Poetry Extra - The Poetic Spark

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Poetry Extra

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Weekly opportunity for listeners to revisit the riches of the BBC radio poetry archive

A brand new poetry slot on Radio 4 Extra gives listeners a weekly opportunity to revisit the riches of the BBC radio poetry archive

Poetry Extra: The Poetic Spark

The Poetic Spark

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Poetry Extra, The Poetic Spark

Poet Daljit Nagra selects the very best programmes from the BBC's Poetry archive.

Poet Daljit Nagra introduces The Poetic Spark featuring the novelist and poet Muriel Spark.  Presented by AL Kennedy.  From 2016

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's radio poetry archive and chooses The Poetic Spark featuring the novelist and poet Muriel Spark.  Presented by AL Kennedy. 

The inscription on Muriel Spark's tombstone in Tuscany reads 'Muriel Spark. Poeta'.
 
Surprising perhaps: because, despite the fact that Spark always referred to herself as a poet, it's her reputation as a novelist, and the creator of the charismatic Jean Brodie, for which she's better known.
 
Before Muriel was anywhere near her prime, she'd established a reputation as a poet. Aged just fourteen, she won a prestigious poetry competition celebrating the centenary of Walter Scott. Later, she published several collections to glowing reviews and completed a controversial stint as Editor of the Poetry Review, during which time she gathered as many enemies as her fictional alter-ego, Jean Brodie (notably Marie Stopes about whom she famously quipped: 'I used to think it a pity that her mother rather than she had not thought of birth control')!

Muriel Spark kept writing poetry throughout her life. 10 years after her death, AL Kennedy, a long term admirer of her novels and short stories, wonders what new insights the poems might lend to her writing and character.

Produced by Lynsey Moyes.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Poetry Extra

The Poetic Spark

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra