 How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear: 2: The Dong with the Luminous Nose

How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear

2: The Dong with the Luminous Nose

BBC Radio 4 Extra - How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear, 2: The Dong with the Luminous Nose

Nicholas Parsons explores how Edward Lear’s verse entertained children and soothed adults

Nicholas Parsons explores how Edward Lear’s verse was created to both entertain children and survive life’s stresses. From 1995.

Nicholas Parsons concludes his celebration of the life and work of Edward Lear, the great nonsense poet. 

In the last of two programmes he talks about the unusual and difficult life of this amazing man and illustrates it throughout with a delivery of many of Lear's brilliant nonsense poems. 

The fantastical world of Lear's nonsense verse was constructed to bring entertainment to children, but also as a means of Lear surviving a very stressful life. 

With Colin Sell at the piano. 

Producer: Jonathan James-Moore

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in April 1995.

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.

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: Life Stories

Nicholas Parsons celebrates the nonsensical genius of the comic writer, Edward Lear.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear

2: The Dong with the Luminous Nose

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra