his politics were a bit unworldly, but he shared his empathy with the USSR with all sorts of other intellectuals. His left wing sympathies were shot through with great humanity and empathy for the downtrodden. he was an okay guy - and I don't like to hear any aspect of his character described as indescribably loathsome.

also its important to remember that his plays were not much performed on TV or anything, whilst he was a celebrated playwright behind the Iron Curtain. As an artist you are bound to feel some gratitude for people who recognise your work.

Ian Campbell(who was in the Radio Ballads with Ewan, and was having his phone calls monitored by MI5) told me that Ewan thought Joan Littlewoods Oh What a Lovely War had to doing something wrong when retired Army Generals were coming out of the show saying, how marvellous! all those lovely old songs! - and obviously not getting any of the irony.