The Verb

22 February 2008

Friday 22 February 2008 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)

Ian McMillan presents the cabaret of language, poetry and performance.

Duration:

45 minutes

Playlist

On The Verb this week Ian McMillan investigates the Pushkin Sonnet with two authors who've written verse novels using this very un-English form. Andy Croft and Ben Borek discuss finding rhymes, of both masculine and feminine varieties, why Pushkin sonnets seem to lead to comedy and why writing them can be addictive.

Also on the programme, Shetland based poet Jen Hadfield talks about her new collection and the importance of place in her work and Tim Liardet reads the poem he's written for the Bath Literature Festival which was inspired by his own family history. And the festival's art director Sarah LeFanu explains the festival's poetry taxi, where visitors will get a chance to hear some great poems.

All that and performance from the startlingly talented and critically acclaimed young singer songwriter Laura Marling.

Donjong Heights by Ben Borek is published by Eggbox. And he will be appearing at the London Word Festival on 12 March, more information here. http://www.londonwordfestival.com/

Ghost Writer by Andy Croft is published by Five Leaves.

The Bath Literature Festival runs from 23 February to 2nd March, more details here http://www.bathlitfest.org.uk/

Laura Marling's debut album Alas I Cannot Swim is on Virgin records.

Jen Hadfield's Nigh-No-Place is published by Bloodaxe

The Verb

Episode and Playlist Information

• 7 Mar 08 Juggling aphorisms
• 29 Feb 08 Junot Diaz
• 22 February 2008
• 15 Feb 08 Wole Soyinka
• 8 February 2008
• 1 February 2008
• 25 January 2008