Main content

Alexander Pope: Rediscovering a Genius

Docudrama that recounts the astonishing life story of a forgotten genius, English poet Alexander Pope, who lived from 1688 to 1744.

An entertaining docudrama that portrays the astonishing life of Alexander Pope (1688-1744), a forgotten genius and a child prodigy akin to Mozart. He was the greatest poet of the 18th century and is the second most quoted writer in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations after Shakespeare.

Pope stood at just four feet six inches tall. He was a hunchback and an outsider in every way, yet he made the equivalent, in today's money, of one million pounds from his poetry. His satire and wit are all around us, in our everyday speech and songs, yet few are aware of the author and his achievements.

Pope鈥檚 work is concerned with feminism, friendship, freedom of speech, the environment, corruption in government and what it means to be a moral citizen.

Available now

49 minutes

Last on

Sun 10 Oct 2021 20:10

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Elvis Presley

    Fools Rush In

  • 00:42

    The Rolling Stones

    Not Fade Away

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Emilia Fox
Alexander Pope Simon Callow
Duchess of Marlborough Harriet Walter
Interviewed Guest John Cleese
Dr Johnson Jeff Rawle
Lord Byron Shubham Saraf
Lady Arabella Fermour Agatha Elwes
Interviewed Guest Felicity Rosslyn
Interviewed Guest Philip Hensher
Director Sophie Bevan
Director Peter Bevan

Broadcast

Featured in...