In Search of the Trojan War

Michael Wood or to give him his official title, Mr Thinking Woman's Crumpet, is always an erudite and entertaining presenter, never failing with his enthusiasm to bring history alive. Here in this fascinating 6 part documentary series made in the mid 1980's and just released by Roadshow in a 2 disc set, he turns his hand to the much misunderstood Trojan War which for over 3000 years and a recent film turkey has captured our imagination - the names of its heroes, Achilles and Paris and of course Helen have passed into mythic legend.

Stunningly indepth the series follows Wood across the Aegean and from Berlin to Liverpool and all points inbetween and uses the story of the Trojan to present us with pretty much the dawn of western civilisation as we know it.

Wood covers the bulldozing of the ancient mound at Hisarlik, Homer's epic journey (episode 3, The Singer of Tales, is devoted Homer and his Iliad) and even the role of slave women. The best episode is The Empire of Hittites which examines the relationship between the Hittites and the Trojan's and how ancient Hittite clay tablets do a lot to back up Homer's claims of the Trojan war.

Wood never promises to provide definite answers and no oubt we will never truly know whether the War actually happened or whether natural causes brought the city of Troy down but the journey is certainly an interesting and rewarding one for any armchair historian.

extras
A new specially recorded 25 minute interview with Wood and a photo gallery.