rome – Jacke Wilson

March 29, 2022

The History of Literature #369 – Rilke and the Search for God

Following Jacke’s discussion with Stephen Mitchell about the first Christmas, Jacke takes a look at a special letter by Rainer Maria Rilke (which Stephen Mitchell translated). In this letter, written in Rome on December 23, 1903, the famed poet explores the difference between childlike wonder and grownup concerns, working his way toward a poetic vision Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature

God, letter, Literature, rilke, rome, stephen mitchell

August 5, 2021

The History of Literature #327 – Natalia Ginzburg

Italian writer Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) lived a fascinating life full of politics, war, exile, tragedy, love, loss, and literature. In her novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and essays, she drew upon her experience and her keen capacity for observation and invention to create some of the twentieth century’s most arresting and enduring works. In this Continue reading

history of literature, Podcast

einaudi, leone ginzburg, natalia ginzburg, rome, the little virtues, world war ii

January 27, 2017

History of Literature #77 – Top 10 Greatest Literary Cities

What makes a city a great literary city? Having a tradition of famous authors? A culture of bookstores and cafes and publishing houses and universities? Inspiring great books? Host Jacke Wilson is joined by Mike Palindrome, President of the Literature Supporters Club, for a discussion of the cities where literature finds itself most at home – including Continue reading

Arts, Authors, books, Fiction, history of literature, novelists, Podcast, Writing

berlin, buenos aires, Dublin, edinburgh, London, melbourne, New York, Paris, rome, san francisco, tokyo

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