The Larrikin: Clive James in conversation with Mary Beard...

In a rare interview with writer, cultural commentator and poet, Clive James talks to Mary Beard about his autobiographical epic poem, The River in the Sky.

Watch it now: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p06ksb1y/front-row-late-series-3-clive-james-in-conversation-with-mary-beard - only available for 26 days, so hurry!

Mary Beard:

I learned a new word this week: larrikin. It is Oz-English for a rebellious, boisterous wide-boy. And it is how Clive James (who has a new poetry book out just now, The River in the Sky) describes himself.

I got to find this out because I went round to his house in Cambridge last week to interview him (about the book and himself etc) for the new series of Front Row Late, which started yesterday evening. As I guess almost every reading this blog will know, Clive has been facing down death for many years now (his leukaemia kept in check by wondrous 21st century pharmaceuticals) . . . and in the meantime he has been powering out poetry. This last book is that (now) rare thing, a mini epic in 120 pages, in which he reflects on memory and mortality, family and fun.

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/clive-james-larrikin/