麻豆社

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 麻豆社'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 麻豆社 Radio 4 in 1999.

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

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