The Poetry of History: Death of King George V

**** This programme was suggested by Shenyou Me as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend. Shenyou chooses it as it demonstrates Jonathan Bates' 'unparalleled ability to intertwine the intricacies of poetry with the rich tapestry of history'. ****

Daljit Nagra presents this specially selected programme from the BBC poetry archive.

The Poetry of History - The Death of King George is presented by Jonathan Bate who turns to the most popular English poet of the 20th Century.

John Betjeman's Death of King George V captures, in its 12 closely packed lines, not just the passing of a monarch - but a subtle shift in the Britain in which he had grown up.

Jonathan is joined by Betjeman's daughter Candida Lycett Green and his biographer Andrew Wilson.

Producer: Tom Alban

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.

** Daljit also reads from his Poetry Extra Book of the Month: Skeletons by Deborah Landau. It's the fifth collection from the American poet, essayist and critic.

**** To nominate a programme from the BBC poetry archive that you would like to hear again, please email [email protected] and tell us details of why you'd like to hear it.****