Thomas Blackburn
Brian Patten examines the work of Thomas Blackburn, the 20th-century poet whose powerful work reflected his troubled life. The poems are read by Patrick Romer.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4's Poet in Residence, Daljit Nagra revisits the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's radio poetry with 'Lost Voices: Thomas Blackburn'.
Novelist Julia Blackburn joins Brian Patten to talk about the life and work of her father, Thomas, whose powerful and remarkable poetry reflects the lifelong struggles he had with his demons. Thomas's father handed on to his son a hideous sense of shame which was in due course compounded by alcoholism and an addiction to prescription drugs. Yet Thomas Blackburn's rich and unflinching poetry is still well worth reading, and at the end of his life he was able to make peace with the past and die in contentment.
Poems read by Patrick Romer.
Producer: Christine Hall.
First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in 2010.
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- Sun 25 Apr 2010 16:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Sat 1 May 2010 23:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Sun 23 Jul 2017 17:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
- Mon 24 Jul 2017 05:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra