November

I talked through the November eclogue with Conor Wilcox-Mahon, from the English department at UCL in London, who has thought hard about this poem in terms of conceptions of nature, and time, and what death means in these contexts. You’ll also hear sounds from All Saints Day (November 1st) at the Basilica of St Francis in Assissi, in Umbria.

This episode is, thrillingly, the world premier of a song written especially for us in response to the November eclogue, by two extremely talented musicians based in New York: Alexandra Lily Cohen and Edward Lyle Barton. They are holding the candle for the sociability of song.

Finally, actor Helen Schlesinger returns to read Shakespeare’s sonnet 126 with inimitable grace.

Thank you to Kimberly and Liam for describing the woodcut, to Conor Wilcox-Mahon for a deeply thoughtful conversation, to Joseph Minden for being Colin, to the choir and congregation of the Basilica of St Francis for their beautiful singing, to Joseph, James and Ella, for being my companions in Italy, to NH Chaundler for her seventh poetic response to Spenser from the borders. Thank you to Alex and Eddy for bringing their warmth, generosity and musical talents to the November eclogue. Thank you Helen Schlesinger for bringing sonnet 126 to life. Thank you to the International Spenser Society for their sponsorship of this podcast, to Ella Mahony for the art, and to Femi Oriogun-Williams for mixing and mastering, and advice, and troubleshooting on all fronts.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit occasionoftheseason.substack.com