What I Learned From The Metaphysical Poets [Afternoon Reading]

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Rock Of Eye

20080407

20100403 (R4)

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POETS is a series of specially commissioned short stories which take their inspiration from the life and work of the seventeenth century poets John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell.

The first story in the series, 'Rock of Eye' by Iain F MacLeod, is inspired by John Donne's poem 'A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning'. In it, an elderly Savile Row tailor comes face to face with a lost love and is forced to confront a painful event from his past. The reader is Paul Young.

The other writers in the series are Helen Dunmore, Ruth Thomas, Joe Dunthorne and Michele Roberts.

The producer is Kirsteen Cameron.

By Iain Finlay MacLeod. An elderly tailor comes face to face with a lost love.

Get Lost

20080408

20100410 (R4)

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POETS: continuing our series of short stories inspired by the lives and work of the seventeenth century poets John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell.

GET LOST' by Mich退le Roberts, read by Joanna Tope.

George Herbert's poem 'Prayer' provides the inspiration for tonight's story, in which a woman - grieving the death of her mother - walks for miles through the empty Sunday streets of London, before coming to rest in All Saints Place, a peaceful public garden surrounded by a square of eighteenth century houses.

Mich退le Roberts is the author of twelve highly acclaimed novels, including DAUGHTERS OF THE HOUSE which won the WHSmith Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize (1992). Half-English and Half-French, she is an acclaimed poet and short story writer with several collections of both in print.

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron.

By Michele Roberts. Grieving over her mother's death, Marie walks through London streets.

Instant Fires

20080409

20100417 (R4)

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POETS: continuing our series of short stories inspired by the lives and work of the seventeenth century poets John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell.

INSTANT FIRES' by Joe Dunthorne, read by Jessica Harris.

Young novelist Joe Dunthorne's short story brilliantly evokes the preoccupations of seventeen year old Anna. Blazing with the confidence of youth - and the burgeoning instincts of the woman she will become - Anna is bemused by the attention paid to her by her English teacher, Mr Ashford. but not so distracted that she fails to notice the Head Boy's attempts to woo her using updated lines from Andrew Marvell's poem 'To His Coy Mistress': 'Girl, I'm thinking a half-term on your thighs, double maths on your neck, a lunch-hour to each of your teeth.

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron.

By Joe Dunthorne. Grappling with her own emotions, young Anna finds much that resonates.

The Tiny And The Light

20080410

20100424 (R4)

By Ruth Thomas.

A funny and profound story on the nature of transience and permanence, tonight's story, by the acclaimed poet and novelist Ruth Thomas, takes its inspiration from John Donne's poem 'The Blossom'.

A week before moving house, Anna finds distraction from packing by arranging and rearranging the furniture in her daughter's doll's house: 'procrastination in miniature'.

Reader: Cara Kelly

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron.

By Ruth Thomas. Anna procrastinates by playing with her daughter's doll's house.

Taken In Shadows

20080411

20100501 (R4)

By Helen Dunmore. A portrait depicts the charismatic beauty of John Donne.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Rock Of Eye	20080407	20100403 (R4)	WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POETS is a series of specially commissioned short stories which take their inspiration from the life and work of the seventeenth century poets John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell. The first story in the series, 'Rock of Eye' by Iain F MacLeod, is inspired by John Donne's poem 'A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning'. In it, an elderly Savile Row tailor comes face to face with a lost love and is forced to confront a painful event from his past. The reader is Paul Young. The other writers in the series are Helen Dunmore, Ruth Thomas, Joe Dunthorne and Michele Roberts. The producer is Kirsteen Cameron. By Iain Finlay MacLeod. An elderly tailor comes face to face with a lost love.
02	Get Lost	20080408	20100410 (R4)	WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POETS: continuing our series of short stories inspired by the lives and work of the seventeenth century poets John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell. GET LOST' by Mich退le Roberts, read by Joanna Tope. George Herbert's poem 'Prayer' provides the inspiration for tonight's story, in which a woman - grieving the death of her mother - walks for miles through the empty Sunday streets of London, before coming to rest in All Saints Place, a peaceful public garden surrounded by a square of eighteenth century houses. Mich退le Roberts is the author of twelve highly acclaimed novels, including DAUGHTERS OF THE HOUSE which won the WHSmith Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize (1992). Half-English and Half-French, she is an acclaimed poet and short story writer with several collections of both in print. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. By Michele Roberts. Grieving over her mother's death, Marie walks through London streets.
03	Instant Fires	20080409	20100417 (R4)	WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POETS: continuing our series of short stories inspired by the lives and work of the seventeenth century poets John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell. INSTANT FIRES' by Joe Dunthorne, read by Jessica Harris. Young novelist Joe Dunthorne's short story brilliantly evokes the preoccupations of seventeen year old Anna. Blazing with the confidence of youth - and the burgeoning instincts of the woman she will become - Anna is bemused by the attention paid to her by her English teacher, Mr Ashford. but not so distracted that she fails to notice the Head Boy's attempts to woo her using updated lines from Andrew Marvell's poem 'To His Coy Mistress': 'Girl, I'm thinking a half-term on your thighs, double maths on your neck, a lunch-hour to each of your teeth. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. By Joe Dunthorne. Grappling with her own emotions, young Anna finds much that resonates.
04	The Tiny And The Light	20080410	20100424 (R4)	By Ruth Thomas. A funny and profound story on the nature of transience and permanence, tonight's story, by the acclaimed poet and novelist Ruth Thomas, takes its inspiration from John Donne's poem 'The Blossom'. A week before moving house, Anna finds distraction from packing by arranging and rearranging the furniture in her daughter's doll's house: 'procrastination in miniature'. Reader: Cara Kelly Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. By Ruth Thomas. Anna procrastinates by playing with her daughter's doll's house.
05	Taken In Shadows	20080411	20100501 (R4)	By Helen Dunmore. A portrait depicts the charismatic beauty of John Donne.