Jacke Wilson

October 30, 2015

Greatest First Lines Ever – Contest Update!

Wow, the contest to win a free book by telling me your favorite first line is going really well. Thanks to everyone for your comments, emails, voicemails, and speakpipe recordings. The entries are fabulous, especially the ones I get to hear read in your own voice. And at the end I get to give away books – Continue reading

Arts, Authors, Fiction, Writing

best first lines, contest, Fiction, graham greene

October 29, 2015

The History of Literature 2A – The Book of Job (Bonus Episode)

Why does an all-good, omnipotent God permit pain and suffering among the innocent? Jacke Wilson takes a look at the masterful Book of Job. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:02 — 10.6MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

Creator, Cruel Universe, God, the Bible, The Book of Job, The Old Testament

October 28, 2015

Sneak Preview: The Most Bewildering Book in the Bible

Bonus episode tomorrow: we look at the Book of Job and the fascinating question of why a good, all-powerful God permits pain and suffering. And what happens when a lowly human dares to ask this question? The dialogue between God and Job is without a doubt one of the greatest moments in all of literature. Joan Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

acocella, God, job, New Yorker, old testament, the Bible

October 27, 2015

A Contest! Tell Me Your Favorite First Line and Win a Free Book

Here we go! We’ve spent enough time agonizing over whether Literature Is Dying. Let’s put that on hold for now. Instead, let’s celebrate the greatest geniuses and most powerful books we can imagine. And let’s do that by focusing on the Greatest First Lines of all time. What’s the criteria for a great first line? It’s up Continue reading

Authors, Fiction, Writing

contest, favorite first lines, Fiction, novels, Short Stories

October 26, 2015

History of Literature Episode 2 – The Hebrew Bible

Examining the literary qualities of the most successful religious text in the history of the world. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:43 — 22.7MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

bible, God, Literature, nietzsche, old testament, stories, Yahweh

October 25, 2015

Sneak Preview: Nietzsche Stands in Trembling Awe…

What inspired Nietzsche? Strong, powerful stories about strong, powerful characters. Seizers of the day. Grabbers of life by the throat. Wrestlers with the human condition. Where did he find them? In the Jewish `Old Testament’, the book of divine justice, there are men, things and speeches of so grand a style that Greek and Indian Continue reading

Authors, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

hebrew bible, nietzsche, old testament

October 24, 2015

Sneak Preview: Blessed Are the Phrasemakers…

Very cool! The New York Times reports on a new discovery – the oldest known version of the King James translation of the Bible, which (as it happens) is the subject of our next History of Literature podcast, coming out on Monday. Here’s a photo: The professor who made the discovery describes its importance. “You Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

early books, King James Bible, literary discoveries, scholars, translators

October 23, 2015

Sneak Preview: The Greatest Character in All of Literature?

Is this the greatest character in all of literature? Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

biography, character, God, Jack Miles, literary, the Bible

October 22, 2015

Restless Mind Show #2 – Tolstoy’s Halloween

Taking another break from the history of literature for a Simpsons / Edgar Allan Poe mashup, Leo Tolstoy’s horse, and five lusty lizards blasted into space by the Russians. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:19 — 35.6MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast, restless mind show, The Jacke Wilson Show

Edgar Allan Poe, Halloween, Macbeth, monster, sex geckos in space, Simpsons, Tolstoy

October 21, 2015

New Feature: Leave Me a Message!

Testing… testing… 1, 2, 3… is this thing on? I’m trying out a new feature for the blog/podcast: voicemail! And I could use your help. But first, why am I doing this? Because, because, because – you guys are really the stars of this blog. Always have been, always will be. The comments are routinely better Continue reading

Uncategorized