Kafka
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The History of Literature #404 – Kafka and Literary Oblivion (with Robin Hemley)
Author Robin Hemley joins Jacke for a discussion of Kafka, writerly ambition, and his new novel Oblivion: An After Autobiography, which tells the story of a midlist author who finds himself in the posthumous world where authors fade from obscurity into the world of Oblivion…unless they can manage to write their way out. Additional listening suggestions: Continue reading
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History of Literature #139 – “A Hunger Artist” by Franz Kafka
http://traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL1087999791.mp3 In 1922, the miserable genius Franz Kafka wrote a short story, Ein Hungerkünstler (A Hunger Artist), about another miserable genius: a man whose “art” is to live in a cage and display his fasting ability to crowds that don’t always appreciate what he is trying to do. Inspired by actual historical figures, though suffused Continue reading
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The History of Literature #54 – The Greatest Books Ever (Part 2)
What books are essential? Who has the authority to choose them, and what is their selection process? First, Jacke and Mike continue their look at the College Board’s 101 Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers. Then Jacke proposes a different method for determining which books are relevant in today’s world – and tests the results against the College Board’s efforts. Continue reading
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Restless Mind Show #1 – Comedy and Authority
The Restless Mind Show! Jacke and Gar take a break from the history of literature to examine the nature of comedy and what makes us laugh. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:36 — 35.4MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading
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Contest Winners! The Brilliant Readers Who Guessed the Cover Themes
So here was the contest: guess the cover art themes to my book The Race and win a free copy of the book. As a reminder, here’s the cover: I also gave a brief description that had a few clues. I was looking for two things, or maybe three. The book is about American politics, Continue reading
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Kafka: The Videogame
Definitely will need to get this when it comes out… Continue reading
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Are Authors All Narcissists?
Where does the desire to write fiction come from? Eagerness to tell stories? Desire to connect with people? Fame and fortune? Defeat death? Does it all boil down to unfettered narcissism? I don’t mean their fiction tends toward navel-gazing – it may or may not. I’m asking whether at the heart of all impulses to Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 