"Politicians, on the evidence available to us, are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed." So says Harold Pinter, 2005 Nobel Prize laureate. When politicians speak they do so not to reveal truths or uncover moral wrongs that they then set about putting right. They speak, says Harold Pinter, to cover up their own delusions and, perhaps, their and our shame for failing to abide by the very moral codes they reject in favour of power. However, we don't need to remain captive to their lies. We can, says Pinter, take upon ourselves the crucial obligation of defining real truth and by doing so, restore the dignity of humankind.

In the Northern autumn of 1998 the National Theatre in London conducted a poll asking playwrights, actors, directors, journalists and other theatre professionals to nominate ten English language plays they felt were significant in the 20th Century. Of the 188 authors and 377 plays nominated, works by Harold Pinter were the second most nominated behind those of Arthur Miller. Harold Pinter is the author of such works as The Birthday Party, The Caretaker , The New World Order and the French Lieutenant's Woman. In 2005 he was nominated for and was the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Due to ill health he was unable to receive his prize in person and recorded his acceptance speech. Harold Pinter passed away on Chrismtas Eve 2008.