20th-century English poets
The term Metaphysical poets was coined by the critic Samuel Johnson to describe a loose group of 17th-century English poets whose work was characterised by the inventive use of conceits, and by a greater emphasis on the spoken rather than lyrical quality of their verse. These poets were not formally affiliated and few were highly regarded until 20th century attention established their importance.
6 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
Auden
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss WH Auden's life and poetry from Europe before WWII, reflecting on his travels to Spain, China and Germany and the rise of totalitarianism.
19 December 2019
Featuring: Mark Ford, Janet Montefiore, Jeremy Noel-Tod
CultureAmerican literary critics, American male dramatists and playwrightsEnglish male dramatists and playwrights20th-century English male writersAmerican male essayists, American male poets20th-century American male writersAmerican male non-fiction writersEnglish LGBTQ poetsGay academics20th-century English poets20th-century English non-fiction writersGay dramatists and playwrights, Gay poetsMembers of the American Academy of Arts and LettersEnglish emigrants to the United StatesAnglican poetsAmerican lecturersModernist theatre20th-century American essayistsEnglish male poetsAmerican LGBTQ poetsEnglish literary criticsAlumni of Christ Church, OxfordNaturalized citizens of the United StatesEnglish essayistsFormalist poetsLGBTQ AnglicansOxford Professors of PoetryEnglish male non-fiction writersBritish male essayistsRobert Graves
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and works of the author of I, Claudius, especially his love and war poems and his ideas on the source of all creativity.
10 October 2024
Featuring: Paul O'Prey, Fran Brearton, Bob Davis
Culture20th-century English novelistsEnglish atheists20th-century atheists20th-century English male writersEnglish people of Irish descentPrix Italia winnersEnglish writers with disabilitiesEnglish LGBTQ poets20th-century English poetsEnglish male short story writers20th-century English non-fiction writersPeople educated at Charterhouse SchoolJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsEnglish historical novelistsPeople with post-traumatic stress disorderBisexual male writers20th-century English LGBTQ peopleEnglish bisexual men, English bisexual writers, Royal Welch Fusiliers officersBritish Army personnel of World War IBisexual memoiristsEnglish male novelists20th-century English memoiristsEnglish male poets20th-century translatorsEnglish World War I poetsBisexual novelistsBisexual poetsEnglish short story writersEnglish literary criticsOxford Professors of PoetryEnglish male non-fiction writersRudyard Kipling
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Rudyard Kipling, a writer sometimes described as the poet of empire.
16 October 2014
Featuring: Howard Booth, Daniel Karlin, Jan Montefiore
Culture20th-century English novelistsMythopoeic writers19th-century English short story writersNobel laureates in Literature20th-century English male writers20th-century English poetsEnglish male short story writersBurials at Westminster AbbeyEnglish hymnwritersVictorian novelists19th-century English novelistsEnglish-language poets from IndiaMaritime writers19th-century English non-fiction writersEnglish children's writersFreemasons of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandRectors of the University of St AndrewsEnglish science fiction writersEnglish male novelistsFellows of the Royal Society of Literature20th-century English memoiristsBritish Nobel laureates19th-century English poetsDeaths from ulcersEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish people of Scottish descentPeople of the Victorian eraSiegfried Sassoon
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the war poet Siegfried Sassoon; a homosexual war hero who became a bitter opponent of the First World War and a devout Catholic.
7 June 2007
Featuring: Jean Moorcroft Wilson, Fran Brearton, Max Egremont
20th-century English novelistsEnglish Roman Catholics20th-century English male writersRoman Catholic writersLGBTQ Roman CatholicsEnglish Catholic poetsEnglish LGBTQ poets20th-century English poetsWar writersJames Tait Black Memorial Prize recipientsDeaths from stomach cancer in EnglandPeople with post-traumatic stress disorderBisexual male writersPeople educated at Marlborough CollegeRecipients of the Military Cross20th-century English LGBTQ peopleEnglish bisexual men, English bisexual writers, Royal Welch Fusiliers officersBritish Army personnel of World War I20th-century English memoiristsEnglish World War I poetsBisexual poetsBisexual military personnelStevie Smith
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the writer best known for her poem Not Waving But Drowning, whose success has arguably overshadowed her wider work as a poet and novelist.
16 Feb 2023
Featuring: Jeremy Noel-Tod, Noreen Masud, Will May
Wilfred Owen
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of Britain's greatest war poets, who published only 5 poems in his short life yet whose works became seen as a warning of the futility of wars.
27 October 2022
Featuring: Jane Potter, Fran Brearton, Guy Cuthbertson
CultureWar writersBritish Army personnel of World War IEnglish people of Welsh descentArtists' Rifles soldiersPeople with post-traumatic stress disorder20th-century English male writersEnglish male poetsRecipients of the Military Cross20th-century English LGBTQ peopleEnglish World War I poetsLost Generation writersEnglish writers with disabilitiesEnglish LGBTQ poets20th-century English poets