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The History of Literature

93 Robert Frost Finds a Friend

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

Arts, History, Books

4.61.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2017

⏱️ 55 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It’s a curious but compelling story: it starts in the years just before World War I, when struggling poet Robert Frost (1874-1963) hastily packed up his family and moved to London in search of a friend. Although Frost’s efforts to ingratiate himself with W.B. Yeats and Ezra Pound fizzled, he soon found a man, critic Edward Thomas (1878-1917), who championed Frost’s poetry and became one of Frost’s best friends. Frost in turn inspired Thomas to write poetry as well – until something happened on one of their walks in the woods that would forever change them both. Host Jacke Wilson is joined by Professor Bill Hogan of Providence College, who recounts the story of Frost and Thomas: their friendship, their falling out, and how one of Frost’s (and America’s) most famous poems, “The Road Not Taken,” inspired by Frost’s views of Thomas, has been widely misunderstood by generations of readers.  FREE GIFT!  Write a review on iTunes (or another site), then send us an email at jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com to receive your free History of Literature postcard as a thank you gift. Act now while supplies last!  Show Notes:  Contact the host at jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or by leaving a voicemail at 1-361-4WILSON (1-361-494-5766).  You can find more literary discussion at jackewilson.com and more episodes of the series at historyofliterature.com. Check out our Facebook page at facebook.com/historyofliterature. You can follow Jacke Wilson at his Twitter account @WriterJacke. You can also follow Mike and the Literature Supporters Club (and receive daily book recommendations) by looking for @literatureSC. Music Credits: “Handel – Entrance to the Queen of Sheba” by Advent Chamber Orchestra (From the Free Music Archive / CC by SA). “Sweeter Vermouth” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.    *** This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to The History of Literature, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding literature, history, and storytelling like Storybound, Micheaux Mission, and The History of Standup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

The History of Literature Podcast is a member of the Podglamorate Network and LIT Hub Radio.

0:07.0

This episode is brought to you by Vonage. With Vonage Voice API, you get comprehensive call analytics,

0:16.0

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0:19.0

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0:23.0

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0:34.2

business forward. Learn more at Vonage.com.

0:38.6

It's about the new order of the ages that God, that in their Latin are founding

0:51.8

sages, God gave us his approval of.

0:57.0

Now, let me. Let me...

1:03.0

Oh, I just.

1:05.0

Oh, I just...

1:07.0

Oh, I just... I'll just have to get through as I can.

1:17.0

I'll just have to get through as I can.

1:20.0

That was Robert Frost, the 86-year-old poet, reading at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in

1:26.6

1961.

1:27.6

It was a remarkable incident, Frost, who was probably America's most beloved poet at the time, although also one of the most

1:37.3

misunderstood, as we'll talk about today.

1:40.9

Frost had written a poem particularly to welcome into office his fellow New Englander, John F. Kennedy, the young handsome

1:50.0

charismatic war hero J.F.K. who brought an enthusiasm for poetry. Charism

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