Channel 4 has lauched its Story of the Novel series and started predictably with Daniel Defoe. All the usual suspects had been rounded up; John Mullan, John Richetti, David Lodge and A. S. Byatt, to discuss aforementioned Defoe, Richardson, Fielding and Austen. Not many surprises, but a well-crafted program - I just wish that their statements were less definitive: Robinson Crusoe was not only based on the adventures of Alexander Selkirk. I don't like Robinson Crusoe much, by the way, I find the man himself to be appaling and the chapter heading 'I am seldom idle' annoys me every time I think of the text. What's wrong with being idle, exactly??? At least once in a while?! I also wish that Channel 4 would think creatively and get rid of the actor/actress who reads from any given text and speaks to the camera in character. Enough of that now!
posted by charlotte at 17:23 - comment