The Spoken Word: Robert Graves

Over a career spanning almost 80 years, Robert Graves (1895–1985) produced nearly 140 works across a variety of genres—including historical novels, classical translations, criticism, and memoirs—yet he regarded himself primarily as a poet. Drawing on previously unpublished BBC broadcasts that span more than three decades, this compact disc presents an artful selection of recordings of Graves reading and commenting on his poems, including better-known works such as “The White Goddess” and “To Juan at the Winter Solstice,” as well as rarer gems that showcase his diverse range of influences. Also included is a 1954 broadcast entitled The Poet and His Public, in which Graves offers insight into the emotions of his audience and the difference in his approach to writing poetry and novels. This collection is not to be missed by anyone with a passion for Graves and his writing—or simply an interest in hearing the voice of one of the twentieth-century’s most beloved practitioners of clarity and style.