Literature
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The History of Literature #469 — A Room with a View by E.M. Forster (with Gina Buonaguro)
Since its publication in 1908, E.M. Forster’s classic novel A Room with a View, which tells the story of a young Englishwoman who finds a romantic adventure during a trip to Florence, has inspired countless travelers to expand their minds and warm their hearts with a tour through Italy. In this episode, Jacke talks to historical… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #468 — Chekhov Becomes Chekhov (with Bob Blaisdell)
In 1886, the twenty-six-year-old Anton Chekhov was practicing medicine, supporting his family, falling in and out love, writing pieces for newspapers at a furious pace – and gradually becoming one of the greatest short story writers the world has ever seen. In this episode, Jacke talks to Bob Blaisdell, author of Chekhov Becomes Chekhov: The Emergence… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #466 — Kurt Vonnegut, Planetary Citizen (with Christina Jarvis)
When novelist Kurt Vonnegut died in 2007, the planet lost one of its most creative and compelling voices. In this episode, Jacke talks to Vonnegut scholar Christina Jarvis (Lucky Mud & Other Foma: A Field Guide to Kurt Vonnegut’s Environmentalism and Planetary Citizenship) about Vonnegut’s ethical, environmental, and planetary teachings. CHRISTINA JARVIS is Professor of English… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #465 — Greek Lit and Game Theory (with Professor Josiah Ober)
Game theory as a mathematical discipline has been around since the Cold War, but as Professor Josiah Ober (The Greeks and the Rational: The Discovery of Practical Reason) points out, its roots stretch back to Socrates, if not before. In this episode, Jacke talks to Professor Ober about the Greek discovery of practical reason –… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #464 — Percy Bysshe Shelley – The Mature Years
Following up on Episode 446 Percy Bysshe Shelley – The Early Years, Jacke takes a look at the final five years of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s life, from 1817-1822, as the poet turned away from hands-on political action in favor of attempting to transform the world through his art. Works discussed include the Preface to Frankenstein; “Stanzas Written… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #463 — Friedrich Nietzsche (with Ritchie Robertson)
Sigmund Freud once said of the philosopher and cultural critic Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) that “he had a more penetrating knowledge of himself than any man who ever lived or was likely to live.” Well known for his iconoclastic views and intoxicating prose style, Nietzsche went from near obscurity in his lifetime to dominating the ideas… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #462 — My Last Book (with Laurie Frankel)
The question stopped Jacke in his tracks. “Dear Jacke,” said the emailer. “What do you want your “last book” to be? This will be the last book you will ever read…” And so, he set about determining what his “last book” should be, with help from dozens of guests (and counting). In this special episode,… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #460 — Rabindranath Tagore
In this episode, Jacke takes a look at the life and works of the legendary Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). Central to what became known as the Bengali Renaissance, Tagore’s poetry, short stories, songs, essays, paintings, and plays earned Tagore widespread praise from Indians and non-Indians alike. Among many other awards and accolades, in 1913… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #459 — Eve Bites Back! An Alternative History of English Literature (with Anna Beer)
Jacke talks to author Anna Beer about her new book Eve Bites Back! An Alternative History of English Literature, which tells the stories of eight women (Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe, Aemilia Lanyer, Anne Bradstreet, Aphra Behn, Mary Wortley Montagu, Jane Austen, and Mary Elizabeth Braddon) who were warned not to write – but who did… Continue reading
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The History of Literature #458 — Alexander Pushkin (with Robert Chandler)
For many Russian writers and readers, Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) holds a special place: his position in Russian literature is often compared to Shakespeare’s in English, Dante’s in Italian, and Goethe’s in German. In this episode, Jacke talks to Pushkin translator Robert Chandler (Peter the Great’s African: Experiments in Prose) about the life and works of… Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 