Fiction
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The History of Literature #478 — The Diaries of Franz Kafka (with Ross Benjamin)
Kafka! The avatar of anxiety! He’s long been one of our favorites here at the History of Literature Podcast. In this episode, Jacke talks to translator Ross Benjamin about the new edition of The Diaries of Franz Kafka, published by Schocken Books, which includes some material available in English for the first time. “Readers will welcome Continue reading
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The History of Literature #477 — Does Edith Wharton Hate You? (Part 2 – “The Vice of Reading”)
Does Edith Wharton hate us? That’s a provocative question – but perhaps one that Wharton herself provoked, with her essay on the readers who damaged literature and her fiction satirizing the same. In this two-part series, Jacke takes a look at the type of readers targeted by Wharton: not the readers of trash fiction, whom Continue reading
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The History of Literature #476 — Does Edith Wharton Hate You? (Part 1 – “Xingu”)
Does Edith Wharton hate us? That’s a provocative question – but perhaps one that Wharton herself provoked, with her essay on the readers who damaged literature and her fiction satirizing the same. In this two-part series, Jacke takes a look at the type of readers targeted by Wharton: not the readers of trash fiction, whom Continue reading
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The History of Literature #474 — Herman Melville
In this episode, Jacke takes a look at the life of Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick and many other works. Melville experienced ups and downs, from a fancy Manhattan childhood to financial ruin and back again. Once a literary celebrity, heralded for his early novels based on his experiences living on tropical islands with cannibals, he was Continue reading
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The History of Literature #468 — Chekhov Becomes Chekhov (with Bob Blaisdell)
In 1886, the twenty-six-year-old Anton Chekhov was practicing medicine, supporting his family, falling in and out love, writing pieces for newspapers at a furious pace – and gradually becoming one of the greatest short story writers the world has ever seen. In this episode, Jacke talks to Bob Blaisdell, author of Chekhov Becomes Chekhov: The Emergence Continue reading
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The History of Literature #467 — TS Eliot and The Waste Land (with Jed Rasula)
In 2022, T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land turned 100 years old – and it’s hard to imagine a poem with a more explosive impact or a more enduring influence. In this episode, Jacke talks to Professor Jed Rasula about his book, What the Thunder Said: How The Waste Land Made Poetry Modern. Jed Rasula is the Helen S. Lanier Continue reading
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The History of Literature #465 — Greek Lit and Game Theory (with Professor Josiah Ober)
Game theory as a mathematical discipline has been around since the Cold War, but as Professor Josiah Ober (The Greeks and the Rational: The Discovery of Practical Reason) points out, its roots stretch back to Socrates, if not before. In this episode, Jacke talks to Professor Ober about the Greek discovery of practical reason – 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 #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
Jacke Wilson 