Patrick Kavanagh Love’s Doorway to Life: An Alternative Biography of Patrick Kavanagh
boxed set of three discs, scripted and narrated by Úna Agnew and Art Agnew (Éist Audio Productions; www.eist.ie, €25.00)
These days, with perhaps fewer young people reading books, this three-disc set may well be the ideal modern way of presenting a great poet. The creators are quite aware of the divided views that Kavanagh [pictured] aroused in his life time.
Now there is general recognition for his status, especially as poet of religious sensitivity. In these discs the compliers have arranged the poetry as part of a narrative of the poet’s life. For many there will be no better way than this way to encounter Kavanagh. The individual voice is important in poetry, and here it is allowed space to come across, especially in the spiritual dimension to the poet’s life and work. P.C.