Talking History

The two most famous radical historians of our day - EP Thompson and CLR James - talk to each other about Paris 1968, Nelson Mandela, Solidarity, 'Atlanticism in crisis', and the nature and purpose of their kind of history. The predominant image is of two grey-haired, one-time enfants terribles slipping easily into the roles of charismatic prophets. They share a devotion to history, not as a frozen catalogue of isolated events, but as signposts to future developments - what Thompson calls 'history as process'. They both discern the coming end of political parties - in the East and the West - and the growth of large 'people's movements'. The film-makers have sought to enliven the proceedings with headlines and film clips that illustrate the topics of conversation; but despite the assiduousness of their picture research, the end effect is simply distracting. James and Thompson talking are excitement enough for the attentive viewer.