Harold Pinter 1930 – 2008

Oliver Kamm writes:

"On learning of his Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005 Harold Pinter diplomatically acknowledged that he was unsure to what extent his political activism had played a part in the award. Unfortunately, that open question does a disservice to Pinter’s memory and to the credibility of the Nobel Committee; for while Pinter’s contribution to literature was a great one, his contribution to politics was less so....

"Pinter’s political message was not a plea for the US to abide by due process and pay – in the formulation of Thomas Jefferson – a decent respect to the opinions of mankind. It was sophistry couched in the unrelentingly scatological language of the lavatory wall. Posterity will surely judge Harold Pinter as an impassioned voice and a great artistic talent; it is less likely to honour or even recall the areas in which he went astray."

Mick Hartley pays homage to a completely neglected aspect