The Novel: Author Philip Pullman and the Consequences of Curiosity (2008)

An engaging look at the book's intelligent and well-spoken author, which covers some of his personal history as a teacher in Oxford area schools, the genesis and inspiration for his fantasy trilogy, and the public reaction and literary accolades that followed. Only in the last few minutes is a theme, a literary through-line if you will, ever discussed in this featurette - and the topic of knowledge and fact versus oppressive ideology, i.e. organized religion, is carefully avoided. Rather, it's given the ambiguous descriptive theme of the "consequences of curiosity;" a character's coming-of-age and the acquisition of intelligence and wisdom.