P. D. James

Cultural Exchange

P. D. James chooses Philip Larkin's poem The Explosion, published in his final collection of poetry, High Windows. Presented by Mark Lawson. The interview is followed by selected clips from the BBC archive: Philip Larkin reading his poem The Explosion; Mark Lawson reports from Hull as the city prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of Larkin's death; recordings of Larkin hidden on a garage shelf and discovered in 2006. With poets Paul Farley and Andrew Motion; Hugh Bonneville reads from Larkin's letters to his partner Monica Jones. Larkin arrives in Belfast as the new University librarian; P. D. James talks to Mark Lawson about love and religion in her novels. Full details are available from the Front Row website.