from the 20th century, including J.R.R. Tolkien, Sigmund Freud, Robert Graves and Virginia Woolf.

Broken into six one-hour documentaries, the DVD digs deep into the history trove to find revealing sound bites and taped interviews of the creme de la creme of British society. These writers and cultural figures changed the world, and to have their words so gloriously brought to life (and preserved) makes In Their Own Words essential viewing.

Each figure receives a few minutes of focus, all culminating in actual footage of them talking about their work. The DVD set’s greatest treasure is the only surviving voice recording of Woolf. It’s an historically important interview, and one that gives a rare glimpse inside the mind of the great writer.

In Their Own Words, in many ways, finds its strength in the differences between the genders. Celebrated female authors from the early 20th century were quite revolutionary in their subject matter and daring uniqueness. Everyone was rewriting the book on what constitutes a novel, but the women’s voices in the DVD shine through as evidence of the burgeoning journey toward equal rights and equal appreciation.

Some interviews are meatier than others. Some interviews are quite revealing, casting the writer in a positive or negative light. The segment on George Orwell and Aldous Huxley is quite interesting, plus the few minutes spent with Evelyn Waugh. (Note to viewers: The BBC has no remaining audio of Orwell’s voice.)

How great it is to see a documentary series that doesn’t rely on dramatic reenactments and omnipotent voiceovers. Although a voice guides us through the 20th century, touching upon everyone from Bertrand Russell to John le Carre, it’s always as an introduction to the main event, which ishearing these voices speak clearly about their work.

Of course, these novelists don’t operate in a vacuum. Each one of them responds and comments about the British empire, world wars, poverty, religion, Nazism and sexuality. These thinkers, these novelists, are testifiers to British history over the last 100 years. But much more than simply being a part of history, they actually changed history and sent it in a variety of directions. When Graham Greene talks (never showing his face on camera), he’s not just talking about his characters and mystery plots. Greene’s work influenced an era, molding together Catholicism, narrative techniques and reportage. The totality of these voices is much more important than any individual work.

In Their Own Words should be cherished by history hounds, but it serves a greater purpose than being relegated as boring educational television. This is an entry point into the minds of people we know by name. This is our ticket to further comprehension. What a glorious ride.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• In Their Own Words

• 2 discs, 6 episodes, 351 minutes

• Featuring J.R.R. Tolkien, Sigmund Freud, George Orwell, Jane Goodall, Salman Rushdie, Evelyn Waugh, Ian Fleming, Margaret Mead, Virginia Woolf, John le Carre, Aldous Huxley, Graham Greene, Martin Amis, Doris Lessing, Fay Weldon, Bertrand Russell, John Maynard Keynes, Susan Sontag and Edward Said, among many others

• Not Rated

• Rating: