Love poems

National Theatre•www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

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This podcast from the National Theatre features actor and writer, Simon Callow’s choice of poems for Valentine’s Day.

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Episodes

Love and Life - John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester was an English Libertine poet, a friend of King Charles II, and the writer of much satirical and bawdy poetry. He was the toast of the Restoration court and a patron of the arts. He married an heiress, Elizabeth Malet, and had many mistresses, including the actress Elizabeth Barry.

Feb 08, 2012•40 sec

How Do I Love Thee (Sonnet 43) - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnets from the Portuguese was first published in 1850. It is a collection of forty-four love sonnets written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The poems largely chronicle the period leading up to her 1846 marriage to Robert Browning.

Feb 08, 2012•57 sec

Sonnet 18 - William Shakespeare

Sonnet 18 is possibly the most famous of Shakespeare's sonnets. The sonnet (meaning ‘little song’) originated in Italy in the 13th century and became fashionable in England in the early 16th century. English sonnets of the period usually treated on the poet’s love for a woman, although not exclusively.

Feb 08, 2012•51 sec

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