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How to Write a Poem

How to Write a Poem: Episode 1: Keats and Clare

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Episode 1

Episode 1: Keats and Clare

Keats and Clare

BBC Radio 4 - How to Write a Poem, Keats and Clare

Poet Glyn Maxwell leads a poetry masterclass at a dream literature festival.

Poet Glyn Maxwell leads a masterclass at a literature festival with an impressive line-up, where his three students get writing advice direct from the greats.

The poet Glyn Maxwell finds himself in a strange village. He has been invited there to teach a poetry masterclass at a literature festival with some impressive names on the line-up. Could that really be John Keats reading in the back room of the pub? Is that John Clare wandering the lanes? Is Emily Dickinson really doing a Q&A in the village hall? And isn't that Lord Byron propping up the bar? 

With Glyn are three new poets - Holly Corfield Carr, Victoria Adukwei Bulley and Dominic Fisher - who share their own poems-in-progress. The students put their questions on writing directly to the greats and Glyn shares his own advice on writing better poetry - from facing the blank page and developing ideas, to the intricacies of rhyme, metre, form and line break. 

All words spoken by Keats, Clare, Dickinson and Byron are taken verbatim from their poems, letters and diaries. 

Written and presented by Glyn Maxwell
Produced by Mair Bosworth & Chris Ledgard

CAST
Barmaid - Sally Phillips
John Keats - Tom Stuart
John Clare - Tom Meeten 
Student Poets - Holly Corfield Carr, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Dominic Fisher.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Poet Glyn Maxwell leads a masterclass at a dream literature festival.

Poet Glyn Maxwell leads a masterclass at a dream literature festival, where his three students get writing advice direct from the greats.

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How to Write a Poem

Episode 1: Keats and Clare

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