In Search Of The Dark Ages [DVD]

IN SEARCH OF, FOUND AND THOROUGHLY WORTH IT Patience rewarded! The jewel that is "In search of" finally gets to DVD. The passage of time has not changed my mind as to how good Michael Woods delivery is, he brings the past to life with his enthusiasm and analysis. Through painstaking investigation he releases the written word to set the scenes and take you to the places that history and destiny once touched pointing out where they are today. From Boadicea to William the conqueror, eight in all, his journey includes those lesser known household names that were so influential on our culture. Drawing fragments together to relate the story of Eric Bloodaxe to the story of one of our forgotten heroes, Athelstan and the crucial "Great Battle" of 937. A hero of mine, Athelstan was the first true King of all the English and aside from his military prowess had many other qualities and I think we should make 937 as important a date as 1066 ( controversial perhaps ). The transfer to DVD is not totally blemish free and the background music and fashion is of its time. There is no booklet with the 2 CDS but the book that accompanied the series is a good read and has an additional chapter on Sutton Hoo Man and can be obtained at a good price through many options on Amazon. Normally that would reduce the rating but this iconic and well made series for its era can only have one verdict, FIVE STARS. If you are into history and haven't got this yet, click buy and wait for the post,you won't be disappointed.

I can only echo what so many others have said before me. This is a fantastic series - a landmark documentary which I had thought lost in the archives forever never to be seen again. In fact I was lucky in that I had kept some ancient videos of the series taped back in the dark ages (or so it seems in retrospect!) but I had despaired of being able to buy the series on DVD. Logic told me that archaeology has moved on in the ensuing thirty years and possibly some of the theories put forward in the series are now obsolete. But no - a miracle has occurred and here is the series bright and shiny as a new pin on DVD. I was delighted to shell out the money for this - worth every penny. Michael Wood is someone with a great gift of communication - I have no doubt he could give a fascinating talk on paint drying and he is superb here - possibly never better. His boyish enthusiasm for the various subjects is totally infectious and it's a series you can watch again and again. The modern electronic soundtrack is (surprisingly) just right and adds a haunting tome to the programmes. What a joy! All I need now for complete DVD heaven are DVD reissues of Alec Clifton-Taylor's various "Six English Towns" series, Huw Wheldon's "Royal Heritage" and the Kevin Brownlow Channel 4 series on "Hollywood" (the silent film era). Now that would be paradise absolutely complete.....

Not new but quality ages well. A must have for a modern anglo-saxon. This ancient (100 AD - 900 AD ) era and its "heroes" was "new" to me. I found the dvd very enlighting. Mickael Wood's enthusiasm is contagious. Discovering the remains and "invisible to the common eye " ruins of Britan's ancient history in today's lanscape was a thrill and a lesson. Surprinsingly, the DVD cover displays what i believe to be a XIVth century armour, how intriguing ! ( smile )

It was too long a wait for the DVD release of this seminal series but patience has finally been rewarded. This was a ground breaking documentary series when originally made: extremely stylish (Jean Michel Jarre, helicopter shots and infra red film) but heavily in favour of substance over style. It is a serious series which demands concentration and thought from the viewer, and leaves the viewer with much to think about and ideas about places to visit and ruins to see. Thematically this is very strong and if you watch every episode you will be left with a good sense of how British (or particularly, English) history developed over the period. It illuminates the importance of East Anglia early on (Raedwald and Sutton Hoo) through the rise of Wessex and the Viking wars leading to the Anglo-Danish huscarlocracy that finally fell at Hastings. It covers Offa during the Mercian supremacy but this darkest and least known period of Anglo Saxon history is the least represented here. Maybe we should crowdfund Mr Wood to do a series on just this subject? The packaging is a bit odd and I suspect Michael Wood was not consulted on it - a Wars of the Roses era suit of armour on the cover, and Elgar's Nimrod droning UKIP-ly over the contents screen. But these are very minor blots on a great release and the publishers are to be congratulated for resolving the copyright issues which apparently denied us this on our screens for so long. If you have the remotest interest in British history, or in dark. foggy, and generally bloody events shrouded in mystery, or even if you only think you have, then buy this. We often think that we can get everything from reading but having a true expert such as Wood in your living room to explain it brings out angles (pun intended) you might not otherwise spot. We just now need to wait for someone to produce parallel series to the same quality on Scotland, Ireland and Wales in the same period. Michael Wood's enthusiasm for the subject is evident in every shot (and it is great to see that this remains unflagging in his latest work in 2016).

This was Michael Woods first tv series.I remember it when it was first shown in 1979.It was the first time I remember history being presented in such an enthused and engaging way and I’ve really enjoyed re watching it on this DVD.Despite it’s age the series still holds up extremely well. I read from another reviewer on Amazon that there was a delay in releasing the series on DVD because of copyright issues with the music.In all honesty Michael drives the storylines along with his presentational style without needing a music soundtrack and they should have just removed it(it comprises of dated sounding trumpet fanfares and Vangelis sounding keyboards)but maybe it wasn’t technically possible to do that.Nevertheless don’t be put of by my comments on the music(which is just of it’s time)as this is a great series that really brings the Dark Ages alive. I did see Michael Wood standing over the road from my house in Wellow and approached him my a copy of the book that accompanied the series for him to sign(poor man).As with these unexpected meetings I couldn’t think of anything half sensible to say!But he put a nice inscription in the book for me.

Great dvd plenty of hours viewing very enjoyable.

I watched this series when it first aired on TV. Many many years ago. And I was captivated by it. It started me on a quest that has kept me busy ever since in learning and understand more about the Early Medieval period right up until the Wars of the Roses and taken me to many wonderful locations. And I hope will do so for many more years yet. Michael Woods love of the period shines through every episode. And though much of it is out of date now due to new discoveries and understanding it’s still a must watch series for anyone interested in the period if you can forgive the fashion sense of back then. Highly recommended

This series was really interesting and informative. Michael Wood's passion for his subject is obvious and the series, for me, shed light on the 'Dark' Ages. I feel as though I have a grasp on what life was like in Britain then, which I certainly didn't have before. He looks at several well-known (in those times) leaders / kings - Boudicea, Offa, Eric Bloodaxe - Alfred - Arthur - Athelstan - Ethelred - William the Conqueror - and describes the circumstances of their coming to power and their handling of that power (their achievements). We are treated to glimpses of ancient books such as 'The Anglo Saxon Chronicles', with Michael Wood reading a few sentences, as well as a look at the living conditions, customs, battle strategies, etc. Some comments from people in those times are included, and they give a personal and immediate description.