Audiobook · read by volunteers
To My Grandmother
Frederick Locker-Lampson (1821–1895)
Read by Christina Zhu, Dreama Lynn, JemmaBlythe, Sean McKinley · 4 chapters · 9 min
About the book
A poet turns to his grandmother and begins to talk. Frederick Locker-Lampson's To My Grandmother is a light, affectionate poem about a figure from the past, addressed with a mix of humour, tenderness and Victorian grace. It is a poem about how family stays with us, and how generations look back and forth at each other across the years. Here four LibriVox volunteers each record it, made for Grandparents' Day in September 2006. The readings are brief and charming, and the whole set lasts only about twelve minutes. A small musical gift for anyone who has a grandmother to thank, or one to remember. It is gentle and graceful, and the poet's affection comes through in every line. Four voices, four different smiles. Short enough to share with children, and sweet enough to read again whenever you think of someone who came before you.
Introduction
Frederick Locker-Lampson, who lived from 1821 to 1895, was an English poet who made his name with light, polished verse. He wrote what was called society verse: elegant, witty poems on love, manners and the passing of time, in a graceful and conversational tone. His collection London Lyrics became popular in Victorian England and went through many editions, and he was admired by readers who liked his fine craftsmanship.
To My Grandmother belongs to that style. The poem is a small, affectionate address to an ancestor, written with the gentle irony that characterises the author. Its charm lies in the way it treats a family relationship with real feeling but never solemnly, and in the clear, musical flow of its verses. Poems of this kind, which sit somewhere between humour and nostalgia, were a favourite in the nineteenth century and are a pleasure to read aloud.
Four volunteers each recorded the poem for a LibriVox weekly poetry project in September 2006, timed for Grandparents' Day, and their versions are presented as four short chapters. The whole set lasts around twelve minutes. Because the poem is brief, you can listen to each version in turn without losing the thread, and enjoy the small differences in pace and emphasis.
It is a lovely thing to share with an older relative, or with children who are curious about the lives of the people who came before them. Each version turns out a little differently, and the poem's quiet charm survives them all.
Public domain
Frederick Locker-Lampson died in 1895: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text