Poets On Record 1: Rodney Hall Reads "Romulus & Remus"

The Poets On Record series was initiated by the University of Queensland Press (U.Q.P.) in 1970 as a pioneering effort to preserve the voices of contemporary Australian poets. By coupling high-quality vinyl recordings with printed texts, the series aimed to provide students and literature enthusiasts with an immersive experience of Australian verse, bridging the gap between the written page and the oral tradition of performance poetry.

Rodney Hall, an integral figure in the Australian literary scene, was selected for the debut release to read his narrative poem 'Romulus & Remus'. The production focused on a clean, atmospheric recording style that allowed Hall’s distinct cadence to define the work. At the time of its release, the series was well-regarded for its academic rigor and its commitment to documenting the cadence and intent of writers in their own voices, establishing a template for future literary audio collections in Australia.