After the chaos of the French Revolution, the concept of liberty became associated with nature rather than political events. This program analyzes the Romantic fascination and identification with the power of the natural world. Shedding light on William Blake’s early childhood experiences in the countryside, the film also explores the work of John Clare—conveying how both poets revered the sublime power of the earth’s environment and exalted a rural way of life rapidly yielding to urbanization and the Industrial Revolution. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is also featured—highlighting its cautions against science, technology, and the exploitation of nature’s wild innocence. Produced by the Open University. (60 minutes)