1 February 2008
Friday 1 February 2008 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)
In a special live edition of The Verb, Ian McMillan is joined on stage by singer and songwriter Devon Sproule.
Playlist
In anticipation of Valentine's Day , The Verb this week is dedicated to romance, but not the sloppy hearts and roses kind.
Instead, Ian McMillan and his guests explores the changing meaning of the word romance in literature, from early tales of derring-do to a very contemporary love story from young novelist Rachel Trezise, via the work of the Romantic poets.
Ian talks to Helen Hackett about the first love story written for women by a woman - The Urania published by Lady Mary Wroth in 1621; novelist Benjamin Markovits discusses fictionalizing the life of Byron; and there's a brand new love song from Steve Adams of The Broken Family Band.
A Quiet Adjustment by Benjamin Markovits is published by Faber
Hello, Love by The Broken Family Band is on Track and Field Records