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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Presented by Claire Armitstead and John Mullan, produced by Tim Maby

Guardian Books podcast: Carol Ann Duffy's Love Poems for Valentine's Day

In a special Valentine's Day book club, Carol Ann Duffy reads from a collection featuring the best of her love poetry. A ladies' maid considers the voluptuous life of her mistress upstairs as, downstairs, she warms her lady's pearls with the heat of her own neck. Shakespeare's widow reflects on the secret meaning of "that second best bed", and a lover explains why an onion makes the best Valentine's gift.

Duffy also answers readers' questions about the challenge of marrying love with poetry, the "invisible companion" that accompanies the poet in everything she does, and the stories behind some of her most famous work.

Reading list

Love Poems by Carol Ann Duffy (Picador)

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