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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

The Essay Podcast

The Essay

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: A Good Death

The Essay: A Good Death: Episode 5: Thomas Lynch

Thomas Lynch

Episode 5

Episode 5: Thomas Lynch

A Good Death

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Celebrated poet and undertaker Thomas Lynch on friendship, ageing and fear of death.

Poet Thomas Lynch looks at the art of dying, reflecting on why death has remained such a constant theme in his work, and on why he sees little reason to fear death itself.

Death is the one subject we shy away from, and in our frantic obsession with prolonging our lives, the notion of 'a good death' seems to have lost its relevance. Yet 'the art of dying' has been a defining notion throughout history. Thomas Lynch, acclaimed poet and working undertaker, looks at the art of dying through his own poetry, reflecting on the themes of friendship, ageing, sex and death, and on why he sees little reason to fear death itself. 

In these five frank and powerful essays, writers and thinkers ponder the art of dying, and confront taboos around death. They will look at what makes a 'good death' today - is it merely having lived a good life, or is there something intrinsically important in dying well? And, now that our deaths tend to occur in the sterile surroundings of a hospital ward rather than at home, surrounded by those we love, will reflect on how this distancing from death, and loss of control over our demise, has changed our relationship with dying. With references to the portrayal of death in literature, history and religion, as well as personal reflections on hopes and expectations of death, these essays will give five very different perspectives on the art of dying.

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Series of personal and very powerful essays in which writers ponder the art of dying

Series of personal and very powerful essays in which writers ponder the much-neglected art of dying. They ask whether a good death is about just having lived a good life

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A Good Death

Episode 5: Thomas Lynch

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