Wild Things - The Robin

Synopsis

Radio programme. In the second of her 5-part series of essays considering our responses to the creatures which make up the British landscape, the writer and poet Ruth Padel turns her attention to the robin. She explores why our feelings on seeing their red breasts in winter have grown so strong and finds out that religious symbolism has played a large part. She charts the history of the bird in Britain and traces the ways it has been represented in literature from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. How has this affected the way we perceive it?

Series

Essay, The

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

1 Feb 2011 at 23:00 (Channel: BBC Radio 3)

Duration

15 mins

Credits

Producer

Emma Kingsley

Contributor

Ruth Padel

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Plays

Twelfth Night

Keywords

birds; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); wildlife

Notes

History

Episode 2 of a 5-part series.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email

listening@bl.uk

Web

http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7412 7676

Fax

020 7412 7441

Address

96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB