Podcasts about Gwyneth Lewis

Live from the Hay Festival, Alison Steadman talks to Samira about her career, from Abigail's Party to Gavin and Stacey. Laura Bates and Gwyneth Lewis discuss Arthurian Legends and The Mabinogion. Hisham Matar champions the Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. And transatlantic husband and wife country duo Outpost Drive perform on stage. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Oliver Jones

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins tells Ian McMillan about the influence of poetry on his writing, and shares poems written by his own mother. Ian also explores the influence of a very competitive mother on the life and poetry of former National Poet of Wales Gwyneth Lewis. And as it's the first Verb of the year, stand-up poet Kate Fox suggests new names for all the calendar months, whilst Stagedoor Johnny brings a new 'eartoon' (which explains why the names of baby animals can be so confusing).Richard Dawkins' new book is 'The Genetic Book of the Dead' Gwyneth Lewis' memoir is 'Nightshade Mother' Kate Fox's latest book is 'On Sycamore Gap'

By Dafydd Ap Gwilym (translated by Gwyneth Lewis)

Gwyneth Lewis speaks with John Greening about being the first national poet of Wales, attempting to sail from Cardiff to Brazil, her experience of severe depression, the joy and challenge of finding out what you mean in both poetry and prose and her desire always to be trying new techniques in her writing.

Gwyneth Lewis speaks with John Greening about the unpredictable inspiration of a self-described ‘odd mind', the attraction of sequences and the importance of fun as a motivator, writing about her astronaut cousin and the influence of Joseph Brodsky.

We discuss Gwyneth Lewis in this episode, first National Poet of Wales. One of us is a massive fan-girl and the other is a little bit out of her depth... This episode is dedicated to super-humanist, super-culture-lover, super-hippy and super-gardening-guru Alan Tuck, who lived next door to the cowshed and enjoyed our podcast. 

Ian McMillan is always at home in front of a crowd, and in this programme, recorded at Hay Festival, he is joined by some of our most exciting writers, performers and poets to explore the idea of homeliness - literal or metaphorical and to ask if writing can be a kind of home. His guests are: the poet Lemn Sissay, whose latest book, for children, is a celebration of curiosity and belonging; by Monica Ali, who casts her eye across family matters in her new novel 'Love Marriage'; by Daniel Morden - a consummate storyteller and performer, acquainted with all the myths of belonging; and by Tishani Doshi, whose poetry and prose is alert to the possibilities of a home - in the poem or in the body. Also in the programme - a brand new poetry commission by Pascale Petit, winner of the inaugural Laurel Prize for nature poetry - written especially for the BBC's centenary, part of our 'Something Old, Something New' series, and you can also hear a poem from the archive by Gwyneth Lewis - former National Poet of Wales.

Taliesin (6th Century) There are at least two Taliesin's. There was an Historical bard who composed poetry in the courts of ‘Welsh Princes' in the Sixth Century, a contemporary of Aneirin. There was also a character from a folk tale, who gained knowledge and inspiration from a cauldron he was stirring, and after many transformations was born again as a miraculous child who could speak as soon as he was born and went on to be a magician and prophet as well as a poet. The Book of Taliesin is one of those precious medieval manuscripts which are worth their weight in Guttenberg bibles. It dates from the 14th century, and the two figures have obviously merged. Brilliant scholars have spent their careers trying to untangle the poems, trying to date which may belong to the Historical Bard and which have been attributed to him. Most seem to think this one might be ‘authentic'. It's a marvellous controlled howl of a poem that belongs to a very different world. “King' and ‘Prince' dignify men who spent their lives raiding and being raided by their neighbours. Enthusiastic cattle thieves. It's also a world where poetry served a very public function and the poet was an honoured member of the court. Taliesin laments the dead Owein by celebrating highlights from his ruthless destruction of his enemies. The highest praise possible is to state that he was a generous, ferocious killer. The line 'Medel galon geueilat' could be translated almost literally as ‘A reaper of foes, a predator'. This translation is taken from The Book of Taliesin, Poems of Warfare and Praise in an Enchanted Britain, translated by Gwyneth Lewis and Rowan Williams. Penguin Classics 2020 My pronunciation is not up to inflicting the original on an audience, but if you can, find a Welsh speaker reading the original.

In this episode, we investigate the amazing poetry of medieval poet, Gwerful Mechain. She champions body positivity, humour, standing up for women's rights - and all from  fifteenth century Wales. We also discuss  poems by Menna Elfyn, Sheenagh Pugh, Gwyneth Lewis, Amanda Lovelace and Sharon Olds.  

Poetry, Theology, and Art from North Wales via a Special R.S. Thomas Festival Susan Fogarty, director of the R.S. Thomas & M.E. Eldridge Festival in Aberdaron, shares highlights of the upcoming Festival with The Seminary Explores. Both the poet-priest and the artist were prolific, wise, talented and steeped in rural realities. First held in 2014, the Festival has featured distinguished speakers including Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. The 2021 Festival will be held live online in association with Church Times on June 19. View a virtual exhibit of the "Dance of Life" mural. Also see the Millennium Center text in Welsh and English from Gwyneth Lewis.

Kim talks to Erin Kavanagh, a poet and geomythologist based in Wales about the old Welsh “Book of Taliesin”, especially the recent translation into English by Gwyneth Lewis and Rowan Williams. How much can we learn about the post-Roman period of Britain from the literature of the time? Links https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/274601/the-book-of-taliesin/9780141396934 Contact Twitter: @prehistpod Twitter: @geomythkavanagh Find this show on the educational podcast app, Lyceum.fm!

Kim talks to Erin Kavanagh, a poet and geomythologist based in Wales about the old Welsh “Book of Taliesin”, especially the recent translation into English by Gwyneth Lewis and Rowan Williams. How much can we learn about the post-Roman period of Britain from the literature of the time? Links https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/274601/the-book-of-taliesin/9780141396934 Contact Twitter: @prehistpod Twitter: @geomythkavanagh Find this show on the educational podcast app, Lyceum.fm!

Para esta semana en nuestro programa tenemos la música de Jarabe de Palo derivado de la gran satisfacción de verlos en vivo recientemente. La poesía sigue con la temporada de Letras de Gales ahora con la maestría de Gwyneth Lewis.La sobremesa vendrá aderezada con un contenido negro, pero sumamente interesante; asesinos en serie. Hablaremos de Pedro Alonso López conocido como El Monstruo de los Andes y de John Wayne Gacy o “Pogo el Payaso”.Para cerrar el contenido tenemos una deliciosa cerveza que sigue avanzando de la mano con el otoño. Los amigos de Crónicas de Malta nos recomiendan la “Modern Times” Black House.

Para esta semana en nuestro programa tenemos la música de Jarabe de Palo derivado de la gran satisfacción de verlos en vivo recientemente. La poesía sigue con la temporada de Letras de Gales ahora con la maestría de Gwyneth Lewis.La sobremesa vendrá aderezada con un contenido negro, pero sumamente interesante; asesinos en serie. Hablaremos de Pedro Alonso López conocido como El Monstruo de los Andes y de John Wayne Gacy o “Pogo el Payaso”.Para cerrar el contenido tenemos una deliciosa cerveza que sigue avanzando de la mano con el otoño. Los amigos de Crónicas de Malta nos recomiendan la “Modern Times” Black House.

Poet and playwright, Gwyneth Lewis discusses her relationship with Greek tragedy and her play Clytemnestra.

Poet and playwright, Gwyneth Lewis discusses her relationship with Greek tragedy and her play Clytemnestra.

Matthew Sweet is in Cardiff to examine the role of the Left in Welsh politics and its bearing on today's debate about nationalism hearing from In Cardiff Matthew Sweet is joined by Professor Daniel Williams and Sir Deian Hopkin to discuss the role of the Left in Welsh politics and its bearing on today's debate about nationalism. He also talks about the Bardic tradition with the writers, Gwyneth Lewis and Iain Sinclair. And, takes a trip to Llandrindod Wells to sample the latest instalment in the National Theatre of Wales' Big Democracy Project.

Recorded at the Laugharne Live Festival, in the grounds of Laugharne Castle, West Wales. Five leading writers and artists reflect on the ways in which they connect with one of Wales's most famous cultural exports, Dylan Thomas. The poet and writer Gwyneth Lewis, whose words are emblazoned over Wales Millennium Centre, takes a personal journey through the language of Dylan Thomas. She argues that to appreciate the work fully we must understand the poet's rigorous practice and detailed knowledge of poetic history and tradition.

With Mark Lawson. Kim Cattrall plays a fading Hollywood star in a new staging of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth. Marianne Elliott directs the play, which is set in the late 1950s in the American South. Sarah Churchwell reviews. The artist Cornelia Parker is best known for installations involving the exploding of a garden shed, Tilda Swinton sleeping in a glass case and the wrapping of Rodin's The Kiss in a mile of string. She reflects on her latest exhibition, and a new book on her work. For Cultural Exchange, Gwyneth Lewis - the inaugural Poet Laureate of Wales - chooses a dance routine from the Laurel and Hardy film Way Out West (1937). Novelist Brian Aldiss discusses his final science fiction work Finches Of Mars, which he's published at the age of 87. He also reveals why he has been writing a short story every day for the last year and casts his mind back over a long career that included a brief stint as an erotic novelist. Producer Nicki Paxman.

Poet Gwyneth Lewis chooses the dance routine from Laurel and Hardy’s 1937 film Way Out West. Plus archive from about Laurel and Hardy’s 1932 and 1953 visits to Britain, and Roy Castle on their origins. Plus Gwyneth Lewis reads a poem. Full details on Front Row’s Cultural Exchange website.

As part of British music season on Radio 3, poets from across the country reveal the music which inspires them. Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis has the unusual distinction of having written the largest poem in the world, and it's about music. The words are six feet tall, inscribed over the entrance to the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, the music venue designed by Zaha Hadid: 'In these stones horizons sing'. Gwyneth has a passion for opera and the human voice, a passion which began early when her father played his favourite operas on every car journey - the whole family would sing along. As a child she sang in her school choir, singing opera in Welsh. Gwyneth talks very movingly about the depression she has suffered throughout her life; it was music - and particularly a Brahms choral work (the Alto Rhapsody) which she says 'saved my life'. She reads a poem inspired by listening to opera singers, The Voice. And although she is Welsh through and through and she was for a time National Poet of Wales - she reveals that she doesn't have much time for Welsh music. Choices include Verdi, Poulenc, Brahms, Mozart, Bach, a French chanson - and one haunting Welsh folk song. Producer Elizabeth Burke First broadcast 02/06/2013.

sermon on the poetry of Gwyneth Lewis preached in Girton chapel 20th Feb. 2011

Gwyneth Lewis, the first Poet Laureate of Wales, reads some of her poetry and answers questions about her writing. (November 10, 2009)

Gwyneth Lewis, Stanford Arts Practitioner/Writer Fellow 2009-2010, discusses the inspiration and philosophy behind her writing methodology. (March 8, 2010)