Sir Philip Pullman | Full Address and Q&A | Oxford Union
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Published 2019-06-14
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Author of the bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy, Pullman has been named one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945” by The Times. Northern Lights, the first book in this series, was named an all-time “Carnegie of Carnegies” in 2007. With the recent release ofLa Belle Sauvage, he has reopened the world of Lyra’s Oxford to fans of his original trilogy. Pullman has also been vocal on many book-related and political issues, from campaigning to stop children’s books being labelled as ‘for girls’ or ‘for boys’ to strong criticism of Brexit as symptomatic of Britain’s “post second-world-war delusion that we are still a great power”
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All Comments (21)
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I believe most people don't know what amazing and important contribution Philip Pullman is for our world. His work, covered as fiction, should be a compulsory read for everyone. The opposition he gets from certain "groups" just proves that. I could listen to him forever.
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Phillip's work for the last 12 years has helped me undo major religious trauma in my life as the very person, my mother who traumatized me, also handed me this series when I was 13, unknowing what she was handing me. Its been an honor to witness his work.
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This dude to me was what JK Rowling was to everyone else growing up. The Northern Lights was probably the first 'serious' fantasy novel I read by myself, before I encountered Tolkien. And I'm a Christian. I don't agree with his worldvkiew pertaining to God but he's just such a magical writer and there was so much brilliance in His Dark materials I was able to overlook it.
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I just discovered him at the age of 76! Being an Oxonian drew me to his writing.
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huge fan of the books. didnt realize he was one of the narrators until he started speaking. and whoa, this dude is awesome! great questions and answers. thanks for the upload!
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In year 7, when life was so much better, stumbled over to my school librarian's desk (who was actually wiping books with antiseptic wipes) and asked her (like the idiot I am) ' Scuse me, what's a daemon & how do I pronounce it'. She looked at me like I spoke in a different language and didn't answer me. This interview is precious. I adore everything about Sir PP and, in my opinion, he is one of the last remaining, true, living, great literary minds of our world and I will treasure his imagination forever. I'm so surprised by his humble attitude. If I wrote those books, and impacted so many people, I'd probably act a lot more pompously. I feel so lucky to have access to this YouTube interview. It's inspired me not to give up on my own writing pursuits. Thank you.
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Seriously Oxford Union, your choice of guests are phenomenal. Thank you so much!! I LOVE his books.
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This was a fantastic talk. He is by far one of the greatest world builders we have seen to date that have put many concepts that was within ourselves in a way that we can see them and engage with them in his story world.
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Those were really good questions? The people in that room are way too cool. I wouldn't be able to look at or speak to the author without having a breakdown. '' Your best friend is habit'' I needed that. Talent, hard work and luck. Write every day. This is such a rich interview. Yes I am fangirling over a 73 year old man and I don't have any shame. I'm so sorry for all my obsessed comments. But he speaks so much sense, in such an eloquent way. And he the 'perfect author's voice'. #PhilipPullmanForPrimeMinister
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51:55 Awesome interview session. Love the trilogy… Thx you for sharing your gift with me!
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I love this man
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I stole Northern Lights from the school library thinking it was about weed. Got back into fantasy off that book, I remember waiting for 3rd to be published, I've not been so excited for anything to come out since, amazing read.
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My favorite writer when I started reading for myself as a kid <3
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From what I've seen so far in His Dark materials Pullman seems enlightened!
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Literally my favourite person ever.
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When they start talking about school and libraries in Q & A section, it is so sad because it is true and exactly what had happened to me. As soon as they can get a “C” grade out of someone, you get left behind. I read the His Dark Materials series during secondary school and it took one new teacher talking to me about the series for me to feel a love for learning and reading again. They fired their librarian and I was surprised they even had a proper one to begin with. The system even breaks down teachers who go in with amazing intentions. No one could read my writing and no one bothered to help until exams started. I think I have terrible grammar and punctuation use, but I am so lucky that I enjoyed reading back then to get something out of school.
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I could listen to him for hours. Absolutely wonderful writer. Would love to meet him and talk to him about literature and other topics
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OMG, just listened to edward elgar sospiri...40.30...he is right, they need to use this piece in the adaptation. I love this series...nothing has shaped my attention quiet as much as this series, from the first time i read it at 10. Third time around and i still cry....brilliant man. beautiful soul. His demon would defo be a tawny owl hahahaha
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Philip Pullman is a genius. He just is
