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The History of Literature #444 — Thrillers on the Eve of War – Spy Novels in the 1930s (with Juliette Bretan)
The British spy novel was well established long before Ian Fleming’s creation of James Bond in the 1950s. And while it came to be identified with the Cold War, thanks to Fleming and subsequent writers like John le Carré, thriller aficionados continued to look back to earlier authors for novels with a different set of Continue reading
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The History of Literature #443 — Updating Bloom’s Canon (with Bethanne Patrick)
In 1994, Harold Bloom’s magnum opus The Western Canon took up the critical cudgels on behalf of 26 writers declared by Bloom to be essential. In this episode, Bethanne Patrick (aka the Book Maven), literary critic and host of the new podcast Missing Pages, joins Jacke to propose some additions to Bloom’s narrow list. Additional Listening Suggestions: Help Continue reading
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The History of Literature #442 — Prince, Emperor, Sage – Bābur and the Bāburnāma (with Anuradha)
The warrior and leader known as Bābur (1483-1530) had the kind of life one might expect from the descendant of Timur (Tamburlaine) on his father’s side and Genghis Khan on his mother’s. Elevated to the throne at age 12, and thrown into a world of battles and defeats, he eventually founded the Mughal Empire in Continue reading
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The History of Literature #441 — When Novels Were Novel (with Jason Feifer)
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when reading novels was not a common activity – and then, suddenly, it was. In this episode, Jacke talks to Jason Feifer, an expert on transformative changes in society, to see how the rise of novels (and the backlash against them) follow broader patterns of Continue reading
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The History of Literature #440 — Emma’s Pick – “A Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin
Today, Kate Chopin (1851-1904) might be best known for her groundbreaking feminist novel The Awakening (1899). But she was also an accomplished short story writer, publishing in national magazines like Atlantic Monthly and Vogue. In this episode, Jacke provides an annotated reading of producer Emma’s latest pick: “A Pair of Silk Stockings” (1897) Chopin’s story of a down-on-her-luck woman who Continue reading
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The History of Literature #439 – Poets’ Guide to Economics (with John Ramsden)
Sure, we know poets are experts in subjects like love, death, nightingales, and moonlight. But what about money? Isn’t that a little…beneath them? (Or at least out of their area of expertise?) In this episode, Jacke talks to author John Ramsden (The Poets’ Guide to Economics) about the contributions made by eleven poets to the Continue reading
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The History of Literature #438 – How Was Your Ulysses? (with Mike Palindrome)
In 1922, a writer for the Observer commented: “No book has been more eagerly and curiously awaited by the strange little inner circle of book-lovers and littérateurs than James Joyce’s Ulysses.” After declaring Joyce to be a man of genius, the writer said, “I cannot see how the work upon which Mr Joyce spent seven Continue reading
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The History of Literature #437 – A Million Miracles Now – “A Bird, came down the Walk” by Emily Dickinson
Responding to a listener email, a heartbroken Jacke takes a close look at Emily Dickinson’s astonishing poem “A Bird, came down the Walk.” 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 #436 – The Lorax by Dr Seuss (with Mesh Lakhani)
He was born Theodor Seuss Geisel in 1904, but in the next 87 years, the world came to know and love him by his pen name, Dr. Seuss. Best known for his more than 60 books for children, including The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Green Eggs and Ham, and Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss has Continue reading
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The History of Literature #435 – The Story of the Hogarth Press Part 2 – The Virginia Woolf Story That Changed Everything
In our last episode, we looked at the decision by Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard to purchase a printing press and run it out of their home. What began as a hobby – a relief from the strains of writing – soon turned into a genuine business, as The Hogarth Press met with success. Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 