remarks on the Wordsworths.
a) I don't consider the Wordsworths to be 'ordinary plain down-to-earth workingclass folk', nor do I consider them to be prematurely middle-aged patricians like old Ingrams. I did, however, do a little more work than your reviewer, and discovered that of all the men of letters who have ever lived, Wordsworth was surely the most constantly on the move. Ingrams will certainly remember de Quincy's calculation about Wordsworth's mileage.
b) Ingrams describes Dove Cottage as having 'an air of intense creative calmness.' Sometimes it did. That was captured — I admit too briefly — in the film. But it was also a place of intense hypochondria, depression, real illnesses, desolation and terrible melancholy. Ingrams ought to read Dorothy's Journals a little more assiduously. c) The line 'Don't fret William. Just read him some of your poetry. That's the best tonic' was not, as it happens, written by myself. One of the facts of life about writing a script for Ken Russell is that he encourages you to write what you want and then he does what he wants with it. As it happens, the sentiment expressed in that line is wholly appropriate for Dorothy at most times in her life, and particularly so in 1832 — the time in which the film was set. Wordsworth's poetry was regarded as a tonic by many people including John Stuart Mill.
Otherwise I think that Ingrams was on to something. It's always a risk doing these biopics. Worth it, though, from time to time.
Melvyn Bragg London Weekend Television South Bank Television Centre, Kent House, Upper Ground, London SE1
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