Our lovely Townie wandered along to Pullman’s recent talk at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford and was kind enough to provide us with a summary of the talk, which included some mentions of the film and an upcoming book featuring Lyra among many other interesting snippets of information about all sorts of things. So, here it is!

“Right Ladies & Gents, I’m not good at this English Literature stuff (I mean, I just like the story, man) so I apologise if I disappoint.
I have the attention span of a goldfish, so the following could be by no means accurate.

I forced myself into town to the glorious surrounds of the University church of St Mary the Virgin. The place was chocker – I’d say 300 at least, standing room only. PP takes his seat sporting a rather fetching red tie. The vicar, whose name disgracefully escapes me, [edit: Canon Brian Mountford] was a fine host and introduced his guest speaker on the subject of Writing, Myth and Religion . PP described himself as a “Church of England, Book of Common Prayer atheist” – although he has no Christian faith, he explained, the C of E was part of who he was – he recalled happy childhood memories of his grandfather – a man of the cloth and wonderful story-teller. Pullman regarded the Book of Common Prayer to be a fine work of prose.

Our host asked about the forthcoming film and why it had been clipped. Was it to appease the RC church in the US?
PP mentioned the Catholic League and that “we shall have to wait and see” how the adaptation turns out, although he has been very much involved with its development and is very happy with it. He stressed that “some things are going to be brought out” and added that “no one has mucked about with my book – its there on the shelf!” (laughter) PP said that inevitably some things would be left out due to time, but the main themes have not. He explained that the books were not a lecture – they are a story first and foremost. PP believes novel writing never results in perfection: “If you want to write a perfect piece of literature write a Haiku…or a Sonnet” (laughter)

Our host asked about Dust. PP explained what all the sraffies on here already know, but a quote that stood out for me was “…matter is in love with matter. It loves to bind together. It is a consciousness of things that are known”. Interestingly PP admitted that when he first wrote about Dust he didn’t really know what it was – it was only later that he found out what it was – a sort of conscious grace which was better than marionette grace – marionettes may dance prettily, but they are not conscious themselves. Had it not been for Eve, humanity would be similar to the marionette analogy. Regarding the Fall, PP remarked “I don’t consider it a fall, I consider it a step up”

To illustrate conscious grace Pullman mentions a chap by the name of Kleist (spelling?) (this is all new to me, I confess I wasn’t really following – I’m a politico, not a philosopher) ) Kleist was depressive sort of bloke who once was fencing with a mate of his. His mate took him into his barn where there was a bear tied up. Kleist’s mate told him to hit the bear with his sword, but Kleist, pitying the creature, only gesticulated/simulated with his sword – the bear didn’t move. Only when Kleist gently prodded the animal did the bear move the sword away with a paw, thus displaying conscious grace – (I think this is right, apologies if I’ve got this wrong) Anyway, the Kleist story gave PP the inspiration for the Fencing chapter in NL/TGC, which I thought was a nice touch.

Pullman mentioned his upcoming book (I assume this is TBoD) and stated that Lyra will feature in it “continuing her education” – I think he meant her general development rather than her formal studies)

PP was asked about what answers (presumably to the ‘Big questions’) he had. He replied “All the answers I give are partial and temporary” ( bit like Dawkins, then?), although he regarded himself as possessing a religious temperament. – “I need a sense of purpose and I have to make one”

PP pleaded with us to really experience and enjoy life – when we go to the underworld and tell stories it shouldn’t be about watching TV and playing video games! (laughter – top bloke I thought). If I may, I think here Pullman displays beliefs similar to modern pantheists i.e. – just delight in existence. But I digress… He asked us to tell our kids fairytales and nursery rhymes (top bloke, I thought again). PP said he hated the idea that says this school is better than that school because it gets better ‘A’ Level results – this was “nonsense and pernicious”.

When asked if he thought Mary Malone’s character best summed up his beliefs, PP said he was fond of Mary, but that no characters in particular expressed his beliefs.

Pullman is a great believer in using language and words accurately. He said he looked up the word fruition in the dictionary and it means something different to what he’s understood – he’s right! Go and have a look!

He confessed not to have read Harry Potter and added that he would not be ‘outing’ any of his characters! So sraffies will have to go on speculating about Balthamos and Baruch, then!

Pullman mentioned that in his experience “writing gets easier and harder” and that it is “furtively therapeutic” and that “if I didn’t do it I’d probably go mad!”. He said that daemons were his second best idea, the first being when they settle. He added that he was “still discovering things about daemons” and that “it’s our ghosts that are doing the thinking”. He thinks that writing is despotism – the writer is totally in control. Only when a book is read does it become a democracy because people bring their own experiences to it.

Oh yeah, PP thinks The Vicar of Dibley to be a “rather silly programme” !! So sorry, Dawn French fans!

That’s it chaps…phew. I’ve probably made total ~*winky*~-ups, but to the best of my knowledge this is a fair and accurate description.
Well worth it. Pullman came across as a very fine gent – I think he must have been a brilliant teacher. Confident speaker, but not a bighead . A good brick all round.”