"Narrative Poems," part of the London Review of Books' Close Readings series, is a scholarly yet accessible literary podcast hosted by Oxford professor Seamus Perry and poet-academic Mark Ford. Across each episode, the pair conduct close, conversational readings of major narrative poems in the Western canon—from Marlowe and Shakespeare through Wordsworth, Coleridge, Pope, Burns, Browning, and Anne Carson—tracing how storytelling in verse has evolved across centuries. Episodes blend historical context, biographical anecdote, and formal analysis, often connecting a poem's origins (like Pope's satirical response to a real social scandal, or Burns's invented folklore) to its literary legacy and influence on later writers. Occasional guest contributions, such as novelist Andrew O'Hagan's reading of 'Tam o'Shanter,' add texture and a practitioner's perspective. The tone is erudite but warm, favoring genuine critical debate over lecture-style delivery, making it ideal for literature students, poetry enthusiasts, and lifelong learners interested in deep textual analysis. Listeners drawn to Shakespeare, Romanticism, satire, and the mechanics of storytelling in verse will find this a rewarding, richly detailed companion series alongside other LRB Close Readings podcasts.
"Narrative Poems," part of the London Review of Books' Close Readings series, is a scholarly yet accessible literary podcast hosted by Oxford professor Seamus Perry and poet-academic Mark Ford. Across each episode, the pair conduct close, conversational readings of major narrative poems in the Western canon—from Marlowe and Shakespeare through Wordsworth, Coleridge, Pope, Burns, Browning, and Anne Carson—tracing how storytelling in verse has evolved across centuries. Episodes blend historical context, biographical anecdote, and formal analysis, often connecting a poem's origins (like Pope's satirical response to a real social scandal, or Burns's invented folklore) to its literary legacy and influence on later writers. Occasional guest contributions, such as novelist Andrew O'Hagan's reading of 'Tam o'Shanter,' add texture and a practitioner's perspective. The tone is erudite but warm, favoring genuine critical debate over lecture-style delivery, making it ideal for literature students, poetry enthusiasts, and lifelong learners interested in deep textual analysis. Listeners drawn to Shakespeare, Romanticism, satire, and the mechanics of storytelling in verse will find this a rewarding, richly detailed companion series alongside other LRB Close Readings podcasts.
