The Verb

Ian McMillan investigates the Pushkin Sonnet with two authors who have written verse novels using this very un-English form. Andy Croft and Ben Borek discuss finding rhymes, of both masculine and feminine varieties, why Pushkin sonnets seem to lead to comedy and why writing them can be addictive. Shetland-based poet Jen Hadfield talks about her new collection and the importance of place in her work, while Tim Liardet reads the poem he has written for the Bath Literature Festival, inspired by his own family history. Plus a performance from critically-acclaimed young singer-songwriter Laura Marling.