Listening tips: The life and work of Robert Frost

Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, California, on 26 March 1874. He spent most of his life in rural New England, with extended periods of time living in Great Britain. A unique combination of a literary scholar, poet and farmer, it was always important for him to be close to the land and derive inspiration from the natural world.  

His life was marked by tragic family losses, severe depression and a lack of self-confidence, but in spite of these obstacles he persevered in his vocation of a poet, creating a body of works that made him one of the most renowned poets of the 20^th century. Many of his poems contain inspiring messages and life lessons that can be helpful in overcoming grief and sadness. 

With Robert Frost’s birthday approaching, in this instalment of my listening tips I present a selection of podcasts on the subject of his life and works – perfect for those unfamiliar with his oeuvre, but also of interest to those who already love his writings. 

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Modern-ish Poets: Robert Frost 

This podcast episode comes from the London Review of Books. The hosts, Seamus Perry and Mark Ford, discuss Frost’s remarkable life, tracing its trajectory from that of a humble poultry farmer to one of the world’s most celebrated poets. [Duration: 57 min.] 

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Poetry Off the Shelf: Kay Ryan on Robert Frost 

Kay Ryan is a contemporary American poet. In this episode of Poetry Off the Shelf from the Poetry Foundation, he talks about Frost’s notebooks – containing his personal notes – first published in the late 2000s. Full transcript available on the web page. [Duration: 14 min.] 

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Voices & Visions: Robert Frost 

Made available by the Annenberg Learner platform, this video is a classroom resource designed for grades 9-12 (U.S.) and college-level students. The documentary includes interviews with the poet and readings from some of his most famous works. The web page includes the full transcript of the programme. [Duration: 57 min.] 

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RadioWest: The Road Not Taken 

‘The Road Not Taken’ is one of Frost’s classic and probably best known poems, but interpretations of its actual meaning have varied over the years. This episode of the KUER’s RadioWest programme is an interview with David Orr, the author of the 2016 book ‘The Road Not Taken: Finding America in the Poem Everyone Loves and Almost Everyone Gets Wrong’. [Duration: 52 min.] 

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If you are an English language learner and would like some audio content adapted for language students, I can recommend the following programmes produced by the Voice of America, available on their Learning English website. 

Robert Frost, 1874-1963: Most Americans Can Quote His Poems [Duration: 15 min.] 

A Visit to Poet Robert Frost’s Farm in Derry, New Hampshire [Duration: 16 min.] 

American Stories: Four Poems by Robert Frost [Duration: 11 min.] 

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Do you have a favourite Robert Frost poem? Tell us about it in the comments section below!