Battlefield Britain * * * *
(8 DVDs) DD Home Entertainment
We are a nation on the cusp of a social apocalypse - or so we have been led to believe.
Our children struggle to read or write, 'hoodies' are taking over the streets and the news agenda is dominated by pot-bellied porn stars and their friends.
A generation is being raised which knows little and cares even less. Well, I'm not so sure.
There is one barometer that the social commentators appear to have overlooked - history.
Indeed, we are a nation obsessed.
Past glories are remembered on an almost monthly basis, more history books are published annually than any other genre and the number of dedicated TV channels has almost reached double figures in recent years.
Now I'm not suggesting that Kappa-clad hooligans spend their time browsing around Waterstones when they're not pulling wheelies outside your local Spar.
Nor am I suggesting that the History Channel takes precedence over Men and Motors when the average acne-ridden teenager is given carte blanche with the remote control.
But, be that as it may, if we saturate our news stands, bookshops and airwaves with tales of discipline, camaraderie and bravery then surely some of it will eventually rub off on this much-maligned generation.
The other positive to come from Britain's obsession with history is that the quality of the documentaries is improving all the time. It should be said that it is nearly 30 years since the magnificent World at War series was produced with its award-wining narration by Sir Laurence Olivier and it has yet to be bettered. In the meantime, admittedly, with the advent of video and more recently DVD, there have been some real stinkers.
A friend of mine was cock-a-hoop when he opened his yuletide stocking this year to discover a box set of DVDs chronicling the major engagements of World War Two. However, the Cholmondeley-Warneresque voice-over and re-enactments that would have shamed the local amateur-dramatics society dulled his euphoria somewhat.
But on the flipside is Battlefield Britain, a high-tech amble through the battles that shaped our nation with national treasure Peter Snow and his robust son Dan, which has just been released on DVD.
Looking at battles ranging from the revolt of Boudica to Fighter Command's epic struggle for the Channel against the Luftwaffe, the father-and-son team combine the latest technology with good old fashioned spadework in an attempt to give as comprehensive view of the battle as they possibly can.
Alun Thorne
* We have a set of Battlefield Britain DVDs to give away. For a chance to win, send a postcard or write on the back of an envelope with your name, address and contact details to Battlefield Britain Competition, Alun Thorne, The Birmingham Post newsdesk, Weaman Street, Birmingham, B4 6AT.
