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Last broadcast on Fri, 8 May 2009, 21:30 on BBC Radio 3.
Synopsis
As part of BBC Radio 3's Mendelssohn Weekend, Ian MacMillan's weekly programme dedicated to poetry and the spoken word explores the literary life of the 19th century, from its grand visions and Romanticism to its more curious and eccentric writers.
Novelist and The Verb regular Toby Litt talks about some of the lesser-known poet laureates of the period, including Robert Southey, William Wordsworth and the unfortunate Alfred Austin, Tennyson's much-mocked successor, whom Robert Browning dismissed as the 'Banjo Byron'.
Ergo Phizmiz presents some 'pointballing', his series of eclectic experiments in sound and language, this time with a Victorian flavour and in the spirit of the nonsense poetry of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll.
And novelist Gregory Norminton, author of Serious Things, reads The Chronic Omnibus, his new Wellsian tale of how the Victorians saw the future.
Alfred Austin
The reputation of Alfred Lord Tennyson is unassailable and enduring, but he was only one of four serving Laureates during the lifetime of Queen Victoria – and they weren’t all quite up to Tennyson’s lofty standards. For The Verb, Toby Litt presents a guide to Alfred Austin, who may (just possibly) have been the worst Poet Laureate of all time.
The Chronic Omnibus
A brand new Scientific Entertainment written specially for the programme by novelist Gregory Norminton, and steeped in the world of Victorian Science Fiction from HG Wells to The Battle of Dorking. Performed in studio by Gregory Norminton and Ewan Bailey.
Music Hall
Ann Featherstone reveals why a little bit of what you fancy got Music Hall into big trouble.
Pointballing
Ergo Phizmiz cordially invites you to come into the garden for a spot of Pointballing. Victorian style, of course.
Broadcast
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Fri 8 May 200921:30
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