About The Poetry Hour: W.H. Auden
Of the poet, playwright and essayist W.H. Auden, Josephine Hart said
'His poems contain some of the most succinct, elegant and unforgettable lines in literature. They sear themselves into our consciousness. A poetic inquisitor, he drills deep in ‘the deserts of the heart’'.
For this celebratory evening, Auden’s work is read by a celebrated cast of actors including Tim McInnerny whose many stage, film and television roles include Blackadder, Notting Hill and Game of Thrones.
Full cast to be announced.
Presented by The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation in association with the British Library and the Eccles Institute for the Americas at the British Library.
Your support
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Venue and bar opening times
This event will take place in the British Library Knowledge Centre and is also available to watch online. Tickets may be booked to attend in person, or to watch online.
If you are attending in person, please note that the Knowledge Centre and the bar will be open from 18.00.
Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk
Attending the event online
If you book an online ticket, you will receive the viewing link on the morning of the event. You can either watch the event live or during the next 7 days on catch up.
Concessions
There are a range of concessions available. These include discounts for British Library Members, Young Persons (16–25s), and visitors on Universal/Pension Credit and free entry for carers.
The Poetry Hour
The Poetry Hour was founded by novelist and poetry anthologist Josephine Hart. Launched as The Gallery Poets in Mayfair in the mid-1980s, it later became The Poetry Hour and won fame for bringing classic ‘great poetry read aloud by great actors’ to a wide audience. The British Library has supported Josephine Hart’s mission from 2004 and continues to do so in her memory on a regular basis.
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