This gentleman is probably one of the world's greatest "hidden gems." His criticism and philosophy are direct and unsparing. "Political correctness" is anathema, and therefore, Steiner has made many enemies over the years. But I would like to state that his oeuvre will only grow as the years go by. A mind like Steiner's come along only rarely, and I, for one, intend to read and digest all his works. For the record, I think his greatest book is 'Language and Silence'.

Such energy. I like how he spells words out, very quirky.

This interview is such a treasure. I've been watching it more or less regularly over the last ten years. In summer semester 2009 I read for the first time "Language and Silence", a terrific book indeed. George Steiner passed away only few months ago, before the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. I wonder what he would say today about the recent international developments. Dear Prof. Macfarlane, thank you for posting this.

What an admirable and adorable man. He's so wise and urbane! He has real charisma. Thanks for posting.

What a charming speaker. I really enjoy listening to him.

Reading 'Consilience' by Edward O Wilson, brought me here.Such magnificent education in those distinguished institutions and across many disciplines. Such luck to come into the presence of the giants both in Science and Humanities.Such sparkling erudition. Extremely interesting to listen to. How delightful should it be to read him!

I wish for the albanian students and university just one hour lecture from the great Sir Steiner, it will be a life blessing! What an inspiration, lessons for the life! In love with his true and modest art of conversation!

A brilliant mind, a formidable teacher.

I had the privilege of attending his Shakespeare lectures in the late 70s in Geneva: an extraordinary tour de force.

This is the 3rd time I have watched this interview, thank you so much Professor Macfarlane for sharing these gems

Love listening to Steiner!

Fascinating interview. Thanks for uploading.

Thanks for this, a clear and various discussion; very civilized.

What a man. I’ve watched and rewatched over and over.

What a wonderfully engaging man❤

Thanks to the producer of this video. Really enjoy it

Delightful talk. Thanks!

When I first got hold of this amazing polmath's book 'Language of Silence' I thought it was a masterpiece. sd goh (malaysia)

Sharp and accurate language of a wise intellectual! A typical child of the people of the Book!

@59:37, in this question, what's the name the interviewer asks about?

I read some of "Antigones...", but, found it too dense

can anyone help me: i don't quite understand the word Steiner uses to describe irony being used in america. around 18:25.. anyone knows?

48:35 being the first in something is really a petty embition and it is even more prevalent today

@301250 Forgive me but need to correct you. The word is 'polymath.'

Head waiters only need enough to take the order for food, and wine. Not quite the same as being able to speak and understand multiple languages, but I see it is an interesting point.

This guy is describing many people in academia who highly overestimate their value. I'd give a thousand of those kinds of writers/intellectuals for one Henry Miller. No no number of such are worth even one Henry Miller!

need help ! I can't understand the question at 11 mn 45 sec.

What do you mean stuck in the 80's? Serious question here...

Wonderful point about why Americans hate irony -- it is being nasty about hope, which was pragmatist Richard Rorty's guiding concept, when all was said and done. If you believe conditions will always be better tomorrow than today, then hope is vital. Being ironic about hope would be destructive. However, parts of America seem to be awash in irony. And, even the right wingers are terribly cynical and ironic about their political enemies on the left, while still wrapping themselves in the flag.

arent the seeds of love and murder obvious in his adulation of his parents? was freud so far removed from this?

Steiner says he doesn't want to sleep with his mother.

He's no doubt well versed in the western canon and highly educated through the elite universities of the world but one can't help but feels he's totally unworldly and can't function outside his own class demographics

To understand Hitler’s mind, the only way is to ask him, to understand lord Balfour mind we have to ask him, he must be honest however he must be in command of his mind to be able to honestly respond. There is not exceptional people or chosen people there are chosen individuals, not the chosen societies. Public is different, better say evolving privileged society, the individual outshines the many as he himself evolve. What takes place is the excellence of an individual amongst the many the lot. Hitler might have understood the American Israel versus the middle eastern Israel he might not? We do not know. We can only perceive the results, the facts of the now our current reality which is link to the past holocaust in this situation. Hitler holocaust gave birth to Israel. Here we have death and renaissance two opposites of reality. the same took place 175 million years ago with holocaust of the dinosaurs. We do not know what dogma the dinosaurs monitor but we understand the results us humans today. Have in mind we are in 2016. A society whose dogma resembles the T rex is doom to fail.

I'm finding it hard to believe that there's "no correlation whatsoever" between intelligence and a headwaiter who has a command of ten different languages. I'm sorry, can this be right? There's also really nothing on Google re. "equation blindness" -- I'm not dismissing Steiner outright, but it sounds kinda' bullshitty...

I love what he wrote about jesus christ