The history of reading over 5,000 years; Remembrance Week; and Darwin's
theory of evolution - these and more in TVO's November 2009 lineup

    
    Please visit TVO's November 2009 media highlights at
    http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/mmnr/tvo/nov2009/index.html
    

TORONTO , Oct. 7 /CNW/ - When did the written word first appear, and how has it changed the course of human existence? How do you make peace when all you want is revenge? And why does the most polarizing scientific theory of all time still matter 150 years after its publication? This November, TVO explores these questions and more through a thought-provoking range of documentary, drama and current affairs programming.

Wednesdays at 10 pm starting November 25 on The View From Here, TVO presents the world premiere of the four-part documentary series Empire of the Word. The jewel in the crown of TVO's season-long programming commitment to literacy, the series is an eye-opening, epic journey into the origins of reading and its impact on more than 5,000 years of human history. At the heart of the series is the question of why reading has survived throughout the ages. Host and renowned Canadian-Argentine writer Alberto Manguel takes viewers around the globe to meet the characters and revisit the events that create the story of the written word, including the genesis of the alphabet, the world's first novel, role of religion in reading; the invention of the Gutenberg press, and the technological revolution.

Online at tvo.org/empireoftheword, starting Wednesday October 28 visitors will be immersed in the world of reading through a compelling interactive mystery unfolding over eight weeks, as well as a variety of educational games, relevant links, and video interviews with Canadian authors.

To mark Remembrance Day , TVO launches a week of programs offering different perspectives on war. Wednesday November 11 , look for the North American premiere of Paris 1919. Inspired by Margaret MacMillan's acclaimed 2003 book of the same name, this feature documentary reveals the diplomatic gamesmanship behind the most ambitious peace talks in history. Watch also for The Last Day of World War One with host Michael Palin (November 9), who revisits the battlefields in France and Belgium to learn what actually happened on the final day of conflict; Occupation (Thursdays November 12 - 26), a three-part drama about three British soldiers in Iraq and how their lives are transformed by their experience; and Your Voice: When Mom or Dad Comes Home, a special edition of TVO's parenting program shot on location at CFB Petawawa that explores the challenges of reintegrating back into family life when a soldier leaves the battlefield.

Also in November is the Canadian premiere of Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (Tuesday November 24). David Attenborough marks the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal evolutionary work, On the Origin of Species by sharing his personal insights on Darwin's theory of evolution.

For information on these programs and others in TVO's November lineup, please visit TVO's November 2009 media highlights at

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/mmnr/tvo/nov2009/index.html

About TVO

TVO is Ontario's public educational media organization and a trusted source of interactive educational content that informs, inspires and stimulates curiosity and thought. TVO's vision is to empower people to be engaged citizens of Ontario through educational media.

Where to find TVO

Cable channel 2 (channel may vary in some areas), Bell TV channel 265, Star Choice channel 353

For further information: Media Contacts: Angela Garde: [phone] x 2305, [email protected]; Paul Ginis: [phone] x 2445, [email protected]