The Verb

Benjamin Markovits

Saturday 16 December 2006 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)

Ian McMillan presents the weekly language, literature and performance cabaret. Studio guest is novelist Benjamin Markovits, author of a specially commissioned Christmas children's story. Plus an interview with the acclaimed poet Alan Brownjohn as he looks back at his life and work.

Duration:

45 minutes

Playlist

Tune into The Verb this week with Ian McMillan to hear The Man Who Lived on the Sea, Benjamin Markovits's Christmas story for children, written especially for The Verb. It's a wintry tale of love, separation - and ice-skating.

Also in the programme, celebrated poet Alan Brownjohn reads from his collected poems and reflects on more than fifty years of writing. Poet and novelist John Harvey writes in praise of the small magazines that keep poetry alive through dark times - and there'll be music and more poetry from Salena Godden.

Further information
SaltPeter's new single Everybody Back To Mine is out now. A new single, I'm Not Gay, is out in February. Salena Godden's memoir will be published next year by HarperCollins. SaltPeter's website is www.saltpeter.co.uk

Alan Brownjohn's Collected Poems is out now, published by Enitharmon.

Benjamin Markovits's new novel Imposture will be published next spring by Faber.

John Harvey's website, with details of his latest books, is www.mellotone.co.uk

The Verb

Episode and Playlist Information

• 13 January 2007
• 6 January 2007
• 16 Dec 06 Benjamin Markovits
• 9 Dec 06 Fiona Sampson
• 2 Dec 06 Lightman and Bruno
• 25 Nov 06 Chris Addison
• 18 Nov 06 War poetry