This month I talked with Richard Danson Brown, professor of English at the Open University. He illuminated the significance of complaint for the February eclogue, guided me through its anarchic rhythms, and made a spirited defence of Cuddie, the feisty young herdsman to Thenot’s sententious shepherd. I had the pleasure of reading this eclogue with Professor Valerie Minogue, who is also my grandmother, and an even more senior shepherd than Thenot. You’ll also hear a snippet of the long conversation we had after reading the poem.
Thank you to Ruth and Jason for describing the woodcut, to Richard Danson Brown for opening out the poem in so many great directions. Thank you to Valerie Minogue for giving voice to Thenot with the usual verve. Thank you to N.H. Chaundler for the tenth poetic response to the poem from rural Scotland. Thank you to the International Spenser Society for sponsoring this podcast, to Ella Mahony for the art, and to Femi Oriogun-Williams for making it sound great with mastering (and when it doesn’t sound great, that is because Femi’s been away and I have taken matters into my own hands).
