Sir Ralph Richardson reads Oscar Wilde's The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Poetry Extra: Sir Ralph Richardson reads Oscar Wilde's The Ballad Of Reading Gaol

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Poetry Extra

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Poetry Extra: Sir Ralph Richardson reads Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Sir Ralph Richardson reads Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Poetry Extra, Sir Ralph Richardson reads Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Dajlit Nagra finds a gem in the BBC's poetry archive.

Daljit Nagra selects Sir Ralph Richardson reads Oscar Wilde's The Ballad of Reading Gaol.  From 1963.

The 125th anniversary of Oscar Wilde's release from prison - May 19th 1897. To mark the occasion poet Daljit Nagra selects Sir Ralph Richardson reads Oscar Wilde's The Ballad of Reading Gaol from the BBC's poetry archive. 

The poem was written about Wilde's time in prison after his conviction in 1895 when homosexuality was a criminal offence.  

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in May 1963.

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