The Spoken Word: W.H. Auden (British Library - British Library Sound Archive)

This two CD set was released to mark the centenary of W.H. Auden's birth. The two discs feature Auden in live and studio readings of his own poetry taken from rare BBC radio broadcasts.  Over 40 poems are included, from early works such as 'On This Island' and 'A Bride in the '30s', to mature masterpieces like 'The Shield of Achilles' and 'In Praise of Limestone'. The broadcasts span the period from 1936 to 1973 - the year of Auden's death – and are are an essential purchase for anybody interested in study or enjoyment of one of the 20th-century’s greatest poets.  The majority of the recordings have not previously been released.