The History of Literature Podcast
@holpod.bsky.social
A podcast for lovers of literature since 2015. Find us at historyofliterature.com.
"Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man and mother's son, take heed,
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,
Think, ye may buy the joys o'er dear,
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mear."
– Robert Burns, "Tam O'Shanter"
b. Jan 25, 1759
#poetry #literature #robertburns
Ilk man and mother's son, take heed,
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,
Think, ye may buy the joys o'er dear,
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mear."
– Robert Burns, "Tam O'Shanter"
b. Jan 25, 1759
#poetry #literature #robertburns
'There's no other poem like it': Why this Robert Burns classic is a masterpiece
On Burns Night this Sunday – and 235 years after Tam O'Shanter was published in 1791 – Scots everywhere may well be treated to a masterwork with a unique, universal appeal.
www.bbc.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:27 PM
"Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man and mother's son, take heed,
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,
Think, ye may buy the joys o'er dear,
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mear."
– Robert Burns, "Tam O'Shanter"
b. Jan 25, 1759
#poetry #literature #robertburns
Ilk man and mother's son, take heed,
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,
Think, ye may buy the joys o'er dear,
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mear."
– Robert Burns, "Tam O'Shanter"
b. Jan 25, 1759
#poetry #literature #robertburns
"Art thou thus boldened, man, by thy distress,
Or else a rude despiser of good manners,
That in civility thou seem’st so empty?"
– Shakespeare, As You Like It
@jackewilson.bsky.social #books #shakespeare @princetonupress.bsky.social
Or else a rude despiser of good manners,
That in civility thou seem’st so empty?"
– Shakespeare, As You Like It
@jackewilson.bsky.social #books #shakespeare @princetonupress.bsky.social
770 Shakespeare and Civility (with Indira Ghose) | Robert W. Ser…
Civility can help a society overcome tribal loyalties and cooperate for the common good--and when political and religious factions threaten to break a society apart…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:07 PM
"Art thou thus boldened, man, by thy distress,
Or else a rude despiser of good manners,
That in civility thou seem’st so empty?"
– Shakespeare, As You Like It
@jackewilson.bsky.social #books #shakespeare @princetonupress.bsky.social
Or else a rude despiser of good manners,
That in civility thou seem’st so empty?"
– Shakespeare, As You Like It
@jackewilson.bsky.social #books #shakespeare @princetonupress.bsky.social
For more: @jackewilson.bsky.social talks with Francesca Wade about her biography of Gertrude Stein. #gertrudestein #biography @scribnerbooks.bsky.social @nybooks.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:46 PM
For more: @jackewilson.bsky.social talks with Francesca Wade about her biography of Gertrude Stein. #gertrudestein #biography @scribnerbooks.bsky.social @nybooks.com
“The world wavered and quivered and threatened to burst into flames.” – Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway
#botd #virginiawoolf #books #literature @jackewilson.bsky.social @manchesterup.bsky.social
#botd #virginiawoolf #books #literature @jackewilson.bsky.social @manchesterup.bsky.social
735 Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (with Mark Hussey) | My Last …
Jacke talks to author Mark Hussey ( Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a Novel ) about Virginia Woolf's beloved novel Mrs Dalloway , which turned 100 earlier this year. PLU…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:18 PM
“The world wavered and quivered and threatened to burst into flames.” – Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway
#botd #virginiawoolf #books #literature @jackewilson.bsky.social @manchesterup.bsky.social
#botd #virginiawoolf #books #literature @jackewilson.bsky.social @manchesterup.bsky.social
For more about Woolf and The Life of Violet, take a listen to @jackewilson.bsky.social's conversation with Urmila Seshagiri. #books #virginiawoolf @princetonupress.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 1:14 PM
For more about Woolf and The Life of Violet, take a listen to @jackewilson.bsky.social's conversation with Urmila Seshagiri. #books #virginiawoolf @princetonupress.bsky.social
Reposted by The History of Literature Podcast
January 24, 2026 at 10:30 AM
"I loved truth.... Where is it? Hypocrisy everywhere or at any rate charlatanism. Even in the most virtuous, even in the greatest,” and his lips assumed an expression of disgust. “No, man cannot trust man.” – Stendhal, The Red and the Black
#botd #novels #books #stendhal @jackewilson.bsky.social
#botd #novels #books #stendhal @jackewilson.bsky.social
Stendhal
In this episode, Jacke takes a look at the life and works of French author Stendhal (1783-1842), whose innovative novels The Red and the Black and The Charterhouse …
www.historyofliterature.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:32 PM
"I loved truth.... Where is it? Hypocrisy everywhere or at any rate charlatanism. Even in the most virtuous, even in the greatest,” and his lips assumed an expression of disgust. “No, man cannot trust man.” – Stendhal, The Red and the Black
#botd #novels #books #stendhal @jackewilson.bsky.social
#botd #novels #books #stendhal @jackewilson.bsky.social
Congratulations to the 2025 National Book Critics Circle finalists!
For more about the book Baldwin: A Love Story, take a listen to the conversation with author Nicholas Boggs and @jackewilson.bsky.social on the History of Literature Podcast. #books @fsgbooks.bsky.social @bookcritics.bsky.social
For more about the book Baldwin: A Love Story, take a listen to the conversation with author Nicholas Boggs and @jackewilson.bsky.social on the History of Literature Podcast. #books @fsgbooks.bsky.social @bookcritics.bsky.social
January 22, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Congratulations to the 2025 National Book Critics Circle finalists!
For more about the book Baldwin: A Love Story, take a listen to the conversation with author Nicholas Boggs and @jackewilson.bsky.social on the History of Literature Podcast. #books @fsgbooks.bsky.social @bookcritics.bsky.social
For more about the book Baldwin: A Love Story, take a listen to the conversation with author Nicholas Boggs and @jackewilson.bsky.social on the History of Literature Podcast. #books @fsgbooks.bsky.social @bookcritics.bsky.social
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to Byron scholar Jonathan Gross about his book The European Byron: Mobility, Cosmopolitanism, and Chameleon Poetry. #books #poetry #lordbyron @anthempress.bsky.social
769 The European Byron (with Jonathan Gross) | The Great Gatsby …
The Romantic poet Byron (1788-1824) was more than just the scandal-ridden celebrity who was famously dubbed "mad, bad, and dangerous to know"--he was also a restles…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:31 PM
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to Byron scholar Jonathan Gross about his book The European Byron: Mobility, Cosmopolitanism, and Chameleon Poetry. #books #poetry #lordbyron @anthempress.bsky.social
Have we moved beyond The Catcher in the Rye or is it one of the greatest books of all time?
@jackewilson.bsky.social considers the novel's merits in Episode 761 and in a past episode (Episode 119) with Mike Palindrome. @literaturesc.bsky.social #books #literature
@jackewilson.bsky.social considers the novel's merits in Episode 761 and in a past episode (Episode 119) with Mike Palindrome. @literaturesc.bsky.social #books #literature
#4 Greatest Book of All Time
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is ranked #4 on the History of Literature Podcast's list of the Greatest Books of All Time. In Episode 761, Jacke places the…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Have we moved beyond The Catcher in the Rye or is it one of the greatest books of all time?
@jackewilson.bsky.social considers the novel's merits in Episode 761 and in a past episode (Episode 119) with Mike Palindrome. @literaturesc.bsky.social #books #literature
@jackewilson.bsky.social considers the novel's merits in Episode 761 and in a past episode (Episode 119) with Mike Palindrome. @literaturesc.bsky.social #books #literature
"There is a light. Death keeps his eye on the light and walks toward it. He moves into the shaft of light and labors his way over a frozen field."
– Johannes V. Jensen, The Fall of the King
#botd #books #literature #danishliterature #nobelprizeinliterature @jackewilson.bsky.social
– Johannes V. Jensen, The Fall of the King
#botd #books #literature #danishliterature #nobelprizeinliterature @jackewilson.bsky.social
January 20, 2026 at 12:37 PM
"There is a light. Death keeps his eye on the light and walks toward it. He moves into the shaft of light and labors his way over a frozen field."
– Johannes V. Jensen, The Fall of the King
#botd #books #literature #danishliterature #nobelprizeinliterature @jackewilson.bsky.social
– Johannes V. Jensen, The Fall of the King
#botd #books #literature #danishliterature #nobelprizeinliterature @jackewilson.bsky.social
"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." – Edgar Allan Poe #botd
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to author Richard Kopley about his book Edgar Allan Poe: A Life, a comprehensive critical biography of Poe's life and works. #books @uvapress.bsky.social
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to author Richard Kopley about his book Edgar Allan Poe: A Life, a comprehensive critical biography of Poe's life and works. #books @uvapress.bsky.social
742 Edgar Allan Poe (with Richard Kopley) | Pride and Prejudice …
It's October, the perfect month to celebrate the master of mystery and the macabre. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Richard Kopley about his book Edgar Allan…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:32 PM
"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." – Edgar Allan Poe #botd
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to author Richard Kopley about his book Edgar Allan Poe: A Life, a comprehensive critical biography of Poe's life and works. #books @uvapress.bsky.social
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to author Richard Kopley about his book Edgar Allan Poe: A Life, a comprehensive critical biography of Poe's life and works. #books @uvapress.bsky.social
Reposted by The History of Literature Podcast
One of North America's greatest writers of poetry and short stories was born on this day in 1809.
This daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe was made months before his death at age 40. Few daguerreotypes of notable poets, novelists, or painters have survived from the 1840s.
This daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe was made months before his death at age 40. Few daguerreotypes of notable poets, novelists, or painters have survived from the 1840s.
January 19, 2026 at 4:30 PM
One of North America's greatest writers of poetry and short stories was born on this day in 1809.
This daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe was made months before his death at age 40. Few daguerreotypes of notable poets, novelists, or painters have survived from the 1840s.
This daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe was made months before his death at age 40. Few daguerreotypes of notable poets, novelists, or painters have survived from the 1840s.
"I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up." – #MLK #MLKDay
January 19, 2026 at 1:53 PM
“Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.”
– James Baldwin
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to Nicholas Boggs, author of Baldwin: A Love Story, the first major #biography of James Baldwin in 30 years. @fsgbooks.bsky.social
– James Baldwin
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to Nicholas Boggs, author of Baldwin: A Love Story, the first major #biography of James Baldwin in 30 years. @fsgbooks.bsky.social
768 Young James Baldwin (with Nicholas Boggs) | My Last Book wit…
The American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin (1924-1987) spent the second half of his life as a fixture in American intellectual life. But what forme…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:17 PM
“Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.”
– James Baldwin
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to Nicholas Boggs, author of Baldwin: A Love Story, the first major #biography of James Baldwin in 30 years. @fsgbooks.bsky.social
– James Baldwin
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to Nicholas Boggs, author of Baldwin: A Love Story, the first major #biography of James Baldwin in 30 years. @fsgbooks.bsky.social
Do you love your local independent bookstore? Let us know!
@jackewilson.bsky.social is looking forward to giving shout-outs to your beloved independent bookstores in upcoming History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #reading #community #independentbookstores
@jackewilson.bsky.social is looking forward to giving shout-outs to your beloved independent bookstores in upcoming History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #reading #community #independentbookstores
January 16, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Do you love your local independent bookstore? Let us know!
@jackewilson.bsky.social is looking forward to giving shout-outs to your beloved independent bookstores in upcoming History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #reading #community #independentbookstores
@jackewilson.bsky.social is looking forward to giving shout-outs to your beloved independent bookstores in upcoming History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #reading #community #independentbookstores
"Photographs alter and enlarge our notions of what is worth looking at and what we have a right to observe. They are a grammar and, even more importantly, an ethics of seeing."
– Susan Sontag, On Photography
#botd #photography #books #susansontag
– Susan Sontag, On Photography
#botd #photography #books #susansontag
January 16, 2026 at 1:24 PM
"Photographs alter and enlarge our notions of what is worth looking at and what we have a right to observe. They are a grammar and, even more importantly, an ethics of seeing."
– Susan Sontag, On Photography
#botd #photography #books #susansontag
– Susan Sontag, On Photography
#botd #photography #books #susansontag
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to award-winning scholar and literary sleuth Mathelinda Nabugodi (The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive) about what she found in the Romantic archive – and why it matters.
#books @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social
#books @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social
767 A Black Woman in the Romantic Archive (with Mathelinda Nabug…
A scrap of Coleridge's handwriting. The sugar that Wordsworth stirred into his teacup. A bracelet made of Mary Shelley's hair... In this episode, Jacke talks to awa…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:39 PM
@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to award-winning scholar and literary sleuth Mathelinda Nabugodi (The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive) about what she found in the Romantic archive – and why it matters.
#books @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social
#books @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social
Reposted by The History of Literature Podcast
To travel both and be one traveller … Muriel Spark and Katherine Mansfield Give Life Lessons on Poetry in Prose
📌 buff.ly/METEFOc
📚 buff.ly/zDMWOg0
📌 buff.ly/METEFOc
📚 buff.ly/zDMWOg0
January 15, 2026 at 11:01 AM
To travel both and be one traveller … Muriel Spark and Katherine Mansfield Give Life Lessons on Poetry in Prose
📌 buff.ly/METEFOc
📚 buff.ly/zDMWOg0
📌 buff.ly/METEFOc
📚 buff.ly/zDMWOg0
Reposted by The History of Literature Podcast
:
King Books (John K. King Used and Rare Books) in Detroit
· My original ‘favourite bookstores post’ with further details in post below it ↴
King Books (John K. King Used and Rare Books) in Detroit
· My original ‘favourite bookstores post’ with further details in post below it ↴
[⅖]: …
Favourite #Bookstores I’ve Been To:
① John K. King Used and Rare Books¹ - Detroit, MI, USA (King Books)
② Dunaway Books² - St. Louis, MO, USA
③ Pilgrims Book House†³ - Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
…
Favourite #Bookstores I’ve Been To:
① John K. King Used and Rare Books¹ - Detroit, MI, USA (King Books)
② Dunaway Books² - St. Louis, MO, USA
③ Pilgrims Book House†³ - Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
…
January 14, 2026 at 3:05 PM
:
King Books (John K. King Used and Rare Books) in Detroit
· My original ‘favourite bookstores post’ with further details in post below it ↴
King Books (John K. King Used and Rare Books) in Detroit
· My original ‘favourite bookstores post’ with further details in post below it ↴
"My wisdom came too late. She has much to her and probably little will come of it. She is a child of her age, of depression, of war, of fear. Let her be. So all that is in her will not bloom – but in how many does it? There is still enough left to live by."
– Tillie Olsen #botd
#books #literature
– Tillie Olsen #botd
#books #literature
January 14, 2026 at 1:59 PM
"My wisdom came too late. She has much to her and probably little will come of it. She is a child of her age, of depression, of war, of fear. Let her be. So all that is in her will not bloom – but in how many does it? There is still enough left to live by."
– Tillie Olsen #botd
#books #literature
– Tillie Olsen #botd
#books #literature
Reposted by The History of Literature Podcast
There's a relatively new start up called Novel, which offers both books & sandwiches in downtown Rochester MI. I support it via libro.fm (an alternative to Amazon's Audible/Kindle), which is specifically set up for independent booksellers.
All of Detroit is served by www.johnkingbooksdetroit.com
All of Detroit is served by www.johnkingbooksdetroit.com
Buy audiobooks & support local bookstores
Libro.fm makes it possible for you to buy audiobooks directly through local bookstores.
libro.fm
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 PM
There's a relatively new start up called Novel, which offers both books & sandwiches in downtown Rochester MI. I support it via libro.fm (an alternative to Amazon's Audible/Kindle), which is specifically set up for independent booksellers.
All of Detroit is served by www.johnkingbooksdetroit.com
All of Detroit is served by www.johnkingbooksdetroit.com
Reposted by The History of Literature Podcast
Farley's Bookshop in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Labyrinth Books in Princeton, NJ, are my two local go-to's. Both wonderful.
a person 's finger is pointing to a book titled " hundertjahrgeschichte "
ALT: a person 's finger is pointing to a book titled " hundertjahrgeschichte "
media.tenor.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Farley's Bookshop in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Labyrinth Books in Princeton, NJ, are my two local go-to's. Both wonderful.
On Monday's episode on Gertrude Stein, @jackewilson.bsky.social mentioned the importance of independent bookstores. Do you love your local bookstore? Let us know!
We'll mentioned your beloved independent bookstores in future History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #localbookstores
We'll mentioned your beloved independent bookstores in future History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #localbookstores
766 Gertrude Stein (with Francesca Wade) | Ruskin on the Only On…
Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) has long been one of the most famous - and most polarizing - figures in modernism. Was she a trailblazing genius? Or a literary charlatan…
www.historyofliterature.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM
On Monday's episode on Gertrude Stein, @jackewilson.bsky.social mentioned the importance of independent bookstores. Do you love your local bookstore? Let us know!
We'll mentioned your beloved independent bookstores in future History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #localbookstores
We'll mentioned your beloved independent bookstores in future History of Literature Podcast episodes!
#books #localbookstores
"He was a newcomer in the land, a chechaquo, and this
was his first winter. The trouble with him was that he was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances."
– Jack London, "To Build a Fire"
#botd #books #literature
was his first winter. The trouble with him was that he was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances."
– Jack London, "To Build a Fire"
#botd #books #literature
January 13, 2026 at 12:41 PM
"He was a newcomer in the land, a chechaquo, and this
was his first winter. The trouble with him was that he was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances."
– Jack London, "To Build a Fire"
#botd #books #literature
was his first winter. The trouble with him was that he was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances."
– Jack London, "To Build a Fire"
#botd #books #literature