2.5 Cap’n Ahab

Had a great morning in bed: a book about the Wars of the Roses lasted me until dinnertime, after which I got down to some real work. My essay on the Interregnum should turn out a reasonable attempt, providing I feel inspired when writing it tomorrow.
“World at War” provided a highlight of the afternoon with its usual combination of shocking footage and historical facts. Laurence Olivier’s voice is superbly apt. Watched another episode of David Copperfield. The BBC really do justice to Dickens and we have seen a screening of most of the major (and lesser known) works. This version was very well acted and sensitively portrayed by a large part of the actors. I found it very moving at times.
Another classic – “Moby Dick” – followed in the evening. Taking into consideration the smattering of Americans, especially Gregory Peck (honestly!) disastrously cast as Cap’n Ahab (although he was effective at times) it was very powerfully put across. The sinister demoniac-religious nature of Ahab and the whale was brought out quite well.

1974/5 cafe & restaurant, Sewary