The Borough

George Crabbe (1754 - 1832)

English village life and villagers in the east of England in the late 1700’s and early 1800s—is the subject of The Borough. George Crabbe was an English poet, surgeon, and clergyman. He is best known for his early use of the realistic narrative form and his descriptions of middle and working-class life and people. Lord Byron, an avowed admirer of Crabbe's poetry, described him as "nature's sternest painter, yet the best." Crabbe's poetry was predominantly in the form of heroic couplets, and has been described as unsentimental in its depiction of provincial life and society. Modern critic Frank Whitehead has said that "Crabbe, in his verse tales in particular, is an important–indeed, a major–poet whose work has been and still is seriously undervalued." A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely. Benjamin Britten took the story of Peter Grimes (Letter 22) for his opera of the same name, though Britten changed the import of the story. - Summary by Wikipedia and david wales

Genre(s): Single author, Narratives

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Letter 1 General Description David Wales
00:20:22
Play 02 Letter 2 The Church David Wales
00:17:48
Play 03 Letter 3 The Vicar, The Curate, &c David Wales
00:22:19
Play 04 Letter 4 Introduction and Sects And Professions In Religion David Wales
00:35:46
Play 05 Letter 5 The Election David Wales
00:14:04
Play 06 Letter 6 Professions--Law David Wales
00:22:52
Play 07 Letter 7 Professions--Physic David Wales
00:18:58
Play 08 Letter 8 Trades David Wales
00:15:39
Play 09 Letter 9 Amusements David Wales
00:19:21
Play 10 Letter 10 Clubs And Social Meetings David Wales
00:24:44
Play 11 Letter 11 Inns David Wales
00:20:56
Play 12 Letter 12 Players David Wales
00:25:05
Play 13 Letter 13 The Almshouse And Trustees David Wales
00:22:38
Play 14 Letter 14 Inhabitants Of The Almshouse: Life Of Blaney David Wales
00:14:07
Play 15 Letter 15 Inhabitants Of The Almshouse: Clelia David Wales
00:14:04
Play 16 Letter 16 Inhabitants Of The Almshouse: Benbow David Wales
00:14:21
Play 17 Letter 17 The Hospital And Governors David Wales
00:18:28
Play 18 Letter 18 The Poor And Their Dwellings David Wales
00:28:00
Play 19 Letter 19 The Poor Of The Borough: The Parish Clerk David Wales
00:19:32
Play 20 Letter 20 The Poor Of The Borough: Ellen Orford David Wales
00:22:07
Play 21 Letter 21 The Poor Of The Borough: Abel Keene David Wales
00:21:46
Play 22 Letter 22 The Poor Of The Borough: Peter Grimes David Wales
00:24:51
Play 23 Letter 23 Prisons David Wales
00:23:28
Play 24 Letter 24 Schools David Wales
00:33:33