Recitation Examples

A series of readings by Matthew Macfayden is available to the right.

Here is John Gielgud reading Christina Rossetti's "The Birthday," and here is Gielgud's series on the metaphysical and devotional poets of the 17th century, featuring readings by Julian Glover. Following is Glover's reading of Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love".

Jeremy Irons also does a reading of Wordsworth's "Daffodils"(perhaps the most oft recited poem in English!) here.

For a taste of something more contemporary, try Alan Rickman's reading of Laurie Lee's "The Long War". And though the music etc. make the viewing hard, Rickman's reading of Sonnet 130 is also attractive.

Lastly, and if you can get your hands on it, the 6-volume audio cassette series put out by Penguin is worth its weight in gold. Readers include John Moffatt, Jill Balcon, Judi Dench, Michael Pennington, and Wilfred Owen.