Showing results by author "Alfred Tennyson" in All Categories

For centuries England has always had a leading and admired reputation for its poets and poetry. In this volume we explore those born in the East Midlands who created such revered, enduring and respected verse.

Bitter Lips, Sweet Heart is a unique collection of romantic poetry first assembled by a group of young male college students who got together to read poetry and drink tea every week, thinking themselves spurned romantics and talented poets. Most of the original selections have been forgotten, and the collection has been updated for this simple release with a sense of irony and sheepishness in mature adulthood. May its angst, irony, lust, and innocent affection amuse and entertain you today, just as it did the four nerdy boys who assembled it to communicate.

"I am thy fool, and I shall lose my wits." In this dark and compelling idyll, the great wizard Merlin, wise, but weary, and growing old, falls under the spell of Vivien, a cunning and ambitious seductress. Through flattery and deceit, she seeks to learn his secrets and gain power over him. A tale of betrayal and the downfall of wisdom, Merlin and Vivien explores the dangers of desire and the fragility of even the greatest minds.

"Blind love, blind hate, desire of emprise, / And pride, and all the weakness of the man." In this powerful story of honour and pride, the knight Balin struggles to control his fierce temper and live by the ideals of King Arthur's court. But when he is deceived by the cunning Vivien, his path takes a dark turn. A fateful clash with his twin brother Balan leads to a heartbreaking end.

"Pelleas could only stare. Is Guinevere herself so beautiful? he wondered. The lady's violet eyes were wide and luminous; her skin seemed lit by a dawn from some unclouded heaven. Her limbs bore the grace of full womanhood, and yet her form was slender and her hand delicate. She might have seemed no more than a lovely plaything, but those eyes, deep and mocking, hinted at something sharper." In Pelleas and Ettarre, Tennyson presents a tragic episode in which Sir Pelleas, a young and idealistic knight, enters Arthur's court full of chivalric fervour and romantic hope. He falls hopelessly in ...

In the 28 poems of which Maud: A Monodrama consists, a somewhat mentally fragile young man narrates step by step (almost in stream-of-consciousness) the progress and aftermath of his feelings for Maud, whose father, the owner of the neighboring estate and Hall, he blames for his own father's death and his family's ruin. Many of the themes of the work are related to Tennyson's own experiences and those of his close family.

"And still he cried, 'Ah me, the knighthood's gone, The glory gone, and I am here alone!'" The Last Tournament is a tale that explores the complex nature of chivalry, loyalty, and the unraveling of ideals in a world that once prized honor above all else. Set against the turbulent backdrop of Arthurian legend, it focuses on the waning days of Camelot, where once-untouchable knights like Lancelot, Tristram, and Gawain are forced to confront the consequences of their actions, both on the battlefield and in their hearts. It is a story not merely of jousts and glory, but of fractured allegiances...

"Love lieth deep; love dwells not in lip-depths." In this tender and tragic idyll, the innocent Elaine of Astolat falls deeply in love with Sir Lancelot, who cannot return her feelings. Bound by his love for Queen Guinevere, Lancelot's heart is unreachable, and Elaine's devotion leads her to a sorrowful fate; a poignant tale of unrequited love, honour, and heartbreak in the shadow of Camelot.

"Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel with smile or frown; With that wild wheel we go not up or down; Our hoard is little, but our hearts are great. The Marriage of Geraint is one of the most poignant and introspective tales in Tennyson's Idylls of the King. It is not a story of war or grand heroics, but of personal struggle, love, and loyalty tested under quiet and complex circumstances. Geraint, a noble knight of King Arthur's Round Table, embarks on a journey not to prove his courage or strength, but to understand the true nature of his marriage to Enid, a woman of humble birth but noble heart....

"I am a man now. I must do a man's work. Follow the deer? No, follow Christ. Follow the King. Live pure. Speak true. Right wrong. Follow the King. Why else was I born?" Gareth, the youngest son of King Lot, embarks on a daring quest to rescue a maiden, throwing off his disguise as a kitchen-knave to reveal himself as a true knight who is eager to prove himself among the greatest of King Arthur's Round Table.

"Make me a little happier: let me know it: Owe you me nothing for a life half-lost?" This Idyll continues the story of Geraint and Enid from Book 3. Geraint suspects that Enid no longer loves him, though she has done nothing to deserve his doubt. Without explaining himself, he asks her to ride with him on a long and dangerous journey, during which he forbids her to speak to him. Though hurt and confused, Enid obeys, warning him of danger along the way and helping him in silence, even as he risks his life again and again.

Read by award-winning narrator Mike Vendetti. "Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." Comes from this poem.

"The Charge of The Light Brigade" - written in 1854 by one of the great representative figures of the Victorian age, Lord Alfred Tennyson - celebrates the heroism of a British cavalry unit mistakenly ordered to attack a vastly superior Russian stronghold amidst the Battle of Balaklava during the Crimean War (1853-1856), a military conflict between Russia and a coalition of Great Britain, France, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire.

Enoch Arden first came to international attention with a recording by Claude Raines and Glenn Gould, but it has since drifted back to obscurity. This is a work that both Luxon and Moyer have loved for many years. The poem is immediately accessible to any audience and tells a heart-wrenching story of friendship, love, separation, and sacrifice. The masterful score creates a powerful soundtrack to the saga.

Enjoy these 10 Christmas pieces by celebrated authors. The experience includes music and a range of lively and touching characters. Add a little poetry to your Christmas!

Dylan Thomas, C Day-Lewis and others join together on this unique album to read some of the world's finest poetry by Blake, Wordsworth and Tennyson.

These study notes on Tennyson's Maud were written for the OCR A-level syllabus and similar examinations. They include the full text of the poem, glossaries of key words and phrases, commentaries on each section and lists of key quotations. There are also extensive notes on plot, character, themes, language and style, as well as a bank of examinations questions.

Simon Cliffe reads some of the greatest Christmas poems for the 12 days of Christmas. Day 1 - Merry Christmas by Louise May Alcott. Day 2 - Christ's Nativity by Henry Vaughan. Day 3 - Ceremonies for Christmas by Robert Herrick. Day 4 - New Prince, New Pomp by Robert Southwell. Day 5 - Christmas Cheer by Thomas Tusser. Day 6 - Ring Out, Wild Bells by Lor Alfred Tennyson. Day 7 - The Oxen by Thomas Hardy. Day 8 - Nativity by John Donne. Day 9 - A Christmas Carol by G.K. Chesterton.

Continuing a collaboration started years ago, Benjamin Luxon and Frederick Moyer now turn to the little-explored genre of music for piano and narrator. Enoch Arden first came to international attention with a recording by Claude Raines and Glenn Gould but has since drifted back to obscurity. This is a work that both Luxon and Moyer have loved for many years. The poem is immediately accessible to any audience and tells a heart-wrenching story of friendship, love, separation, and sacrifice.

The finest voices reading a wonderful selection of poetry accompanied by selected classical music.