Fiction

January 25, 2016

History of Literature Episode 28 – The Ramayana

It’s been called “the greatest of all Indian epics – and one of the world’s supreme masterpieces of storytelling.” Nobody can deny the power of this ancient tale of Rama, a warrior king in exile, and his beloved wife Sita. Combining intense action scenes with keen insights into spiritual and psychological motivations, the Ramayana continues to… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

epic poem, hanuman, indian, narayan, pankaj mishra, rama, ramayana, ramesh menon, sita, twinsters
January 15, 2016

Two Genre Titans: When James Bond Met Philip Marlowe

So many great literary meetings have been lost to time. Here’s a fascinating one that wasn’t: Ian Fleming (master of the spy novel) discussing craft with Raymond Chandler (master of the hardboiled detective novel). This is believed to be the only recording of Raymond Chandler’s voice. Sit back, pour yourself something shaken not stirred, and enjoy! Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, Writing

bbc, craft, detective, genre, ian fleming, Interview, james bond, philip marlowe, raymond chandler, spy
December 17, 2015

Episode 7A – Proust, Pound, and Chinese Poetry

A young Jacke Wilson immerses himself in great books on his way from Taiwan to Tibet – and finds out what Ezra Pound, Marcel Proust, and Chinese poetry can teach him about literature and life. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:36 — 35.0MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, Fiction, history of literature, Podcast

China, chinese poetry, Ezra Pound, literature and life, Marcel Proust, taiwan, tibet, train
December 2, 2015

Writers Laughing: A Jacke Wilson Gallery

Peace on earth, good will to all…and a photo gallery of great writers caught in the act of laughing. Happy holidays! Join us on the History of Literature podcast or at the Jacke Wilson blog for more literary delights. Get the History of Literature podcast: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Try the latest History… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, novelists, Writing

Alice Munro, anita desai, Flannery O’Connor, Gabriel García Márquez, garrett hongo, georges simenon, Henry Miller, j.r.r. tolkien, James Baldwin, Jean-Paul Sartre, john irving, joseph brodsky, kiran desai, kurt vonnegut, lorrie moore, margaret atwood, mary beard, norman mailer, pablo neruda, phillip roth, Ray Bradbury, Samuel Beckett, sandra cisneros, scott fitzgerald, seamus heaney, sherman alexie, Simone de Beauvoir, Stephen King, truman capote, w.e.b. dubois, Writers laughing, Zelda Fitzgerald, zora neale hurston
November 25, 2015

Restless Mind Show #7 – Literature and Loneliness

On the eve of a holiday, author and host of the History of Literature podcast Jacke Wilson considers the consolations that total immersion in literature can provide. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:29 — 19.9MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, novelists, Podcast, restless mind show, Writing

dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Holidays, kerouac, Literature, loneliness, Writers
November 17, 2015

On Protecting the Creative Process

Brilliant Reader (and hard-at-work novelist) CH considers our offer to share her first line and responds: Although I’ve decided not to share my opening sentence here, I’m grateful for your post, Jacke. 18 K-plus words later, I honestly couldn’t remember what my first sentence was. Today was one of those days when I wondered if… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, Writing

contest, Creativity, first lines, nanowrimo, Writing
November 12, 2015

The Restless Mind Show 5 – Gar Discovers a Lost Recording of Walt Whitman!

Gar finds a lost recording of Walt Whitman reading his own poetry! Plus: Author Jacke Wilson gives an update on the Greatest First Lines contest. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:27 — 20.5MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, novelists, Podcast, Publishing, restless mind show, Writing

comedy, contest update, Greatest First Lines, History, Literature, nanowrimo, Poetry, Walt Whitman
November 4, 2015

Scenes from a Marriage (A Jacke Wilson Objectino)

Back by popular demand… it’s an Objectino! This time, a scene from a marriage…. A JACKE WILSON OBJECTINO* HIM: Okay, I think I’ll head out to the dentist’s office. HER: Already? Your appointment’s not for twenty minutes. It takes ten minutes to get there. HIM: Well, by the time I park, get checked in… HER: You… Continue reading

Authors, Fiction, Objectino, Writing

Fiction, Humor, marriage, self-loathing
November 3, 2015

Calling All NaNoWriMoers! Tell Us Your First Line and Win a Free Book!

Don’t cross the streams! Don’t cross the streams! Well, guess what? [waiting] I’m crossing the streams! What are these streams? First: the fabulous contest we’re running on the best opening sentences ever. You can still enter that one if you want. And second: our full-throated support for National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. We renewed our… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, novelists, Podcast

contest, first line, nanowrimo
November 1, 2015

Good Luck NaNoWriMoers!

It’s National Novel Writing Month! And once again, I’m astounded by people who hate this project. (Has Laura Miller written her annual screed yet? I can’t wait.) Here’s a post from a while back: NaNoWriMo: A Full-Throated Defense What better way to tune up than to pull your favorite book off the shelf, study the… Continue reading

Authors, Fiction, Publishing, Writing

contest, Laura Miller, nanowrimo, Optimism, Salon, Tolstoy, Writing