@@tatalito there's one here on CZcams about the British monarchy starting from the Norman conquest of 1066 CE to QE2. It's in six parts, and the host, Alan Ereira, is great. Dry, irreverent, very funny, and very smart. I highly recommend it.
He also wrote and presented documentaries about European history, such as the Trojan War and Alexander the Great, and one on China, as well. They’re all here, just search by his name.
I don't know how many times I've watched this, but it is always delightful. Michael Wood starts with sound scholarship and then spins a tale of the real life of an ordinary person with such skill that one really remembers the history. This documentary, along with his "Christina: A Medieval Life" form a lesson on how to tell history.
@@terrapinalive6192 Such a giggle, here. He was really pushed as the hot/glam historian back in about 1980. Snug jeans and a sherpa jacket and shaggy hair. He did a lot of good for history documentaries!
It doesn’t happen often for me as an student of history, but this program really made me feel like I had travelled back 700 years!!! Beautiful vistas and historical artifacts! Thank you Michael Wood!!🇬🇧🇬🇧
Michael Wood changed my life. I watched his documentary In Search of the Troyan war when I was 14 and it made the greatest impression. I've been fascinated by history ever since, read many of the classics, learned to love art and the subtle things of life. My gratitude Michael!
@@clitering At least as insightful as your sentimental bilge about making "history so human" The fakers of history love to pull the heart strings get the tear ducts going that makes people more credulous. Adults should not fall for more BBC lies.
If only history was taught at school in such a fascinating way. Michael Wood knows how to guide you through the lapse of time, without loosing your attention for one second. All his documentaries are worth watching and gems for future generations.
Yes, no excuses when there are such good documentaries This beings it alive, and it's impressive to me how beautiful the houses and churches were for the peasants. In America we see how really primitive things were even in the 1800s for many pioneers out West, so this is very interesting, never too old to learn and be fascinated!
Excellently executed! Yes, mother's have a great influence on her children, and William was not only very creative but was blessed with a wise and creative mother.
I too am from the Philippines who had a chance to live in Europe for 5 yrs. and visited England several times while there and became fascinated by its rich history.
I just love this presenter!!! He is an overall wonderful person, so kind and gentle, so modest (unlike many other presenters who inevitably put themselves in the first place or at least on a par with the topic of the documentary)! He is so honestly fascinated by the story he is telling us, he is so absorbed by it, he gives me the feeling of being a close friend who shares this long-forgotten world with me and gives me the feeling of being absorbed in it myself. While, ever so often, the presenters' whole appearance and attitude cries out "look, this is me who is telling you the story, look at ME, hear ME, admire ME!" Ah, modesty, such a precious virtue, but so easily forgotten and unappreciated!!!
You'd either love or hate Lucy Worsley, I'm not sure. She's a large personality, but takes a childlike delight in getting to really be places and look at real things from history that is just a joy to behold.
Because you speak every language on earth and have examined thoroughly the documentary offerings of the French, Germans, Swedes, Indians, Japanese etc. etc...
kay jay Even if our universe is only English-speaking docs I have clearly committed the hasty generalization fallacy. I therefore insist that you apologize for making me feel stupid :)
@@MrYorickJenkins Well, so is a lot of fiction. Nevertheless, if such stories as this result in a viewer learning something about Shakespeare or reading his works then that’s a good thing. There’s not a great deal of factual information about him so much is just pure speculation based on what is known. Despite that, the world is still talking about him, reading his plays, quoting him 500 years after he left this earth. Relax, read his work and enjoy.
+Eli Arnold This is the type of "TV" we routinely watch! BBC and British television programing leaves much of our (US) shows, in the dust. We are nuts about John Alderman and Pauline Collins in P.G. Wodehouse's collection. Cracks us up! It's funny! It's CLEAN! It's well-done! I'd love to meet that Great Couple of Comedy! (Also, that classic goof-tastic great, "Heavy Weather"-------- another of P.G. Wodehouse's fun-times!) We have AppleTV attached to our television to stream-in to these fantastic shows.
I am an American, but my great aunt used to live about a mile from Shakespear's home in Stratford. I've visited there several times and am always blown away with the history. What a wonderful experience. I love these documentaries as they round out what I learned while there. Thank you so much. I recognized many places.
Jenny Burrow I myself live about a thirty minute drive from there. It really is a very pretty part of the country. We take the grandchildren to enjoy breaks at Warwick castle too. History can be a great subject if it’s made interesting.
Blown away with all the disgraceful lies. They are just creating a British version of Disney Land. There is no evidence for half of what they say. Dont be so naive
For anyone interested in this kind of thing, I recommend saving up for a trip to England! You can actually tour Shakespeare's birthhome, his sisters's home, the church where he is buried, and his mother's home and farm. It's a blast!
They care very much for tourists ,British and foreign.The welcome is much better than London,which can be distant towards visitors and expensive.Having been there myself,I can recommend holidaying in that whole mid country area.
@@CradleEpiscopalian56 go figure what? You need to be respectful and not garish and loud when visiting these places. The whole of the United Kingdom is full of very interesting history. Shakespeare Country is scenic and very welcoming, but avoid the busy summer months
@@laurahoward5426 There is nothing fabulous about the sentimental gush aand mendacity about the Stratford man. BS propaganda fantasy. The story of the man from Stratford is a hoax starting with his birthday falling just by chance (!) inbSt George's Day going on with the claim that he went to grammar school with ZERO evidence.. The man from Stratford couldnt write let alone write the plays of Shakespeare. His wife was illiterate, his parents were illiterate. The reason this fake Shakspear is created is to push a popualr myth of a very English Shakespeare ("he is such a great English writer") and secondly to imply that anyone can be Shakespeare with a bit of luck and regardless of Shakspear's miserable beginnings his behaviour as a speculator and nouveau riche of their utter prvincialism and inexperience and forStratford of course to enjoy a boom town staus as the place where "the Bard" was born. The perople who believe the Shaspear myth will propabaly believeanything a government ever tells them and its media. Blatant Bias Corporation should not be believed in anything it claims; lies about Shakspear are in the long tradition of that propaganda service
Kimdino1 I don’t , my family had nothing to do with the slave trade, they were working in factories for the rich industrialists where they worked long hours, including the children for minimal wages and usually lived in filthy conditions under the constant threat of cholera and TB. It was slavery of another kind. I’d suggest you read Charles Dickens. I also say thank you to Sophia but with a nod of recognition not shame.
@@scarletpimpernelagain9124 I take your point. Slavery is slavery, whether the threat is the whip or starvation. And as for being forced from your homeland to a horrible life a long way away, does it matter whether you were dragged or pushed?
I simply adore Michael Wood's films. I am not English, but I am proud for them :) These films are absolutely fabulous, no feature film can give one so much pleasure as these documentaries!!!
@@Jeffhowardmeade well i did mean she didn't know it at the moment she gave birth to him, but i guess he is only the worlds greatest poet in retrospect. Shakespeare was not widely hailed the worlds greatest poet when he was alive. People thought of him more as a playwright than a poet. But i did intend it as a literature/poet joke or rather really bad pun, not a literal thing.
@@Toscalily I know. I was just, as the English say, taking the piss. At the time of her death in 1609, Mary Arden Shakespeare was probably most proud of her son's social and business success, raising the Shakespeare family closer in status to her Arden relations. We have no idea if she ever even saw one of her son's celebrated plays.
a very informative documentary! Took a trip to England about five years ago, and I will never forget it! Went to Kenilsworth, and Stratford upon Avon, visited Anne Hathaway's home, and Shakespeare's childhood home. Lovely, lovely trip...
Plainly, this was a brutal and tough time, where you would have to be very skillful and strong to survive. That proofs that Mary obviously was tough. Even though there were so many troubles in her family, she made it to 70 years old, which is really a big deal for that time. Also, She gave birth to a son who literally changed the English language. My Respect for Mary.
I love The Brits, and British History I started to be fascinated with their history, documentaries and movies since grade school and I’ve visited England many times. I’m American.
Claudia A Beltran you can stay overnight in Warwick castle, quite close to where all this is filmed. It’s a terrific experience. We have taken the grandchildren there many times. I highly recommend it to you if you enjoy history. www.warwick-castle.com/
Another wonderful documentary from the great Michael Woods! I am reading his book on William Shakespeare at present and I am finding it extremely informative and entertaining. By the way, at age 73 I enrolled in a class on Shakespeare at my local U.S. university (non credit) and the professor was outstanding; I also enjoyed my interactions with the much younger students. The kids are all right and Shakespeare is doing quite well here in midwest USA.
Good for you for increasing your education at 73. I just completed my 2nd master's degree and have applied for a PhD program at 72. I love history as well..
@@annemccarron2281 That is simply wonderful. At age 72 you will throw all your energy and focus into securing a PhD. Sending you early congratulations!
+Snuggles McSquishbottom Thanks for the tip. Mystery to be resolved ... were Grendel and his mother Dane, Angle, Saxon, Geatish, Jutish or just brutish? (Indubitably they are British bekommen.)
You literature and actors are your greatest gift. Ive read a lot of novels and watch BBC all the time. Lately I have to read TV captions for some British accents. One journalist talks like he has marbles in his mouth (looks of India birth). The really good Masterpeice presentations I never have trouble understanding them.,
Here I am, an Anglophile who has wanted to visit/live in England since I was 3, watching wonderful images of the most beautiful countryside in the world, sitting on a couch in Australia with the air conditioning on as it's 34c outside as we are coming into the 3rd week of a heatwave. *sigh*
+james colvin I'm sorry but I see no point in replying to your off the wall comments as I am anti gun ownership, as are most Australians. I am also not a bigot and I am an altruistic socialist and a Buddhist. Your misappropriation of a quote of Lennon's is very sad- he also was anti violence and killed by an American with a gun. When he said "power to the people" he meant peaceful community as opposed to the violence of the State and the military. Please do not respond to me again- I will not reply to you whatever the provocation.
+james colvin I can afford to be "docile", although I prefer the more accurate terms 'happy', 'content', 'safe' and 'loved' because I know it's highly UNlikely I'll encounter anyone apart from a police officer with a hand gun, or anyone with a high powered automatic weapon solely built to mow down humans in my life time. I'm an opponent of our current government and am willing to go to prison for my deeply held beliefs that contrast with the neo liberal conservative rich thugs who treat the rest of humanity like peasants and finally, Eleanor Rigby was lonely- I live with my sons and husband of 24 years in a house filled with laughter and love. Stop making uninformed, erroneous assumptions about people just because you are a bored troll. There must be something better and more productive and positive you could be doing with your life than ranting at strangers. If you can't be nice, then say nothing. Being condescending and rude to people will NOT make you a happier, more successful person, despite what you currently believe. Get out and do something to improve the lives of others- it is the only path to genuine happiness.
mindrolling, I am curious about the aborigones( I know that is spelled wrong, sorry)It seems as though there are oppressed people everywhere.I am sure you are aware of the USs problems, how is it in Australia. In America there has been alot of progress, but we still have a way to go.
Great documentary; thanks for posting. One thing that wasn't clear, that also appears in many other history docs: life expectancy 38 was AT BIRTH, and it was so low because the mortality in young childhood was so high. The average person who made it to age 15 could expect to live another 40 - 50 years, or even more.
Thank you. I was trying to explain this, but you did it so well. I really get ticked at the shows about historical eras that misinterpret life expectancy. so egregiously
My ancestors from this time lived to ripe old ages into their 80's. Most of their children survived as well. It is a good thing because they took a four year old and a new infant across the Atlantic to settle in Rhode Island.
@@judithhuling-cadieux1700 From St Albans. Direct descendant of Roger Williams. You probably are too since they all married the same families. Nice meeting you cousin. :)
Super documentary, bringing history to life through the lives of ordinary ( and extraordinary) people. Thank you Michael Woods. I still have VHS copies of your series "Legacy". That should be re-aired!
How wonderful, an enchanted hour. The very best documentaries are definately British The gentleman presenting has a voice and empathy. That one could listen to for hours . Thankyou I've learnt so much.
My fathers family came from Brailes in the Feldon and my mothers father from Alcester. My parents were born in Birmingham in the 1920's and I remember the turns of phrase they had. I have since discovered, partly due to Michael Woods book on Shakespeare, that they were old Warwickshire sayings dating back to Shakespeare's time and beyond. I love that link to our past.
@@1m2rich Hi! I live in a small town called Wimborne on the South Coast and the town square has victims of the Plague buried beneath it; there was an archaeological dig a few years ago now and I believe some of the objects are in the local museum.
I wonder if people 100 years from now will look at our generation (early 21st century) with as much interest?? It's sort of strange to think one day WE will be the history.
Aileen _ Oh come on, big hair was interesting, disco wasn't that bad.......and as for those other 2 things....well, I'd rather they be remembered and NOT REPEATED!
@@stormwatcher59 i feel nostalgic thinking on the 70s and 80s i find it interesting to see the styles change and yes looking back at big hair was funny i see pictures of myself and just laugh.
@@teetarquin7012 No, actually he didnt. The poems of Edward de Vere if you care to read them (they are not widely promoted) show striking similarities to the works attributed to Shaksepeare. The man from Stratford, whose name was Shakspear, not "Shake-speare" showed no signs of any kind of literary interest from what is recored of his boring and somewhat sordid life whatsoever and also showed no signs of learning and inf act showed no signs of being able to write!. The man from stratford could probably read but there is no evidence that he could write and given literacy levels in Stratford at the time, it is a fair liklihood that he couldnt write. . We only have a few scrawls of what might pass as a signature but were either written by a sick man (which is exactly what stratfordians are forced to claim-they have no choice because their Billy S could only have scrawled like that if he were sick, right?) or he was almost incapable of putting a word together even his own name (which is exactly what Oxfordians believe and seems much more plausible). I dont think Edward de Vere made a "good job" of hiding the identity of Shakespeare as a highly educated well read well travlled aristocrat, no. If people had come up with a Goethe fake, some nonsense about the man called Goethe being a poor boy from say Coesfeld or Dortmund who "just happened" to be the writer of Faust although his parents were illiterate and his children and there were no handwriitng from him, well would we say the true Goethe hid himself well? Only, maybe if you mean the specific individual the real Goethe, but if you mean that the writer of Goethe had done a "good job" of disguising the fact that he was highly erudite and very well versed in the classics and couldnt possibly be an illiterate from Coesfeld, then Id say no, he didnt make a good job of it. So in the same way, the writer of the works of Shakespeare did NOT make a good job of hiding his identity because the astonishingly high level of education and erudition jumps out at you from the plays. It is just one more huge fake of history comparable to that other monumental fake story, the story of Jesus Christ whose very life is a mass of contradictions in the Bible which was written entirely by his fanatical supporters MANY years after his death (who magically could write in Greek although they were supposed to be illiterate peasants who only spoke Aramaic-oh but of course the Holy Ghost came out of the sky and taught them to write Greek right? supposedly walked upon water and turned 5 fishes into thousands and water into wine, fairy tales only told years later by propagandists for a new religion who were lying through their lousy teeth. History is full of such fake accounts. Millions upon millions believe that the epileptic Mohammed had the Koran dictated to him by the Angel Gabriel. Mormons believe (millions of them!) that said Jesus Christ hopped over to America and the angel Moroni dictated the mormon Bible to him. Sure sure. Humans are naturally credulous.
I accidentally found these amazing videos. Lo and behold...this one, I only recently discovered on my DNA tour and ancestry search, is my very own family. I’d love to know if I can buy a copy of this episode. Our family is just delighted. Thank you!
Michael Michaelson, you might want to search out Amelia Bassano Lanier with your mulleto 3rd grandfather. Here is a link on Amelia. czcams.com/video/LBwFARoGsc4/video.html
Michael Wood is my favorite British historian/presenter of history documentaries. I’m impressed that all of the presenters of British history docs are enthusiastic about their subjects, but Wood tops them all because he always has a different take on any subject and he is full of new tidbits that can’t be found anywhere else. Other than Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Ken Burns we Americans don’t have any historians who make interesting documentaries. What a shame because American History is a fascinating subject.
This documentary on the Mother of the Bard of the World is one of the best that the BBC ever produced. How on earth that they could collect that many factual biographical records of a struggling woman of a person whose biography itself is undocumented and who would later on conquer the heart and imagination of the whole world, is a mystery. Nonetheless, I appreciate the BBC journalists for their painstaking efforts to bring to fact the times and the lives of neglected woman of the time who gave birth to one of the most celebrated luminaries of the world and who seldom was the topic of discussion among the elites of her and the contemporary time despite being associated with her most talked about sibling of the world.
This gentleman is super! He has the necessary modesty an inteliigent , well prepared and educated person should always possess. Bravo! GREAT Job! Thank you very much! Best wishes from Uruguay, Southamerica.
My Dad's Ma's Parents were born quite close to here in Worcester. I can only assume their family's life was like this. But my Great Grandma's Father was a Baronett, so they were more well to do than most. Still, it must have been a very hard life in Tudor times.
This documentary was marvelous, filled with such detail, that one feels a real closeness with the family of William Shakespeare. I do find it odd, however, that the film neglects to reveal fact that there was another relationship between John Shakespeare and Mary Arden other than husband and wife. Mary's mother was Mary Webb, daughter of John Alexander Webb Jr and John Shakespeare's mother was Abigail Webb, sister of Mary Webb. John Shakespeare and Mary Arden were first cousins.
The Brits could make a documentary on the drying of paint on a wall, and I'd probably watch it.
@Colleen because it would be SO DAMN FASCINATING!
they are great! i'm always watching Mary Beard documentaries and "Time team "too
@@tatalito there's one here on CZcams about the British monarchy starting from the Norman conquest of 1066 CE to QE2. It's in six parts, and the host, Alan Ereira, is great. Dry, irreverent, very funny, and very smart. I highly recommend it.
Same here - so easy to listen to and watch. Fascinating.
@@keiththorpe9571 Can't find it - any more info please??
Michael Wood clearly loves England. His passion for our history shines out of him.
He also wrote and presented documentaries about European history, such as the Trojan War and Alexander the Great, and one on China, as well. They’re all here, just search by his name.
I don't know how many times I've watched this, but it is always delightful. Michael Wood starts with sound scholarship and then spins a tale of the real life of an ordinary person with such skill that one really remembers the history. This documentary, along with his "Christina: A Medieval Life" form a lesson on how to tell history.
I absolutely love documentaries with Michael Wood.
And he's so good looking
@@terrapinalive6192 Such a giggle, here. He was really pushed as the hot/glam historian back in about 1980. Snug jeans and a sherpa jacket and shaggy hair. He did a lot of good for history documentaries!
Well said! And I especially like that he chose to profile women as well. 🥰
@@lisakilmer2667 Thats Fine Englishman.
It doesn’t happen often for me as an student of history, but this program really made me feel like I had travelled back 700 years!!! Beautiful vistas and historical artifacts! Thank you Michael Wood!!🇬🇧🇬🇧
Michael Wood changed my life. I watched his documentary In Search of the Troyan war when I was 14 and it made the greatest impression. I've been fascinated by history ever since, read many of the classics, learned to love art and the subtle things of life. My gratitude Michael!
I’m an Arab who studied English Literature , but the English documentaries are outstanding
Michael Wood’s great gift is to make history so human, which is what makes him so good to watch.
To make sentimental fake the wayyou want it I think you mean
@@MrYorickJenkins insightful
@@clitering At least as insightful as your sentimental bilge about making "history so human" The fakers of history love to pull the heart strings get the tear ducts going that makes people more credulous. Adults should not fall for more BBC lies.
If only history was taught at school in such a fascinating way. Michael Wood knows how to guide you through the lapse of time, without loosing your attention for one second. All his documentaries are worth watching and gems for future generations.
Yes, no excuses when there are such good documentaries This beings it alive, and it's impressive to me how beautiful the houses and churches were for the peasants. In America we see how really primitive things were even in the 1800s for many pioneers out West, so this is very interesting, never too old to learn and be fascinated!
So you wnat history to be full of lies and fables like this bilge presented as fact by Michael Wood. Total fantasy no evidence
A whole new chapter of Shakespeare's life I never knew about. His mother was one tough lady.
Always grateful for uploads of BBC docs. The Brits & BBC know how to keep history nuts happy!
Perhaps, if you like visual and verbal propaganda.
I am a history nut and yes. Bbc does turn me on to my history freakness
Excellently executed! Yes, mother's have a great influence on her children, and William was not only very creative but was blessed with a wise and creative mother.
Total fantasy.
To say his mother was a "very good story teller" is her personal guess, based on conjecture alone.
iam an island girl from Philippines and I absolutely adore British literature...I love everything about it.
I too am from the Philippines who had a chance to live in Europe for 5 yrs. and visited England several times while there and became fascinated by its rich history.
Tam Possible all that Philippine literature.
It is always just heartbreaking for me to think about families losing so many of their children so young.
I'm so glad I found this!
Mary Arden and my 12th great grandmother were sisters so I'm getting a glimpse of what her life was like as well.
Strong women ....like you ?
Phil McDonald I don't know that I am that tough.
It's amazing what our ancestors endured just to survive.
@@donnablosser7982 I bet you are.
Beautiful when you can trace your lineage that far back!
@ Donna Blosser
I'm descended from William Shakespeare's sister Joan. It's cool to learn about our family.
I just love this presenter!!! He is an overall wonderful person, so kind and gentle, so modest (unlike many other presenters who inevitably put themselves in the first place or at least on a par with the topic of the documentary)! He is so honestly fascinated by the story he is telling us, he is so absorbed by it, he gives me the feeling of being a close friend who shares this long-forgotten world with me and gives me the feeling of being absorbed in it myself. While, ever so often, the presenters' whole appearance and attitude cries out "look, this is me who is telling you the story, look at ME, hear ME, admire ME!" Ah, modesty, such a precious virtue, but so easily forgotten and unappreciated!!!
I agree, Could watch a documentary on flour if it were presented by someone as in love with the subject as he id in this, lol
Michael
Wood I think he's called
You'd either love or hate Lucy Worsley, I'm not sure. She's a large personality, but takes a childlike delight in getting to really be places and look at real things from history that is just a joy to behold.
Milica Dajovic Very well written. I completely agree. He is amazing.
My first glance at him and his happy face and torn jacket and thought this guy is great.
The baptismal font, the wedding chalice, these things still exist and are kept in their church homes. How wonderful!
I just love the british documentaries so much rich history.
Rich history of taking other's cultures and ruling them and labeling them as savages.
America has rich history just that no one cares.
@@peacenow42 Wow that's harsh even for an online comment. Smh
@@CradleEpiscopalian56 maybe the shaking of your head will rock your cradle.
@@peacenow42 Just tried and failed but thx. 😆
Give it up, folks. The Brits have it on the world when it comes to documentaries.
Because you speak every language on earth and have examined thoroughly the documentary offerings of the French, Germans, Swedes, Indians, Japanese etc. etc...
I happen to speak French and Spanish...and they make some damned good docs.
kay jay You got me there. Oh, the folly of speaking in absolutes.
kay jay Even if our universe is only English-speaking docs I have clearly committed the hasty generalization fallacy. I therefore insist that you apologize for making me feel stupid :)
***** At least we're better than American docs.
Beautifully narrated with warmth and kindness … shows the strength of women through centuries.
Everything Michael Woods does is phenomenal and well researched
This was FABULOUS! What a testament to mother love, perseverance and power. Amazingly heartbreaking and heartwarming...with a happy ending after all!
It is mawkish garbage!
@@MrYorickJenkins Well, so is a lot of fiction. Nevertheless, if such stories as this result in a viewer learning something about Shakespeare or reading his works then that’s a good thing. There’s not a great deal of factual information about him so much is just pure speculation based on what is known. Despite that, the world is still talking about him, reading his plays, quoting him 500 years after he left this earth. Relax, read his work and enjoy.
I'm American, but BBC and their Documentaries are amazing!!!
+Eli Arnold There is no argument here. I am an American but BCC hands down is good.
+Eli Arnold Absolutely the best! I'm Norwegian :)
Sunniva Vote is unanimous then, BCC is awesome ; ) I want to visit Norway someday.
+Eli Arnold
This is the type of "TV" we routinely watch!
BBC and British television programing leaves much of our (US) shows, in the dust.
We are nuts about John Alderman and Pauline Collins in P.G. Wodehouse's collection. Cracks us up! It's funny! It's CLEAN! It's well-done! I'd love to meet that Great Couple of Comedy! (Also, that classic goof-tastic great, "Heavy Weather"-------- another of P.G. Wodehouse's fun-times!)
We have AppleTV attached to our television to stream-in to these fantastic shows.
***** Have you every seen the show war time farm ect.
I am an American, but my great aunt used to live about a mile from Shakespear's home in Stratford. I've visited there several times and am always blown away with the history. What a wonderful experience. I love these documentaries as they round out what I learned while there. Thank you so much. I recognized many places.
Jenny Burrow I myself live about a thirty minute drive from there. It really is a very pretty part of the country. We take the grandchildren to enjoy breaks at Warwick castle too. History can be a great subject if it’s made interesting.
Blown away with all the disgraceful lies. They are just creating a British version of Disney Land. There is no evidence for half of what they say. Dont be so naive
For anyone interested in this kind of thing, I recommend saving up for a trip to England! You can actually tour Shakespeare's birthhome, his sisters's home, the church where he is buried, and his mother's home and farm. It's a blast!
On my Bucket List but I understand they do not care for tourists. Go figure.
They care very much for tourists ,British and foreign.The welcome is much better than London,which can be distant towards visitors and expensive.Having been there myself,I can recommend holidaying in that whole mid country area.
@@CradleEpiscopalian56 go figure what? You need to be respectful and not garish and loud when visiting these places. The whole of the United Kingdom is full of very interesting history. Shakespeare Country is scenic and very welcoming, but avoid the busy summer months
Oh thanks I’m thinking it might be a great honey moon destination now! My fiancé love this stuff!
@@megro2097 google things to do around Stratford-upon-Avon
Finally found a channel who can put me to sleep and have something to look forward to watching the next day😍
Same
Excellent!!! If only we had these wonderful videos in my U.S. high school in the 1960s!!!
I loved this documentary because it makes W. Shakespeare so much more human than just the plays and sonnets could ever do.
That comment is worthy of the mawkish drivel which is the hall mark of our times.
You should watch the fabulous BBC Upstart Crow about Shakespeare
@@laurahoward5426 There is nothing fabulous about the sentimental gush aand mendacity about the Stratford man. BS propaganda fantasy. The story of the man from Stratford is a hoax starting with his birthday falling just by chance (!) inbSt George's Day going on with the claim that he went to grammar school with ZERO evidence.. The man from Stratford couldnt write let alone write the plays of Shakespeare. His wife was illiterate, his parents were illiterate. The reason this fake Shakspear is created is to push a popualr myth of a very English Shakespeare ("he is such a great English writer") and secondly to imply that anyone can be Shakespeare with a bit of luck and regardless of Shakspear's miserable beginnings his behaviour as a speculator and nouveau riche of their utter prvincialism and inexperience and forStratford of course to enjoy a boom town staus as the place where "the Bard" was born. The perople who believe the Shaspear myth will propabaly believeanything a government ever tells them and its media. Blatant Bias Corporation should not be believed in anything it claims; lies about Shakspear are in the long tradition of that propaganda service
This is an exceptionally well filmed documentary- the sublime scenery helps a bit, but it was all very well done, as per most BBC productions.
She was a brilliant woman who raised a brilliant son.
jannisares
jannisares assuming Shakespeare was indeed the author of those plays.
@@birgittabirgersdatter8082 he was!
"I feel like a Tudor estate agent here..." LOL. Overall informative and captivating - thank you so much!
Chandler i
Michael Wood, one of the best history presenters.
Anon amous I just love everything he does.
Also John Romer on Egypt. I love his series 'Romer's Egypt'.
I love any documentary presented by Michael Wood. No one does it better.
I went to a very good English school like William. I´ve always felt well educated and have achieved much in my life. Thank you, England.
You probably went to a private school our English schools were rubbish and taught us hardly anything and this was in Oxford.
Hands down, Brits are the best in so many aspects.... and Brits documentaries are unparrellel ! Michael Woods research stands on top as well !
They were tyrants and cruel masters. Starved the Irish and treated Indians like slaves.
I'm Jamaican and I love British documentaries.
As a Briton I say "Uhhh, thanks" and duck my head in shame to a Jamaican.
Kimdino1 I don’t
, my family had nothing to do with the slave trade, they were working in factories for the rich industrialists where they worked long hours, including the children for minimal wages and usually lived in filthy conditions under the constant threat of cholera and TB. It was slavery of another kind. I’d suggest you read Charles Dickens. I also say thank you to Sophia but with a nod of recognition not shame.
@@scarletpimpernelagain9124 I take your point. Slavery is slavery, whether the threat is the whip or starvation. And as for being forced from your homeland to a horrible life a long way away, does it matter whether you were dragged or pushed?
@@Kimdino1 0 on no it
Wonderful documentary as only the BBC can deliver.
ChezzaAU Yes indeed
I simply adore Michael Wood's films. I am not English, but I am proud for them :) These films are absolutely fabulous, no feature film can give one so much pleasure as these documentaries!!!
Presenter: but she gave birth to the worlds greatest poet
Me: AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT!!! *drops mic*
She died only seven years before he did. She knew.
@@Jeffhowardmeade well i did mean she didn't know it at the moment she gave birth to him, but i guess he is only the worlds greatest poet in retrospect. Shakespeare was not widely hailed the worlds greatest poet when he was alive. People thought of him more as a playwright than a poet.
But i did intend it as a literature/poet joke or rather really bad pun, not a literal thing.
@@Toscalily I know. I was just, as the English say, taking the piss. At the time of her death in 1609, Mary Arden Shakespeare was probably most proud of her son's social and business success, raising the Shakespeare family closer in status to her Arden relations. We have no idea if she ever even saw one of her son's celebrated plays.
Groan....😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣... I’m English, I love a bad pun.✌🏻🌹🏴
*slow clap* Well played.
a very informative documentary! Took a trip to England about five years ago, and I will never forget it! Went to Kenilsworth, and Stratford upon Avon, visited Anne Hathaway's home, and Shakespeare's childhood home. Lovely, lovely trip...
Cristina Comstock Come back! We need the money! And it would be lovely to see you of course 😂✌🏻🌹🏴
Plainly, this was a brutal and tough time, where you would have to be very skillful and strong to survive. That proofs that Mary obviously was tough. Even though there were so many troubles in her family, she made it to 70 years old, which is really a big deal for that time. Also, She gave birth to a son who literally changed the English language. My Respect for Mary.
With today more and more people in dire straits
Children are Life longing for itself. They do not belong to you but come through you.
I love The Brits, and British History I started to be fascinated with their history, documentaries and movies since grade school and I’ve visited England many times. I’m American.
Claudia A Beltran you can stay overnight in Warwick castle, quite close to where all this is filmed. It’s a terrific experience. We have taken the grandchildren there many times. I highly recommend it to you if you enjoy history.
www.warwick-castle.com/
julie Wallis Thank you!!
Another wonderful documentary from the great Michael Woods! I am reading his book on William Shakespeare at present and I am finding it extremely informative and entertaining. By the way, at age 73 I enrolled in a class on Shakespeare at my local U.S. university (non credit) and the professor was outstanding; I also enjoyed my interactions with the much younger students. The kids are all right and Shakespeare is doing quite well here in midwest USA.
Good for you for increasing your education at 73. I just completed my 2nd master's degree and have applied for a PhD program at 72. I love history as well..
@@annemccarron2281 That is simply wonderful. At age 72 you will throw all your energy and focus into securing a PhD. Sending you early congratulations!
Excellent! Michael Wood does a fine job of using interviews and the actual documents.
This same presenter's documentary on Beowulf is also not to be missed!
+Snuggles McSquishbottom Thanks for the tip. Mystery to be resolved ... were Grendel and his mother Dane, Angle, Saxon, Geatish, Jutish or just brutish? (Indubitably they are British bekommen.)
Snuggles McSquishbottom the manuscript for the story of Beowulf is amazing
Enchanting! Michael Wood does it again. Thank you for posting it.
Brilliant documentary I wish CZcams would make more recommendations that are this good.
You literature and actors are your greatest gift. Ive read a lot of novels and watch BBC all the time. Lately I have to read TV captions for some British accents. One journalist talks like he has marbles in his mouth (looks of India birth). The really good Masterpeice presentations I never have trouble understanding them.,
An upstart crow from Stratford would be proud of you for that. Thank you.
Here I am, an Anglophile who has wanted to visit/live in England since I was 3, watching wonderful images of the most beautiful countryside in the world, sitting on a couch in Australia with the air conditioning on as it's 34c outside as we are coming into the 3rd week of a heatwave. *sigh*
+james colvin I'm sorry but I see no point in replying to your off the wall comments as I am anti gun ownership, as are most Australians. I am also not a bigot and I am an altruistic socialist and a Buddhist. Your misappropriation of a quote of Lennon's is very sad- he also was anti violence and killed by an American with a gun. When he said "power to the people" he meant peaceful community as opposed to the violence of the State and the military. Please do not respond to me again- I will not reply to you whatever the provocation.
+james colvin I can afford to be "docile", although I prefer the more accurate terms 'happy', 'content', 'safe' and 'loved' because I know it's highly UNlikely I'll encounter anyone apart from a police officer with a hand gun, or anyone with a high powered automatic weapon solely built to mow down humans in my life time. I'm an opponent of our current government and am willing to go to prison for my deeply held beliefs that contrast with the neo liberal conservative rich thugs who treat the rest of humanity like peasants and finally, Eleanor Rigby was lonely- I live with my sons and husband of 24 years in a house filled with laughter and love. Stop making uninformed, erroneous assumptions about people just because you are a bored troll. There must be something better and more productive and positive you could be doing with your life than ranting at strangers. If you can't be nice, then say nothing. Being condescending and rude to people will NOT make you a happier, more successful person, despite what you currently believe. Get out and do something to improve the lives of others- it is the only path to genuine happiness.
I am also an Anglophile who has also wants to visit/ live in Englandor Ireland since I was. Probably 10:)
Mindrolling it's a miserable place
mindrolling, I am curious about the aborigones( I know that is spelled wrong, sorry)It seems as though there are oppressed people everywhere.I am sure you are aware of the USs problems, how is it in Australia. In America there has been alot of progress, but we still have a way to go.
A fascinating documentary and insight into the indomitable spirit of women throughout history. Many thanks for posting. God Bless.
i could just drown in British history! so rich!
Superb. And to put in in the context of a woman's world - brilliant.
Anyone else here during the COVID-19 PANDEMIC?
Lol sounds like those guild members were better at social distancing than some of us today
Great documentary; thanks for posting.
One thing that wasn't clear, that also appears in many other history docs: life expectancy 38 was AT BIRTH, and it was so low because the mortality in young childhood was so high. The average person who made it to age 15 could expect to live another 40 - 50 years, or even more.
Thank you. I was trying to explain this, but you did it so well. I really get ticked at the shows about historical eras that misinterpret life expectancy. so egregiously
My ancestors from this time lived to ripe old ages into their 80's. Most of their children survived as well. It is a good thing because they took a four year old and a new infant across the Atlantic to settle in Rhode Island.
@@cooksmary Hey Neighbor! My father's ancestors came across, and helped settle Rhode Island. He was from East Greenwich...
@@judithhuling-cadieux1700 From St Albans. Direct descendant of Roger Williams. You probably are too since they all married the same families. Nice meeting you cousin. :)
@@cooksmary I am also a descendant of Mr. Williams. Maybe we are cousins.
Super documentary, bringing history to life through the lives of ordinary ( and extraordinary) people. Thank you Michael Woods. I still have VHS copies of your series "Legacy". That should be re-aired!
One of the brilliant Michael Wood's best
Brilliant! Great work, Michael Wood 👏👏👏
Wow, thanks for shedding light on the earlier years of the great William Shakespeare!
How wonderful, an enchanted hour. The very best documentaries are definately British The gentleman presenting has a voice and empathy. That one could listen to for hours . Thankyou I've learnt so much.
Marys father sounds a really nice man.
My fathers family came from Brailes in the Feldon and my mothers father from Alcester.
My parents were born in Birmingham in the 1920's and I remember the turns of phrase they had. I have since discovered, partly due to Michael Woods book on Shakespeare, that they were old Warwickshire sayings dating back to Shakespeare's time and beyond.
I love that link to our past.
Michael Wood is the 'go to' for British History..legend 🇬🇧
An absolute delight to watch!
Michael Wood is the bomb of history presenters. One of my favorites was his series on "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great."
I an American loved the book London. It told of all the people who flowed thru the city. The fire and the Black Plague.
@@1m2rich Hi! I live in a small town called Wimborne on the South Coast and the town square has victims of the Plague buried beneath it; there was an archaeological dig a few years ago now and I believe some of the objects are in the local museum.
I wonder if people 100 years from now will look at our generation (early 21st century) with as much interest?? It's sort of strange to think one day WE will be the history.
Yeshua'sPrincess K ....hopefully, we won't be remembered for: big hair, disco dancing, trump, and still having religious people.
Aileen McMillan nothing wrong with being religious as long as they respect everyone and aren’t homophobic, sexist, transphobic or racist 😊
Aileen _ Oh come on, big hair was interesting, disco wasn't that bad.......and as for those other 2 things....well, I'd rather they be remembered and NOT REPEATED!
they will be shaking their heads in disbelief and wondering what the hell was wrong with everyone.
@@stormwatcher59 i feel nostalgic thinking on the 70s and 80s i find it interesting to see the styles change and yes looking back at big hair was funny i see pictures of myself and just laugh.
This was wonderful. Thank you so much for telling Mary Shakespeare’s story. What a magnificent woman. The ending brought tears.
All fantasy and you fall for it.
@@MrYorickJenkins Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford did a good job hiding his identity, didn’t he?
@@teetarquin7012 No, actually he didnt. The poems of Edward de Vere if you care to read them (they are not widely promoted) show striking similarities to the works attributed to Shaksepeare. The man from Stratford, whose name was Shakspear, not "Shake-speare" showed no signs of any kind of literary interest from what is recored of his boring and somewhat sordid life whatsoever and also showed no signs of learning and inf act showed no signs of being able to write!. The man from stratford could probably read but there is no evidence that he could write and given literacy levels in Stratford at the time, it is a fair liklihood that he couldnt write. . We only have a few scrawls of what might pass as a signature but were either written by a sick man (which is exactly what stratfordians are forced to claim-they have no choice because their Billy S could only have scrawled like that if he were sick, right?) or he was almost incapable of putting a word together even his own name (which is exactly what Oxfordians believe and seems much more plausible).
I dont think Edward de Vere made a "good job" of hiding the identity of Shakespeare as a highly educated well read well travlled aristocrat, no.
If people had come up with a Goethe fake, some nonsense about the man called Goethe being a poor boy from say Coesfeld or Dortmund who "just happened" to be the writer of Faust although his parents were illiterate and his children and there were no handwriitng from him, well would we say the true Goethe hid himself well? Only, maybe if you mean the specific individual the real Goethe, but if you mean that the writer of Goethe had done a "good job" of disguising the fact that he was highly erudite and very well versed in the classics and couldnt possibly be an illiterate from Coesfeld, then Id say no, he didnt make a good job of it. So in the same way, the writer of the works of Shakespeare did NOT make a good job of hiding his identity because the astonishingly high level of education and erudition jumps out at you from the plays. It is just one more huge fake of history comparable to that other monumental fake story, the story of Jesus Christ whose very life is a mass of contradictions in the Bible which was written entirely by his fanatical supporters MANY years after his death (who magically could write in Greek although they were supposed to be illiterate peasants who only spoke Aramaic-oh but of course the Holy Ghost came out of the sky and taught them to write Greek right? supposedly walked upon water and turned 5 fishes into thousands and water into wine, fairy tales only told years later by propagandists for a new religion who were lying through their lousy teeth. History is full of such fake accounts. Millions upon millions believe that the epileptic Mohammed had the Koran dictated to him by the Angel Gabriel. Mormons believe (millions of them!) that said Jesus Christ hopped over to America and the angel Moroni dictated the mormon Bible to him. Sure sure. Humans are naturally credulous.
I accidentally found these amazing videos. Lo and behold...this one, I only recently discovered on my DNA tour and ancestry search, is my very own family. I’d love to know if I can buy a copy of this episode. Our family is just delighted. Thank you!
Michael Michaelson, you might want to search out Amelia Bassano Lanier with your mulleto 3rd grandfather. Here is a link on Amelia. czcams.com/video/LBwFARoGsc4/video.html
@ Rebecca Osterberg
You're descended from Joan Shakespeare, right? I am, too (twice). Hey, cousin!
Another example of the concept: "Behind every successful man there´s a strong woman."
Or a exceptional mother
Absolutely rivetting! This documentary is worth watching again. Loved the last line by Mr. Wood!
Second time watching this excellent documentary...Bravo Michael Wood!
Thank you Michael wood, I love your documentaries.
Michael Wood is my favorite British historian/presenter of history documentaries. I’m impressed that all of the presenters of British history docs are enthusiastic about their subjects, but Wood tops them all because he always has a different take on any subject and he is full of new tidbits that can’t be found anywhere else. Other than Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Ken Burns we Americans don’t have any historians who make interesting documentaries. What a shame because American History is a fascinating subject.
This documentary on the Mother of the Bard of the World is one of the best that the BBC ever produced. How on earth that they could collect that many factual biographical records of a struggling woman of a person whose biography itself is undocumented and who would later on conquer the heart and imagination of the whole world, is a mystery.
Nonetheless, I appreciate the BBC journalists for their painstaking efforts to bring to fact the times and the lives of neglected woman of the time who gave birth to one of the most celebrated luminaries of the world and who seldom was the topic of discussion among the elites of her and the contemporary time despite being associated with her most talked about sibling of the world.
Beautifully put together. Thank you.
I love BBC Documentaries! They are the best!
Another great documentary from Michael Wood.
that moment before the beginning of a documentary that I pray Lucy Worsley is presenting it
Michael Wood's documentaries are always fascinating and reflect his delight in touching the past. Thank you so mich.
This gentleman is super! He has the necessary modesty an inteliigent , well prepared and educated person should always possess.
Bravo! GREAT Job! Thank you very much! Best wishes from Uruguay, Southamerica.
All the beautiful animals in this film free-range!..and the little children acted well too!
(such a beautifully filmed production)
I had no idea England was so breathtakingly beautiful!
My God - where HAVE you been living ?
Michael Wood, my favorite. Discovered him watching a documentary "In Search of Troy."
I am a cat, but BBC and their documentaries are amazing!!!
+Charles Wagner *DEAD*lmao haha but dare i say.... i'm American! lol
I'm American and I love the BBC! I even use British spelling :D
Sounds like someone didn't have there afternoon tea.
I get so grumpy if I haven't had tea or my tea. XD
+liam whitcombe Oh dear! :(
Thats's very rich and deep documentary. We must admit, when it comes to documentaries, Brits definitely know, what are they doing
I saw this advertisement on CZcams and I was very curious, and I am glad that I looked at this video. 😊
This is so touching and beautiful. Thanks for this documentary. Clearly made with love and a'n eye for detail. I could watch it again and again....
A beautiful and well put together documentary. It is a pity about all the adverts.
I am so glad I have no advertising anymore
Well done! Beautifully executed and scripted! 💜 💜 💜
My fascination for the Tudors brought me here.
Same
Loved it. Another riveting Documentary by Michael Wood. He is such a great interpreter of Shakespeare. Liked very much "In Search of Shakespeare".
Great cinematography, really makes the documentary.
It's just amazing how timeless parts of Britain are.
Thank you for this wonderful presentation!!!
My Dad's Ma's Parents were born quite close to here in Worcester. I can only assume their family's life was like this. But my Great Grandma's Father was a Baronett, so they were more well to do than most. Still, it must have been a very hard life in Tudor times.
Totally enjoyed this presentation. ~ From the U.S.A.
This is a wonderful documentary . I am a direct descendant of Shakespeare's Grandmother Mary Agnes Arden (Webb) on my father's side.
Thank you for posting! I've learned so much from Michael Wood.
thank you for posting this i loved it
This documentary was marvelous, filled with such detail, that one feels a real closeness with the family of William Shakespeare. I do find it odd, however, that the film neglects to reveal fact that there was another relationship between John Shakespeare and Mary Arden other than husband and wife. Mary's mother was Mary Webb, daughter of John Alexander Webb Jr and John Shakespeare's mother was Abigail Webb, sister of Mary Webb. John Shakespeare and Mary Arden were first cousins.
Wow!!
This was fabulous! Thankyou so much!🇬🇧💙😁
Thank you for this. I love Michael Wood's shows. I remember the series he did on Alexander the Great, it was..well...great. :)