Showing results by author "William Wordsworth" in All Categories

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was born in Cockermouth, in the Lake District. His Lyrical Ballads, written in collaboration with Coleridge, was published in 1798, and shortly afterwards he settled in Dove Cottage, Grasmere, with his sister Dorothy. Inspired in his early manhood by the French Revolution, he grew disillusioned with revolutionary politics and in later life became decidedly conservative. He left a vast body of work, ranging from delicately simple lyrics to deeply meditative odes.

With a dynamic spirit, these great English poets made a conscious return to nostalgia and spiritual depth. Each chose a different path, but they are united in a love of moods, impressions, scenes, stories, sights and sounds. In this collection of more than forty poems are some of the finest and most memorable works in the English language.

The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today's often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways, to better understand and to enjoy the many strands of our lives.

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first...

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first...

William Wordsworth (1770 -1850) is one of the most popular and enduring of the English poets. His poetry is beloved for its deep feeling, its use of ordinary speech, and its celebration of nature and of the beauty and poetry in the commonplace. Together with his friend, the poet and political activist Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Wordsworth helped launch the romantic age in English literature. These poems demonstrate the astonishing range and beauty of Wordsworth’s work and his sustained, coherent vision.

This collection of 35 poems is a sequel to a volume of lyrical ballads first published in 1798. While the first volume was a collaboration between Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, this anthology contains verses by Wordsworth only. Generally, the poems are less well-known than those of the earlier volume but do include major narrative pieces, like "The Pastoral Epics", "The Brothers", and "Michael".

Christmas may come but once a year but human emotions, the driving force of our characters, are with us every day. Yet, somehow these same emotions when they happen at Christmas seem amplified; we seem more tender to their touch, their words. In this volume we take the verse and poems of our classic poets and put them alongside our short story masters to reveal a Christmas that everyone remembers and that everyone wants to be part of.

Read by Juliet Stevenson and Simon Callow, A Literary Christmas is a seasonal anthology that collects together poems, short stories, and prose extracts by some of the greatest poets and writers in the English language. Like Charles Dickens’ ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, they are representative of times old and new - from John Donne’s Elizabethan hymn over the baby Jesus to Rudyard Kipling’s "Christmas in India", from Thomas Tusser counting the cost of a Tudor feast to Laurie Lee’s "Cider with Rosie".

Wordsworth's The Prelude is the consummation of his achievement as the great founder of English romanticism. An autobiography in verse, it tells of his childhood in the Lake District, his student days in Cambridge, his passion for the French Revolution and his later disenchantment with it. It also tells of his personal journey to a belief in Nature as the great moral and spiritual force which shapes human life, but on which human society all too often turns its back.

Why a poetry album? Easy answer: I love poetry. I love reading it. I love memorizing it. I love hearing great actors recite it. As the poet Mark Strand wrote, “Ink runs from the corners of my mouth / There is no happiness like mine / I have been eating poetry.” In the past, when I was full from eating, I have had the audacity to set poetry to music. But, on this audiobook, you will hear the music of the poems.

This wide-ranging collection gathers together the major poems of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, his children Hartley, Derwent, and Sara, his nephew Henry Nelson, his grandchildren Christabel Rose and Ernest Hartley, and his great-great-niece Mary—in all, 201 poems (plus one by the family friend...

Delve into the introspective realms of solitude and self-discovery with "Recluse," a podcast that invites listeners to explore the profound connections between isolation and creativity. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, presenting a rotating collection that reflects on the themes of introspection, personal growth, and the complexities of the human experience when faced with solitude. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that examine how moments of withdrawal can lead to deeper understanding and artistic expression. As you journey through these narratives...

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of human experience through the lens of creativity and introspection, as suggested by the title "Prelude, Version 2." This podcast delves into the profound journey of self-discovery, artistic expression, and the evolution of thought that defines the essence of a poet's life. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that captures the nuances of inspiration, motivation, and the intricate relationship between the self and the world. This is not a single narrative but a series of unique explorations that invite listeners to reflect on their own creative ...

Embark on a journey of exploration and introspection with "Excursion," a podcast that invites listeners to traverse the landscapes of thought and emotion through a rotating collection of audiobooks. Inspired by the themes of nature, solitude, and the profound connection between humanity and the environment, this series encourages deep reflection on the human experience. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, allowing for a diverse range of narratives that echo the spirit of adventure and contemplation. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the ...

Immerse yourself in the evocative landscapes of emotion and nature that define the essence of Lyrical Ballads, a pivotal collection that ignited the English Romantic movement. This podcast invites listeners to explore the profound connections between humanity and the natural world, as well as the deep introspection that characterizes poetry from this transformative period. With each episode featuring a new complete audiobook, you will encounter a diverse array of voices and styles that reflect the spirit of the late 18th century, emphasizing imagination and the beauty of everyday life. This is...

Immerse yourself in the lyrical beauty and profound insights of the sonnets crafted by William Wordsworth in this enchanting rotating collection. Each episode presents a new complete audiobook, allowing listeners to explore the intricate tapestry of nature, emotion, and human experience that Wordsworth so masterfully weaves through his poetry. Delve into themes of love, friendship, and the sublime connection between humanity and the natural world, all while reflecting on the complexities of society and the passage of time. This series is not a single narrative but a rich assortment of unique ...

William Wordsworth belonged to a chosen band of poets for whom poetry was a priesthood, displayed in his unerring devotion to his art. He nourished his unique poetic gift by daily intimacy with Nature. It is Wordworth’s peculiar achievement to reveal the impulses at work behind the outward beauty of Nature, and to manifest its sustaining influence upon the spirit of man.

Embark on an enriching journey through the landscapes of human experience and the natural world, as suggested by the evocative title. This podcast invites listeners to explore the interplay between nature, spirituality, and personal growth, echoing the themes of reflection and discovery. Each day, a new complete audiobook is featured, offering a rotating collection that delves into the depths of human emotion, nostalgia, and the transcendental beauty of the environment. This is not a single narrative but a tapestry of unique explorations that highlight the transformative power of literature ...

The ninth month of the Gregorian calendar strides onto stage with the autumn equinox and the first glimpses of a new season. Nature may adorn the coming days with a blaze of Indian summer, or the early showers and storms of autumn may begin their symphony. Regardless of Nature’s elemental whims the landscape is a riot of colours, hues and swathes, the harvest of crops continues, the orchards heave with bounty.