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Background, context, and highlights from the transcript: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/16/sylvia-plath-ted-hughes-bbc-interview-1961/

Rare 1961 BBC interview with Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes

Background, context, and transcript: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/09/sylvia-plath-spoken-word-tulips-bbc/

Sylvia Plath reads "Tulips": A Rare BBC Recording

Background and transcript: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/07/23/raymond-chandler-ian-fleming-bbc/

Raymond Chandler in conversation with Ian Fleming: Rare BBC interview

Background, poem text, and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/08/09/charles-bukowski-reads-friendly-advice-to-a-lot-of-young-men/

Charles Bukowski reads his "Friendly Advice To A Lot Of Young Men"

Background, context, and transcript highlights here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/08/06/andy-warhol-bbc-interview-edward-lucie-smith/

Andy Warhol BBC interview (1981)

Tilda Swinton - Like This

A fragment of Ahab’s speech from Chapter 36 (The Quarter-Deck) of “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville

'The Thought-Fox' by Ted Hughes, taken from Poems for Children, read by the author.

Some of the most delightful poems ever written for children, brought evocatively to life in this wonderful new audio edition. Ted Hughes' poetry for children is as rich, powerful and magical as anything he wrote. This new recording consists of a collection of the children's poems of Ted Hughes, introduced and selected by acclaimed writer Michael Morpurgo, and read by both Morpurgo and actor Juliet Stevenson.
More information about the audiobook here: http://faber.co.uk/work/poems-for-children/9780571259496/

The Thought-Fox by Ted Hughes

The Harvest Moon by Ted Hughes, taken from Poems for Children, read by the author.

Ted Hughes' poetry for children is as rich, powerful and magical as anything he wrote. This new recording consists of a collection of the children's poems of Ted Hughes, introduced and selected by acclaimed writer Michael Morpurgo, and read by both Morpurgo and actor Juliet Stevenson.
For more information on the audiobook: http://faber.co.uk/work/poems-for-children/9780571259496/

The Harvest Moon by Ted Hughes

For full poem text, plus Eliot on idea-incubation and the mystical quality of creativity, go here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/26/t-s-eliot-on-creativity/

MORE / POEM TEXT

T.S. Eliot Reads "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

Sylvia Plath reads "A Birthday Present." Written in September of 1962, recorded in October. Background and full text: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/29/sylvia-plath-reads-a-birthday-present-1962/

Sylvia Plath Reads "A Birthday Present" (1962)

Her wonderful 1993 children's verses, illustrated by Jean-Michel Basquiat: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/03/life-doesnt-frighten-me-maya-angelou-basquiat/

Maya Angelou reads "Life Doesnt Frighten Me"

Full conversation and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/06/wendy-macnaughton-caroline-paul-design-matters/

Excerpt from https://soundcloud.com/designmatters/carolinepaulandwendymacnaughton

True love, depression, and purpose

On true love

Excerpt from Orwell's fantastic 1946 essay outlining his 11 "golden" rules of tea perfection: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/14/george-orwell-a-nice-cup-of-tea/

TRANSCRIPT / DETAILS

George Orwell on how to make the perfect cup of tea

After going three years without having written poetry, Christian Wiman explains how he came about writing this poem and why it took this shape. Listen to his marvelous reading, which we included in our production.

You can download and listen to Mr. Wiman's full interview with Krista Tippett in our show, "A Call to Doubt and Faith: Christian Wiman on Remembering God" at onbeing.org.

"Every Riven Thing" by Christian Wiman

Christian Wiman read this poem during his interview with Krista Tippett. 

You can download and listen to Mr. Wiman's full interview in our show, "A Call to Doubt and Faith: Christian Wiman on Remembering God" at onbeing.org.

"From a Window" by Christian Wiman

Christian Wiman explains the origin of this poem's title and offers this marvelous reading for your ears.

You can download and listen to Mr. Wiman's full interview with Krista Tippett in our show, "A Call to Doubt and Faith: Christian Wiman on Remembering God" at onbeing.org.

"Hammer is the Prayer" by Christian Wiman

Christian Wiman reads this searching, intimate poem beseeching God to hear him.

You can download and listen to Mr. Wiman's full interview with Krista Tippett in our show, "A Call to Doubt and Faith: Christian Wiman on Remembering God" at onbeing.org.

"This Mind of Dying" by Christian Wiman

This was the last poem, Christian Wiman says, that the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam wrote. Listen to Mr. Wiman's recitation of this powerful poem and how he finds more value in it than other poems about death.

You can download and listen to Mr. Wiman's full interview with Krista Tippett in our show, "A Call to Doubt and Faith: Christian Wiman on Remembering God" at onbeing.org.

"And I Was Alive" by Osip Mandelstam and recited by Christian Wiman

Annotated highlights and discussion: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/29/joss-whedon-2013-wesleyan-commencement-address/

Be All Your Selves: Joss Whedon's 2013 Wesleyan Commencement Address

Recorded at NYPL Live. Background, transcript, and discussion here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/30/dan-savage-andrew-sullivan-nypl-live/

Dan Savage and Andrew Sullivan in conversation about marriage equality and remoralizing marriage

Background and transcript: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/31/james-earl-jones-reads-walt-whitman/

James Earl Jones reads Walt Whitman

T.S. Eliot reads from his celebrated classic, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/04/t-s-eliot-reads-t-s-eliot-the-ad-dressing-of-cats-1947/

T.S. Eliot reads "The Ad-dressing of Cats" from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

Excerpt from her 2013 McGill University commencement address

Transcript, and discussion: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/07/judith-butler-mcgill-2013-commencement-address/

MORE / HIGHLIGHTS

Judith Butler on the value of reading and the humanities

The late Sopranos star reads the late Maurice Sendak's most controversial book.

Background and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/06/21/james-gandolfini-reads-maurice-sendak/

James Earl Jones reads Walt Whitman

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