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Literary podcasts playlist

Books in the collection at Florence Court, County Fermanagh
Discover the literary connections to some of the special places in our care | © National Trust Images/John Hammond

Listen to our literary-themed podcast episodes and explore how places we care for helped to shape the work of William Wordsworth, TE Lawrence, George Bernard Shaw and Agatha Christie.

The Tale of Beatrix Potter

Many of us grew up reading about Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggywinkle, but how much do you know about the woman behind the stories? In this episode we explore the lesser-known sides of Beatrix Potter, from her love of natural science to how her ‘little books’ helped to protect the Lake District.

00:00
25:16

Shaw's Corner (revisited)

In this episode we head back to Shaw’s Corner to find out how things have changed since we first visited in series two. We also hear how the house team have been dealing with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

00:00
24:22

100 years of mystery

2020 marked 100 years since Christie’s first novel was published. Hear her grandson share his memories of the Queen of Crime.

00:00
12:39

Lawrence of Arabia's famous friends

Hear about the friends that visited T.E. Lawrence at Clouds Hill, from artists and writers like Thomas Hardy to fellow soldiers.

00:00
08:36

Lawrence of Arabia's woodland retreat

Retreat to Clouds Hill, the cottage where T.E. Lawrence fled his new-found fame after his desert adventures during the First World War.

00:00
19:00

Greenway's literary legacy

In this mini episode Greenway's 2017 writer in residence, Roselle Angwin, reveals how this special place continues to inspire writers.

00:00
05:03

Agatha Christie at Greenway

Discover Greenway: the holiday home of crime writer Agatha Christie, which also inspired the settings for three of her fictional murders.

00:00
23:10

A place to create

This mini episode explores William Wordsworth's former home Allan Bank, to see how it inspires today’s creative minds.

00:00
05:44

Wordsworth's homes

Take a journey to the Lake District and discover the places that inspired one of the nation’s best loved poets, William Wordsworth.

00:00
19:59

The magic of Shaw's writing

In this mini episode, Producer Michael Friend explores his deep personal connection to George Bernard Shaw's writings.

00:00
05:18

Shaw's Corner

Discover Shaw’s Corner and take a look into the private life of its former owner: the celebrated playwright George Bernard Shaw.

00:00
21:42

Poetry and music in bloom with Simon Armitage and LYR

Join us as we celebrate the season of blossom with poetry and music written and produced by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR. In this episode, Simon shares the inspiration behind his poetry, and the band discuss how they produced the song Blossom: A CV and collaborated with community choirs as part of the Blossomise project.

00:00
17:09
Recording the Wild Isles podcast 'Beginner's guide to camping' on Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour

Listen to more episodes

Hear the stories behind the places and collections in our care with the National Trust Podcast.

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Visit some of the places we look after that have inspired famous writers, playwrights and poets, including the homes of Beatrix Potter, Virginia Woolf and Thomas Hardy.

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Virtual visit 

Wherever you are, experience nature, beauty and history as you explore the places we look after with a podcast, virtual tour or online exhibition.