The Spoken Word - Ted Hughes
Poems and Short Stories and Poetry in the Making
British Library publishes two important new collections of Ted Hughes's broadcasts for the BBC
On 15 October 2008, the British Library releases two new additions to its popular series of literary spoken word CDs, featuring rarely heard BBC broadcasts of the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes (1930 - 1998), recorded 1960 - 1992.
The Spoken Word - Ted Hughes: Poems and Short Stories, the first of a pair of 2CD sets drawn from the BBC radio broadcasts of Ted Hughes, features live and studio recordings of the poet introducing and reading his own work. The recordings include his earliest surviving poetry broadcast, dated 12 August 1960, in which he reads 'The Captain's Speech' from The House of Aries and 'Thistles' from Wodwo. The collection also includes extensive selections from Remains of Elmet and Moortown Diary, plus two complete short stories, The Harvesting and Snow.
Notable extracts include a broadcast dated 6 July 1970, in which Hughes is interviewed on the background and meaning of The Life and Songs of Crow, which he called his masterpiece, 'if I am capable of such a thing as a masterpiece'. In another excerpt from a 'Poet of the Month' programme, broadcast on 5 April 1992, Hughes discusses his appointment as Poet Laureate.
The Spoken Word - Ted Hughes : Poetry in the Making, draws on the broadcasts Ted Hughes made for schools, particularly the highly praised Listening and Writing series, later published as Poetry in the Making, in which Hughes aimed to encourage an interest in imaginative writing in 10-14 year olds. Hughes explains the origins and development of some of his most famous animal poems, such as The Thought-Fox and Pike, and suggests techniques of concentration for translating thoughts into poems. The set contains five complete Listening and Writing talks, all illustrated with Hughes's readings of his own and others' poetry, plus two complementary programmes of readings from the collection Season Songs.
Recordings include Capturing Animals (1961), in which Ted Hughes talks about how his early interest in animals turned into capturing and keeping animals in the form of poems, and Meet my Folks! (1965), in which Ted Hughes talks about his imaginary family and reads the poems he wrote about them.
Richard Fairman, British Library Sound Archive, commented:
"These new collections of Ted Hughes's recordings enable lovers of the poet's work to hear him in some of his most captivating radio appearances, from his earliest surviving poetry broadcast in 1960 to a 1992 discussion of his role as the nation's Poet Laureate. These historic BBC broadcasts, recorded over three decades, are of great importance in allowing us to hear Hughes's poems, and his thoughts about the 'making' of poetry, expressed in his own voice."
The British Library has recently acquired a major Ted Hughes archive. It will be fully catalogued and will be available to researchers by the end of 2009. For more information, please see http://www.bl.uk/news/pressreleases.html
On 20 October, leading writers will take part in a special tribute to the poet, Ted Hughes: A Celebration, to be held in the British Library Conference Centre. Guest speakers are Simon Armitage, Seamus Heaney, Michael Morpurgo, Alice Oswald, and Tom Paulin. The event will be introduced by Lord Evans of Temple Guiting, who, as Chairman of Faber & Faber, worked closely with Ted Hughes.
For further information, review copies, images or interviews, contact Ruth Howlett at the British Library Press Office: +44 (0)20 7412 7112 or ruth.howlett@bl.uk
Notes for Editors
The Spoken Word: Ted Hughes: Poems and Short Stories is published by the British Library on 15 October 2008, 2 CD set, price £15.95, running time 133 minutes, ISBN 978 0 7123 0549 5. The CD is accompanied by a booklet including introductory essay by Alice Oswald.
The Spoken Word - Ted Hughes: Poetry in the Making is published by the British Library on 15 October, 2 CD set, price £15.95, running time 139 minutes, ISBN 978 0 7123 0554 9. The CD is accompanied by a booklet including introductory essay by Alice Oswald.
Both CDs are available from the British Library Shop (tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7735 / e-mail: bl-bookshop@bl.uk ) and online at www.bl.uk/shop as well as other bookshops throughout the UK.
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