NBN Book of the Day Catherine Clarke, "A History of England in 25 Poems" (Penguin, 2025)
Jan 17, 2026
Catherine Clarke, a renowned historian and Professor at the Institute of Historical Research, invites listeners into England's rich past through the lens of twenty-five evocative poems. She shares insights on the impact of poetry in shaping national identity and history. The discussion spans diverse topics, like the lesser-known perspectives in famous events like 1066, the hidden lives of servants in grand country houses, and even the playful moments captured in medieval manuscripts. Catherine's passion illuminates how each poem serves as both a portal to the past and a critique of contemporary issues.
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Poetry As Historical Time Machine
- Poems act as time machines that transport readers into lived historical moments and emotions.
- Catherine Clarke uses poetry to access intimate, local experiences that reshape broad national narratives.
Select For Perspective, Not Popularity
- Choose poems that open different places, voices, and periods rather than just canonical 'greatest hits.'
- Prioritize variety of perspective to reveal hidden histories across 1,300 years of England.
Intimacy Reframes Big History
- Small-scale, personal poems can reframe massive historical events like the Black Death.
- Clarke shows how a single father's grief in Pearl gives fresh access to the human cost of pandemic loss.
