Poetry in Translation

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's radio poetry archive with 'Poetry in Translation' looking at the global poetry scene.

Just how do you translate a poem? Daljit Nagra himself explores the different approaches that poets take, and there's more to it than just knowing another language.

The Magazine Modern Poetry in Translation was founded by Ted Hughes and Daniel Weissbort in 1965. It's hard to believe that before this, British poetry had no real access to work beyond its borders. We hear from former editor David Constantine and his replacement Sasha Dugdale about the magazine's history and future.

Daljit speaks to poets Jo Shapcott, Pascale Petit, WN Herbert and Yang Lian, who share the pleasures and pitfalls of their methods of translation.

Producer: Jessica Treen

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.