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Amazon.co.uk Review
Originally broadcast in 1985, In Search of the Trojan War followed the successful formula established by his first historical detective series, In Search of the Dark Ages, and firmly established Michael Wood as the most personable of TV historians. Wood is not only a born TV presenter, he's got both academic gravitas and narrative skill to craft a compelling mystery from the archaeological, literary and mythological sources. Over six hour-long programmes, Wood marshals the disparate strands of evidence to present as fully rounded a portrait as possible of both historical and the legendary city of Troy, its central place in Western culture, and the Mycenaean Age itself. From Schliemann's initial cavalier bulldozing of the mound at Hisarlik, to Homer's epics, the Hittite Empire and the role of slave-women, Wood journeys back and forth across the Aegean and elsewhere, from a pre-unification Berlin to Liverpool, to illuminate the dawn of Western literature, myth and history. Did the Trojan War ever happen? Or was the city destroyed by natural causes? Wood doesn't claim to find a definitive answer, of course, but for the viewer it's rewarding enough simply to accompany him on this fascinating journey.
On the DVD: In Search of the Trojan War is presented on two discs in unremarkable 4:3 TV format. There's a new 25-minute interview with Wood, who looks back affectionately on the making of the series. --Mark Walker
DVD Description
Filmed in Greece, Turkey and Berlin, charismatic historian Michael Wood attempts to discover whether there was any truth in Homer's epic poems. Is Hissalik the site of the mighty Troy? Did Helen, Achilles and Agamemnon ever exist? What was the significance of the famous wooden horse? Prepare for dramatic new twists to the tale.
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40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having only seen Michael Wood's more recent (and always excellent) TV films, I was curious to see how this 1985 6-part, 6 hour series would match up. It turns out to be just as good, if not better.
Wood is his usual amiable self and conveys a mix of fact and hypothesis with tremendous enthusiasm, carrying the audience along in the quest to find out the truth about the Trojan War. In doing so he travels all around the Aegean world, tracking down ruined cities in Greece and Turkey. There are also evocative sequences filmed in East Berlin where he seeks out the remnants of the treasure Schliemann found at Troy, smashed to bits by British bombs during World War 2. Throughout, Wood weaves a narrative that brings the Mediterranean Bronze Age world alive, delving into the layers of ruined cities at the site of Troy, visiting sites such as Knossos, Mycenae, Tiryns and Pylos, following the route of a Hittite dignatory across Anatolia etc. It is an enticing mix of history, travel, landscape and geography. There is also a certain youthful lack of restraint about Wood's approach in this series and there are some great scenes, such as where he arrives in a back-of-beyond town and asks locals if they know where the ruins of Homer's "Thisbe of the many pigeons" is (they do!) or where he is seen racing at break-neck speed around mountainous Greek hairpin bends in an awful bright yellow old banger.
Those obsessed with DVD picture quality will no doubt winge as the image does look a bit "old" and grainy at times, but it doesn't detract from the quality of the production and it is, after all, an early 80s TV programme. Bonuses consist of a decent picture gallery showing still images of various sites and artifacts, and a 25 minute interview with Michael Wood in which he talks about the making of the series and brings the story up to date with details of recent findings at Troy and elsewhere.
So, it is a gripping story well told and a worthy release on DVD. Please BBC can we now have all his other series on DVD too?
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although roughly twenty years old this series is still one of the best documentaries on the Trojan War that I have watched. Michael Wood presents the series in a brilliantly precise way and draws evidence from a variety of sources in order to discover weather the Trojan War happened as Homer tells in the Iliad. As well as this, Michael Wood actually visits many of the sights that he talks about, and interviews many of the people involved in the study of Troy. Also he does admit that many of the conclusions that he draws may be biased by his own views, something that many historians would do well to imitate. There are some more modern Trojan documentaries but there are few that are more all encompassing and accurate.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I purchased this item when ordering Michael Wood's recent tv doc "In search of Shakespeare" as I cannot remember seeing it originally and what a superb programme it is. I have always enjoyed Michael Wood's work ever since I was doing my A level history in the early '80s which coincided with his first foray into tv history "In Search of the Dark Ages" which in my view is one of the BBC's landmark shows (when are these being released on DVD?)Wood's passion and enthusiasm for his subject is at once engaging and draws you into the story which is always fasinating and full of suprises. But he never wears his academic credentials on his sleeve and thus is never boring. In Search of the Trojan War was first shown in 1985 which is quite extraordinary as it polishes up very nicely on DVD. From the wild landscape of what was the site of Troy Wood leads us on a great historical detective story: did Troy exist, and were the Trojan wars as related in Homer's epic The Illiad ever fought, who was Helen of Troy? He travels from modern Turkey, to Armenia, through Greece and the mediterranean along the way investigating the great archaeologists like Schleimann who first excavated the site in the 1870s (doing more harm than good, it seems). This is great television and Wood is, in my view, one of the great historical documentary makers of the last 25 years. The set is on 2 dvds with the whole six hours as well as a generous up to date interview with Michael Wood who shares his memories of the programme and brings us up to spped on current perpectives on the topics raised by the programmes he made nearly 20 years ago. There is also a stills picture gallery. Wood is passionate about history and this dvd set shows why; we learn about the past, its conflicts, its world and its mistakes. We learn that history may change but man seems not to. A superb and gripping programme which bears repeat viewing; buy it today and learn something!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
In search of the Trojan WarThe ordering
The ordering of the item was simple and easy to do, delivery was prompt, the item was received by the due date, in good condition. Read more
Published 18 months ago by ann
In Search of the Trojan War (1985 TV mini-series documentary)
Even though this was the first in search of book I read, I started the video series with "In Search of Shakespeare" (2003 TV series documentary). Read more
Published 19 months ago by bernie
The jeans that launched 10 million viewers?
I watched the Brad Pitt version of "Troy" on TV the other night and, whilst I thoroughly enjoyed it (despite knowing how much it differs from Homer's version), it inspired such... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2010 by Andrew A. P. Butler
looks a bit old-fashioned now
I'm not Wood's biggest fan - I only really like the Trojan War, Alexander and Shakespeare. This DVD surprised me by how dated it looked, but I give it a high mark partly because it... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2009 by Fuficius Fango
Troy Story
Troy Story
Originally transmitted in 1985, the young and fresh-faced historian Michael Wood - and those jeans! Read more
Originally transmitted in 1985, the young and fresh-faced historian Michael Wood - and those jeans! Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2009 by Nicholas Casley
A simple review
If you are in any way interested in ancient history or if you're just a fan of exciting detective work and mysteries PLEASE buy this DVD. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2008 by Mr. N. T. Baxter
Absorbing and entertaining
Echoing what everyone else has said, and giving this a very deserved 5 stars. The quality of the 1980's filming didn't even put me off, as Michael Wood's enthusiasm more than... Read more
Published on 27 May 2008 by Juno
Unsurpassed
Glancing at the quality of the reviews here, you perhaps don't need another five star review to persuade you of its merits. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2008 by J. Reffin
The greatest historical documentary of all time
Mancunian-born Michael Wood has been my inspiration as a historian ever since this series aired. INSOTTW blends legend, myth, history, travelogue, art, World War I and World War II... Read more
Published on 8 July 2005 by C. J. Husing
Enthralling!
Michael Wood does it again with this title. At over three hours, this film brings the whole Trojan War to light. Where was Troy? Did it exist? Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2005 by M. A. Shore
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