18 February 2006
Saturday 18 February 2006 22:30-23:00 (Radio 3)
Joolz Denby jumps onto her shark biscuit to deliver a dark tale of dangerous infatuation in the surfing village of Polwenna. And, on the eve of the 3rd anniversary of the Iraq War, Ian talks to US soldier-poet, Brian Turner.
Programme Details
On the eve of the 3 rd anniversary of the Iraq War, US soldier Brian Turner, who served there, talks to Ian McMillan about the duties of a poet in a war zone. Thinking every poem was his last, he admits how he kept one in his breast pocket as a talisman whilst in combat. He movingly reveals how conflict shaped his poetry, and the duty he felt to reflect a wider world view by including both Iraqis and fellow soldiers. But was he a soldier first and a poet second? Listen and find out as he talks poignantly, and reads for the first time on British radio from his prize winning collection, Here, Bullet.
Also on the programme, the internationally acclaimed performance poet, novelist, spoken word artist and illustrator, Joolz Denby, talks about Borrowed Light - a searing look at relationships and obsessive love set in Cornwall's surfing community. She reads from the novel and performs a new piece especially for The Verb.
And, as the last telegram in the US was sent this month, the novelist DJ Taylor mourns the passing of this most succinct form of pre-text message communication. He reveals how telegrams have acted as plot devices and even inspiration for novelists and wordsmiths in the 20th century.
That's all in a shorter half hour edition of The Verb at the slightly later time of 22.30 here on BBC Radio 3.
Additional Information:
Here, Bullet by Brian Turner is published by Alice James Books in the US.
Borrowed Light by Joolz Denby is published by Serpent's Tail.
Producer: Ariane Koek
