Mark Ford

Sarah Churchwell, a Professor of American Literature, Peter Riley, a Lecturer in 19th Century American Literature, and Mark Ford, a Professor of English and American Literature, dive into the life of Walt Whitman. They discuss his groundbreaking collection, 'Leaves of Grass,' and how it defied traditional forms through free verse. The conversation also explores Whitman's complex relationship with individuality and community amid the Civil War. His evolving views on race and societal norms, infused with optimism and paradox, reveal his enduring influence on American poetry.

Mark Ford and Seamus Perry discuss the essence of great political poems, exploring ideology in poetry, the importance of context, and conveying political truths through verse. They analyze works like Yeats's 'Easter 1916' and Auden's 'Spain 1937, delving into political conviction and poetic ambiguity.

Mark Ford, a poet and professor at UCL, Jane Thomas, an emeritus professor at Hull, and Tim Armstrong, a literature professor at Royal Holloway, delve deep into Thomas Hardy's poetic journey. They discuss Hardy's transformation from novelist to dedicated poet after extensive success in fiction. The guests explore the emotional weight of Hardy's 'Poems of 1912 to 13', shaped by the death of his wife, Emma, and how themes of loss and nature permeate his work. Hardy's innovative style contrasts vividly with his contemporary Rupert Brooke, reflecting his unique perspective on war and humanity.