The Essay: How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear

Marking the centenary of Edward Lear's birth in 1812, a series considering the exuberant poetry and art of Edward Lear and the influence of 'nonsense' on modern life. 3. Robert Crawford, poet and professor of modern literature at the University of St Andrews, speaks about Edward Lear's literary legacy. He focues especially on TS Eliot, who often drew on the work of Lear in his writing, even going as far as to write the poem How Unpleasant to Meet Mr Eliot, in response to Lear's poem How Pleasant to Know Mr Lear