Oxford Lectures on Poetry

These lectures, first given when the author held the Oxford Chair of Poetry, offer a sweeping survey of English verse from the Elizabethan dramatists to the Romantic poets. With clear, conversational prose, he unpacks how Shakespeare’s tragedies shape the language of drama and why the idea of “poetry for poetry’s sake” still matters today. Listeners will hear the same material that once filled university halls, now organized into a readable, thoughtful guide.

Beyond the famous playwrights, the series turns to the lyrical innovations of Wordsworth, Keats, and their contemporaries, examining how their work reflects the philosophical currents of their age. Bradley’s careful attention to meter, form, and emotional resonance makes each lecture a model of literary criticism that feels both scholarly and inviting. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or avid reader, the talks illuminate the enduring power of poetry to shape thought and feeling.