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The Richard Burton Poetry Collection

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The Richard Burton Poetry Collection

By: Samuel Coleridge, John Donne, Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: Richard Burton
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About this listen

Richard Burton reads from Hardy and Donne, and performs a wonderful unabridged version of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (along with Robert Hardy and John Neville).

©2010 Saland Publishing (P)2010 Saland Publishing Classics

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Critic reviews

"Most listeners will feel that the tale of the mariner is the highlight of this disc. Certainly it comes over most thrillingly in dramatic form with Richard Burton making a real character of the mariner himself, John Neville, as narrator, painting the scene with exactly the right imaginative sense, and Robert Hardy giving to the wedding guest a tone of bewildered fear. It is all most exciting with plenty of varying pace and mood." ( Gramophone Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant  
very enjoyable and well read but would have been better if each poem had been introduced.

frustrating

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For the increasing numbers who never had an opportunity to see Burton on stage, hearing him read poetry is one way of discovering what all the fuss is about. With one or two exceptions, his film work is mediocre, but in these narrations the depth of his intellect, his passion for words and his magnificent vocal skills give us not only beautiful versions of some wonderful poems, but also a splendid portrait of a great artist in his finest medium. Highly recommended.

A splendid meeting of narration and material.

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In my opinion there has never been a voice more suited to the recitation of poetry than the rich melodious voice of Richard Burton. The first half of this collection is his and Robert Hardy's recording of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a stunning masterpiece that sweeps you away in its sails.



My two critical caveats, firstly the recording is veiled, particularly in the standard format, the enhanced version does help. I find it improbable that it is beyond the wit of modern audio engineers to rectify this.



Secondly, not an issue for the poet officianardo, but the remaining of the audio doesn't give any indication as to what poem Burton is reciting, neither is it in the chapter headings, a real shame.



Burton's recitation - 5 stars

Audio presentation - 2-3 stars



Overall - 4, just for Burton's delivery and emotion.

Could have been perfect

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Loved it Button at his best. The Ancient Mariner was fabulously described and read. Magnificent.

Brilliant

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Just amazingly pleasurable to listen to Richard Burton narrate my favourite poems. Will look for more similar titles.

Richard Burton superb as usual

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I would like each poem to have been preceded or succeeded by the title and poet. As it was, I did not know the poems I was listening to, apart from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".

Why were the titles of the poems never given?

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No poet or poem names are given. if it wasn't Burton I wouldn't have bought it.

No poet or poem names

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An excellent collection, beautifully read. The audio quality is not as good as it could be, but good enough. Richard Burton is my favourite actor and I owned this collection for many years on cassette tape. His voice is pure power and emotion and is in my view unsurpassed. He has great oratory skill and brings the poems to life like no other could.
The thing missing here is a listing of the poems - even my cassette tape had sleeve notes. Come on Amazon, get your act together! Why couldn't you have included it in the product description? You might sell a few more if you do. I found it online after searching for 5 minutes - here it is so you don't have to:

The Richard Burton Poetry Collection
Volume 1:

1. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1817 edition)
2. Coleridge, "Frost at Midnight"
3. John Donne, "The Good-Morrow"
4. Thomas Hardy, "Afterwards"
5. Hardy, "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'"
6. Hardy, "At Castle Boterel"
7. Hardy, "The Sunshade"
8. Donne, "Song" (Go and catch a falling star...)
9. Hardy, "At Casterbridge Fair" (I. The Ballad-Singer, II. Former Beauties, III. After the Club-Dance, IV. The Market-Girl, V. The Inquiry, VII. After the Fair)
10. Donne, "Song" (Sweetest love, I do not go...)
11. Hardy, "The Souls of the Slain"
12. Donne, "The Sun Rising"

Burton's voice is unsurpassed - pure pleasure

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Obviously anything narrated by Richard Burton is going to be good, BUT WHERE ARE THE POEMS AND POET TITLES.

O poem titles

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