History – Page 6 – Jacke Wilson

August 9, 2022

The History of Literature #430 – In Shakespeare’s Shadow (with Michael Blanding)

It’s a paradox that has bothered Shakespeare’s fans for centuries: the man was as insightful into human beings as anyone whoever lived, and yet his own life is barely documented. This combination of literary genius plus biographical uncertainty has spun off a number of mysteries – including the question of how exactly Shakespeare came to… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, history of literature

Arts, History, Literature, Michael Blanding, mystery, Shakespeare

August 7, 2022

The History of Literature #428 – Edward Gibbon (with Zachary Karabell)

Since the first publication of his six-volume magnum opus, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon (1734-1797) has been ranked among the greatest historians who ever lived. What made his work different? Does it hold up today? And what lessons can a modern-day historian draw from his example? In… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, history of literature

Edward Gibbon, History, Literature, the Roman Empire, Zachary Karabell

May 13, 2022

The History of Literature #406 – A World in Turmoil – 1967-1971 (with Beverly Gologorsky)

Novelist Beverly Gologorsky joins Jacke for a discussion of the tumultuous years from 1967 to 1971, which provides the background for her new novel. In Can You See the Wind?, a working-class family in the Bronx struggles to make a better world, even as the world spins into chaos. Columbia professor (and friend of the podcast) Farah… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature

Beverly Gologorsky, History, Literature, Politics

July 30, 2021

The History of Literature #321 – Thucydides

Jacke and Mike take a look at the life and works of Thucydides (c. 460 to c. 400 B.C.), an Athenian general whose History of the Peloponnesian War has earned him the title of “the father of scientific history” or sometimes “the other father of history.” We discuss the highlights of Thucydides, what it’s like to read… Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

History, mike palindrome, peloponnesian war, Tagsherodotus, thucydides

December 31, 2015

New Year’s Thank You: The Top Podcast Episodes of the Year

Dear Readers and Listeners: It’s time for another humble thank you from your old friend Jacke. This year was another good one in Jackeland. No new books (alas), but a newly launched podcast, plenty of blogging inspiration – and most importantly, the community of readers and listeners who make everything worthwhile. I owe you more… Continue reading

Arts, Authors, history of literature, Podcast, Writing

Arts, History, Literature, new year, top episodes of 2015

December 5, 2015

“A Crisp and Merciless Clarity”: Mary Beard’s SPQR

I haven’t read the latest book by Mary Beard yet, but this NY Times review is certainly enough to whet my readerly appetite: How on earth did they do it? The Greek historian Polybius, writing in the second century B.C., was the first to ask the question: “Who could be so indifferent or so idle that they… Continue reading

books, Uncategorized

History, in our time, mary beard, new york times book review, rome, spqr, The New York Review of Books

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

October 16, 2015

Listen To The Epic of Gilgamesh (read in its original language)

What was it like to listen to the oldest epic poem we have? Press the play button, close your eyes, and travel back 4,000 years…. Open Culture has more. Continue reading

history of literature, Writing

ancient mesopotamia, epic of gilgamesh, History, Literature, oral storytelling, Poetry

October 14, 2015

History of Literature Episode 1 – The Epic of Gilgamesh

Starting our journey with the surprisingly modern story of an ancient warrior-king whose restlessness drives him to seek immortality. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:36 — 23.1MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

great books, History, Literature, Poetry

May 4, 2014

H.G. Wells and the Bumbling Interview

God bless H.G. Wells. He seems like kind of a decent guy, and as a kid I loved his books (The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, War of the Worlds, etc.). My parents had a set of a History of the World he’d written, which I tried to read about a million times but could… Continue reading

Authors

Authors, h.g. wells, History, Interview, stalin