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Adventures In Poetry - Philip Larkin: At Grass

Daljit Nagra selects Adventures in Poetry - Philip Larkin: At Grass, inspired by the racehorse Brown Jack. From 1999.

4 Extra marks 40 years since the death of Philip Larkin in December 1985.

He was considered to be one of England's most significant 20th century poets.

Daljit Nagra revisits the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ's poetry archive to select Adventures in Poetry - Philip Larkin: At Grass.

Inspired by the death of the Ascot-winning racehorse Brown Jack in 1948, At Grass is one of the most popular post-war English poems.

Written in January 1950, its enduring appeal owes much to the vivid description of a summer racecourse and the quiet aftermath of horses living out their retirement days.

Stephen Regan explores the themes and impact of Larkin's lyrical evocation of retired racehorses and a vanished England.

With contributions from:

* Helen Dunmore
* Robin Cook
* Tom Paulin
* Larkin's biographer Andrew Motion.

Producer Sara Davies

First broadcast on Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Radio 4 in 1999.

*** And Daljit reads from his Poetry Extra Book of the Month: Transfigurations by the American poet Jay Wright.

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 17 Nov 2025 02:00

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 Nov 2025 07:00
  • Sun 16 Nov 2025 12:00
  • Sun 16 Nov 2025 18:00
  • Mon 17 Nov 2025 02:00