Kathleen writes “Harold Pinter honored with The Nobel Prize in Literature 2005
is generally seen as the foremost representative of British drama in the second half of the 20th century. That he occupies a position as a modern classic is illustrated by his name entering the language as an adjective used to describe a particular atmosphere and environment in drama: “Pinteresque”.
Since 1973, Pinter has won recognition as a fighter for human rights, alongside his writing. He has often taken stands seen as controversial.
In his Nobel lecture December 7, 2005 Pinter observed:
the majority of politicians, on the evidence available to us, are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed.
—You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good. It’s a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis.
Here is a BBC timeline of Pinter’s work juxtaposed with socila political and cultural events.”
another view
Here is Jay Nordlinger’s comments on Pinter and the Nobel winners in general.
Here’s a piece on Pinter shortly after 9/11.
Greg is right
Harold Pinter hates the USA. He should never be allowed to come here, he should be on no-fly lists. He will destroy our civilization from within.
Re:Greg is right
Oh I doubt he’ll destroy civilization. His reputation does more damage to the Nobel Prize then it does anything else.
to watch Pinter’s lecture
go here