Eric Hobsbawn talks to Tristram Hunt
The 93 year old Hobsbawm was eloquent and incisive. His ideas, which would be feared as radical by many, were expressed in a calm manner backed up with evidence. I found him quite convincing. Her certainly convinced me to consider buying his book although he did say 'it's not a page turner, its a bit academic'.
The questions caused some reaction from the audience. One a statement so long and irrelevant that when it finally turned into a question caused the audience to applaud. Other questions were manipulated and edited by Hunt who didn't want David Cameron and his party to have the last say.
The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens and the Search for the Good Life
Anyone who ends their lecture exhorting the audience to raise a glass of wine, whatever the toast, gets my vote. Even more so when the subject of the toast is Socrates.
Bettany's infectious enthusiasm for her subject is a delight to experience. She spoke at around 140 wpm for a solid hour so that there was no time for questions. We followed to the bookshop afterwards but because the queue was so long, and slightly hostile, we went to sort out the toast instead.
Will try for a signed copy tomorrow.
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