Foundation Stones
Andrew Marr looks at the various origins of Britain's story found in some of its earliest verses. With Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage and Patience Agbabi.
The British are brilliant at writing poems. On National Poetry Day, Andrew Marr is using them to tell our story.
In this opening episode Andrew looks at the various origins of our story found in some of the earliest verses written in these islands. Then he plunges into the majestic weirdness and strange familiarity of the medieval world. Before, in the figure of Chaucer he finds the first stirrings of an English ascendancy.
With Simon Armitage, Patience Agbabi, Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy and Jacob Polley.
We'll hear the origins of our British poetry, and of our national character, in poems like The Ruin, Y Goddodin and the Canterbury Tales. And fans of Lord of the Rings and King Arthur will recognise the mediaeval landscapes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Last on
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Broadcast
- Thu 8 Oct 2015 09:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
We British: As it happened
See the story of Britain in poetry unfold with videos, clips and quizzes.
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Murray Lachlan Young delivers one of Radio 4’s most loved daily poems.
Contains Strong Language
A season of poets and poetry, centred around National Poetry Day on 8 October 2015.
Podcast
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We British
Andrew Marr explores British history and identity through poems.
