Arts
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The History of Literature #460 — Rabindranath Tagore
In this episode, Jacke takes a look at the life and works of the legendary Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). Central to what became known as the Bengali Renaissance, Tagore’s poetry, short stories, songs, essays, paintings, and plays earned Tagore widespread praise from Indians and non-Indians alike. Among many other awards and accolades, in 1913… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #459 — Eve Bites Back! An Alternative History of English Literature (with Anna Beer)
Jacke talks to author Anna Beer about her new book Eve Bites Back! An Alternative History of English Literature, which tells the stories of eight women (Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe, Aemilia Lanyer, Anne Bradstreet, Aphra Behn, Mary Wortley Montagu, Jane Austen, and Mary Elizabeth Braddon) who were warned not to write – but who did… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #458 — Alexander Pushkin (with Robert Chandler)
For many Russian writers and readers, Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) holds a special place: his position in Russian literature is often compared to Shakespeare’s in English, Dante’s in Italian, and Goethe’s in German. In this episode, Jacke talks to Pushkin translator Robert Chandler (Peter the Great’s African: Experiments in Prose) about the life and works of… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #457 — The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson’s Editor (The Thomas Wentworth Higginson Story) | PLUS Making (Book) Dreams Come True (with Eve Yohalem and Julie Sternberg)
Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911) has become famous as the man who in 1862 encouraged young contributors to submit to his magazine – and who received in reply four poems from an unknown woman in Amherst, who asked whether he thought her verses were alive. Her name, of course, was Emily Dickinson, and Higginson recognized her… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #456 — Maya Angelou
Best known for her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was a woman of many talents and accomplishments. In this episode, Jacke takes a look at the life and works of this incredible singer, dancer, songwriter, activist, poet, actor, director, documentary producer, and of course, memoirist. Additional listening: Help support the… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #455 — Gustave Flaubert
Perhaps contemporary critic James Wood put it best: “Novelists,” he wrote, “should thank Flaubert the way poets thank spring.” In this episode, Jacke takes a look at the life and major works of Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), the Frenchman from Rouen who redefined what realism – and prose fiction – could do. Additional listening: Help support… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #454 — Emma’s Pick – A Victorian Ghost Story
Happy Halloween! In this episode, producer Emma selects a classic Victorian ghost story for Jacke to read: “Eveline’s Visitant” by the publishing powerhouse Mary Elizabeth Braddon. Additional listening suggestions: Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/shop. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at www.thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature. Continue reading
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The History of Literature #453 — The Autobiography of Malcolm X (with Dr Rae Wynn-Grant)
Jacke talks to Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant about her journey to becoming a wildlife ecologist and two classic works from the 1960s that helped inspire her: The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley) and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Be sure to check out Dr. Wynn-Grant’s podcast Going Wild, brought to you by PBS Nature. Journey deep into… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #452 — Charles and Mary Lamb | A Letter To My Transgender Daughter (with Carolyn Hays)
In this episode, Jacke takes a look at two topics. First, the story of Charles and Mary Lamb, whose children’s book Tales from Shakespeare (1807) was published more than two hundred years ago and has never been out of print. Part of the literary circle that included Romantic-era luminaries like Hazlitt, Wordsworth, and Coleridge, the siblings dedicated… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #451 — Mary Shelley
For more than two centuries, the author Mary Shelley (1797-1851) has been eclipsed by others: her famous parents William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, her even more famous husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, and even her own creations, the “modern Prometheus” Victor Frankenstein and the creature that often (and erroneously) bears his name. But Mary Shelley deserves… Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 