Remastered
Remastered reimagines classic and contemporary Oxford poetry with a delicious blend of music and visual art, made purely for pleasure. Step away from your day and enjoy a moment of the sublime. It's on the House. Remastered Vignettes 1-8 are curated by the Oxford Writers' House Podcasting Fellow, Isabel Galwey.
Episodes
10 episodes
Episode 10: "Ozymandias," by Percy Bysshe Shelley
The final poem of the Remastered series for the academic year 2025-2026 combines the work of one of University College’s most celebrated alumni, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, with this exquisite reading by the college’s current poet laureate, P...
Vignette Nine: I Sit Beside the Fire and Think, by J. R. R. Tolkien
This poem is taken from “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first book of Tolkien’s most well-known work, the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The poem is spoken by Bilbo Baggins, the aging custodian of the one ring, a terribl...
Vignette Eight: Sonnet, by Emily Henrietta Hickey
Emily Henrietta Hickey (1845-1924) was an Irish poet, writer, lecturer in English literature, and co-founder of the Browning Society. She developed an interest in Irish literature and poetry, leading her to connect with poets such as William...
Vignette Seven: Growing Old, by Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) was a British poet, educator and literary critic. He was professor of poetry at Oxford from 1857 to 1867. His poetry was famed for its sparing lucidity and approachable, direct style, as in this bleak but evocative...
Vignette Six: The Pavilion, by Agnes Mary Frances Robinson
Celebrate the arrival of long, bright evenings and British Summer Time with this short poem by Agnes Mary Frances Robinson, also known as Agnes Mary Frances Duclaux. Mary was also a respected literary critic, active in French and British int...
Vignette Five: Shake Hands, We Shall Never Be Friends, by A.E. Housman
Today’s poem is more sombre: “Shake Hands, We Shall Never Be Friends” by AE Housman. Like much of AE Housman’s poetry, this poem was inspired by Moses Jackson, Housman’s friend and muse; he could be described as the love of Housman’s life. “...
Vignette Four: Rest, by Margaret Louisa Woods
In a world that rarely pauses, what does it mean to truly rest? In this episode, we turn to “Rest” by Margaret Louisa Woods (1855–1945), a poet and novelist whose work bridges Victorian intensity and a quietly modern introspection. Woods invite...
Vignette Three: In February, by John Addington Symonds
January isn’t the only time for new beginnings. February–which this year is packed with Lunar New Year, Imbolc, Valentine’s Day, Shrove Tuesday, and the beginning of Ramadan–can also be a time of optimism, fresh starts and a new lease on life. ...