A celebration of English poems

Read by Robert Maskell, Alex Jennings & Richard Mitchley (Unabridged: 1hr 27mins)

Featuring stories by Aphra Behn, Christopher Marlowe, Robert Seymour Bridges & many more.

Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury to shoemaker John Marlowe and his wife Catherine. His exact date of birth is not known, but he was baptised on 26 February 1564.

And with this, Christopher Marlowe, one of the supreme English literary talents, made his entrance into the world. 

Little is really known of his life except that from an early age, even at University, he was perhaps working as a spy.  His short life was filled with writing great works of exceptional quality. From the Jew of Malta to Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine the Great Parts I & II his pen was the tool by which this great mind bequeathed great works to the world.

Add to this so many other stories of what Marlowe was or might have been: a spy, a brawler, a heretic, a "magician", "duellist", "tobacco-user", "counterfeiter", “atheist”, and "rakehell".

But certainly add to this; playwright and poet. An original.

Christopher Marlowe was buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Deptford on June 1st, 1593.

Had his life not been so curtailed it seems that the Elizabethan Age may well have had two giants of equal standing: Shakespeare and Marlowe.

1 - Born in England - Exploring English Poetry - Kent - An Introduction

2 - Lament for Zenocrate by Christopher Marlowe

3 - The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe

4 - Our Conquering Swords by Christopher Marlowe

5 - Who Ever Loved That Loved Not at First Sight by Christopher Marlowe

6 - Accurs'd Be He That First Invented War by Christopher Marlowe

7 - Ode by Sir Philip Sidney

8 - Sonnet I from Astrophil and Stella by Sir Philip Sidney

9 - The Smokes of Melancholy by Sir Phillip Sidney

10 - My True Love Hath My Heart and I Have His by Sir Phillip Sidney

11 - Leave Me O Love by Sir Philip Sidney

12 - The Counsel by Aphra Behn

13 - The Willing Mistress by Aphra Behn

14 - The Disappointment by Aphra Behn

15 - Love Arm'd by Aphra Behn

16 - Farewell Love and All Thy Laws Forever by Sir Thomas Wyatt

17 - They Flee From Me by Sir Thomas Wyatt

18 - How By a Kiss He Found By Both His Life and Death by Sir Thomas Wyatt

19 - What Needeth These Threat'ning Words by Sir Thomas Wyatt

20 - I Saw Three Witches by Walter de la Mare

21 - Will O' the Wisp by Walter De La Mare

22 - Nicholas Nye by Walter de la Mare

23 - John Mouldy by Walter de la Mare

24 - North Wind in October by Robert Seymour Bridges

25 - I Have Loved Flowers That Fade by Robert Seymour Bridges

26 - For Beauty Being the Best of All We Know by Robert Seymour Bridges

27 - When Death to Either Shall Come by Robert Seymour Bridges

28 - The Second Rapture by Thomas Carew

29 - To My Inconstant MIstress by Thomas Carew

30 - Lips and Eyes by Thomas Carew

31 - Secrecy Protested by Thomas Carew

32 - Epistle to Mrs Tyler by Christopher Smart

33 - The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Christopher Smart

34 - Julbilate Agno by Christopher Smart

35 - Strive Not Vain Lover  by Richard Lovelace

36 - Sonnet by Richard Lovelace

37 - Love Conquer'd by Richard Lovelace

38 - Female Glory by Richard Lovelace

39 - Glory of Women by Siegfried Sassoon

40 - The Poet As Hero by Siegfried Sassoon

41 - The Doubt of Future Foes by Queen Elizabeth I

42 - Importune Me No More (When I Was Fair and Young) by Queen Elizabeth I

43 - Ah Silly Pug, Wert Thou So Sore Afraid by Queen Elizabeth I

44 - The Dark Angel by Lionel Johnson

45 - In Memory by Lionel Johnson

46 - Dead by Lionel Pigot Johnson

47 - If We Must Part by Ernest Christopher Dowson

48 - Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae Sub Regrno Cynarae by Ernest Christopher Dowson

49 - Breton Afternoon by Ernest Christopher Dowson

50 - A Carol. I by Mildmay Fane, Earl of Westmorland

51 - In Praise of Fidelia by Mildmay Fane

52 - If Every by E V Lucas

53 - The Debt by E V Lucas

54 - Optimism by A Victor Ratcliffe

55 - June Song by Alfred Victor Ratcliffe

56 - Elegy - Supposed To Be Written in Barnet Churchyard by George Townsend