Synopsis
Roger McGough introduces some of the 154 sonnets of Shakespeare, plus a selection from some other 17th-century masters: John Donne, Andrew Marvell and Henry Vaughan.
Desert Island Discs | Sir Leon Brittan
Britain's EC Trade Commissioner and former Conservative Home Secretary talks to Sue Lawley about his life and career, and chooses his favourite music. His choices include Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, the commentary on England winning the Ashes in 1953, `When I was a Lad' from HMS Pinafore, his wife reading Shakespeare's Sonnet No 16, 'Eternal Father Strong To Save', Don Carlos by Verdi, Dvorak's Cello Concerto, and Mozart's 'Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail'.
Adventures in Poetry | Shakespeare's Sonnet
Richard Wilson explores some of the hidden meanings and resonances of Shakespeare's famous and much loved sonnet, and asks: 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' Produced by Sara Davies.