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Six Poets

Hardy to Larkin: An Anthology

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Six Poets

By: Alan Bennett
Narrated by: Alan Bennett
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About this listen

Writers like to elude their public, lead them a bit of a dance. They take them down untrodden paths, land them in unknown country where they have to ask for directions.

In this personal anthology, Alan Bennett has chosen over seventy poems by six well-loved poets, discussing the writers and their verse in his customary conversational style through anecdote, shrewd appraisal and spare but telling biographical detail. Ranging from hidden treasures to famous poems, this is a collection for the beginner and the expert alike. Speaking with candour about his own reactions to the work, Alan Bennett creates profound and witty portraits of Thomas Hardy, A. E. Housman, John Betjeman, W. H. Auden, Louis MacNeice and Philip Larkin, all the more enjoyable for being in his own particular voice.

Anybody writing poetry in the thirties had somehow to come to terms with Auden. Auden, you see, had got a head start on the other poets. He'd got into the thirties first, like someone taking over the digs.

©1990 Alan Bennett (P)2014 Channel 4 Poetry Witty Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant  
Too much background noise spoiled, a little, the experience of a wonderful book.
Would I swap this unclear recording of Alan Bennett performing in his own personable way for a clean and well produced version by another?
Not a chance!

great book. terrible recording

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Bennett's gentle whit is a delight, but it is a little over shadowed by the quality of the recording. Perhaps time to revisit and polish? It would do both the poets and the commentator justice.

Bennett's gentle whit is a delight

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Useful for poetry beginners such as myself and expertly read and contextualised by the legend that is Alan Bennett.

To my shame, it has taken me until now to realise Thomas Hardy was known as a poet as a poet as well as a novelist. I just thought he dabbled a bit.

AE Housman's A Shropshire Lad isn't what the title would first suggest. No spoilers here, but surface to say I am now intrigued to read the collection.

John Betjeman wrote funny poems! I just thought he wrote serious ones. He was also fond of being on TV.

WH Auðen followed love to America and became a naturalised American. I thought he spent his days here.

I learned all about a new to me poet Louis Macniece from Northern Ireland. Well known for being able to see both sides of a story.

I have finally heard more than the first few lines of that well known poem by Philip Larkin concerning parental responsibility. You know the one, and if you don't, I heartily recommend you let Alan Bennett's dulcet tones enlighten you.

A very enjoyable and informative read.

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Well chosen and excellently read extracts from each of the poets to illustrate the kind of poetry Alan likes best. He does not veer from the contentious, which is a good thing.

Acute and humorous

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Alan Bennett's delivery can be either amusing or irritating, but as the book progresses he comes across as both a decent, non-judgemental commentator on the selected authors.

Funny and sad, it suits Bennett's style. Overall a pleasantly intelligent, interesting and insightful book.

A surprising pleasure

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A fantastic book . Pure pleasure, he reads it quite well with loads of passion.

Most enjoyable.

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This is the perfect match of narrator, guide and companion, with six wonderful poets, all represented by a handful of very well chosen verses. It's much too short of course, one never wants to leave.

Beautiful, gentle genius

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Funny, poignant and insightful. As someone who barely reads poetry these days, this was pitched at just the right level to keep me enthralled throughout.

Great stuff

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great poetry brought to life, along with the lives of the poets , by a great man .

Insight and gentle humour combined

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Wonderful little pen pictures of poets and examples of their poems. What more could you ask for.

Do not think you are coming under this umbrella

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