Behind the Desk: Philip Pullman

An interview with the author, Sir Philip Pullman. Filmed at his house in Oxford in October 2023.
On 9th November 2023 Sir Philip was presented with the Bodley Medal, the Bodleian Libraries’ highest honour, awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the worlds of books and literature, libraries, media and communications, science and philanthropy.
Sir Philip Pullman is one of the most highly respected authors writing today. He is the author of several best-selling books, including the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials and the fictionalised biography of Jesus, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. In 2008, The Times named Pullman one of the '50 greatest British writers since 1945′. Winner of many prestigious awards, including the Carnegie of Carnegies and the Whitbread Award, Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials has sold 22 million copies worldwide and been translated into 40 languages, and was recently adapted into a TV series for the BBC and HBO. In 2005 Pullman was awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. He was knighted in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to literature.

[@sb6370]

Absolutely love these intimate moments with Philip! Wish he didn’t narrated all of his books; it’s such a pleasure listening to his voice.

[@markmarchenko]

Wonderful interview, thank you so much!

[@bodleianlibraries]

Thank you for watching!

[@pennyfrance8312]

Just re-read His Dark Materials trilogy. It gets better the more one reads it. Thank you for this interview & a chance to hear the greatest living writer speak.

[@Marowyn]

Philip Pullman is a treasure.

[@joedesiderio]

loved this, thank you for sharing!!

[@LeilaE-mb9vt]

Thank you so much for this interview. I could listen to him for hours. Does anyone know what the book on story motifs he mentioned at the beginning of the video is?

[@bodleianlibraries]

We're glad you enjoyed it! Here's the answer to your question: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motif-Index_of_Folk-Literature

[@ricktimus73]

Is the collection he’s talking about at the beginning the Motif-Index of Folk-Literature?

[@bodleianlibraries]

Bingo! It is indeed. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motif-Index_of_Folk-Literature