The History of Literature Podcast
@holpod.bsky.social
A podcast for lovers of literature since 2015. Find us at historyofliterature.com.
![Book cover. Mrs. Child [Lydia Maria Child], The American Frugal Housewife](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6smgzq725is4kns2ovj36tcn/bafkreihjq6h6i5h3p56oijysstx3hm52j6kadbkf76udyre3thhqkupymu@jpeg)
"One no more owes one’s beauty to a lover than one’s wit to an echo."
– William Congreve, The Way of the World
#books #literature #plays #williamcongreve #botd
– William Congreve, The Way of the World
#books #literature #plays #williamcongreve #botd
February 10, 2026 at 1:08 PM
"One no more owes one’s beauty to a lover than one’s wit to an echo."
– William Congreve, The Way of the World
#books #literature #plays #williamcongreve #botd
– William Congreve, The Way of the World
#books #literature #plays #williamcongreve #botd
"I did not understand what the title meant until my recent recovery. The title means exactly what the words say: NAKED Lunch – a frozen moment when everyone sees what is on the end of every fork." – William S. Burroughs
#botd #books #williamsburroughs
#botd #books #williamsburroughs
February 5, 2026 at 2:09 PM
"I did not understand what the title meant until my recent recovery. The title means exactly what the words say: NAKED Lunch – a frozen moment when everyone sees what is on the end of every fork." – William S. Burroughs
#botd #books #williamsburroughs
#botd #books #williamsburroughs
"This is the way we were: in our growing up and in our marrying and in our living and in our dying."
– Thornton Wilder, Our Town
Wilder's Our Town opened on Broadway, February 4, 1938, and received the Pulitzer Prize later that year.
#otd #thorntonwilder #plays #books #literature
– Thornton Wilder, Our Town
Wilder's Our Town opened on Broadway, February 4, 1938, and received the Pulitzer Prize later that year.
#otd #thorntonwilder #plays #books #literature
February 4, 2026 at 3:26 PM
"This is the way we were: in our growing up and in our marrying and in our living and in our dying."
– Thornton Wilder, Our Town
Wilder's Our Town opened on Broadway, February 4, 1938, and received the Pulitzer Prize later that year.
#otd #thorntonwilder #plays #books #literature
– Thornton Wilder, Our Town
Wilder's Our Town opened on Broadway, February 4, 1938, and received the Pulitzer Prize later that year.
#otd #thorntonwilder #plays #books #literature
“One’s prime is elusive. You little girls, when you grow up, must be on the alert to recognise your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur. You must then live it to the full.”
― Muriel Spark, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
#botd #murielspark #books #literature
― Muriel Spark, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
#botd #murielspark #books #literature
February 1, 2026 at 1:25 PM
“One’s prime is elusive. You little girls, when you grow up, must be on the alert to recognise your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur. You must then live it to the full.”
― Muriel Spark, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
#botd #murielspark #books #literature
― Muriel Spark, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
#botd #murielspark #books #literature
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
– Thomas Paine, The American Crisis
#books #history
– Thomas Paine, The American Crisis
#books #history
January 30, 2026 at 12:43 PM
“If we want to be sincere, we must admit that there is a well-nourished love and an ill-nourished love. And the rest is literature.” – Colette #botd
Stay tuned for @jackewilson.bsky.social's interview with Kathleen Antonioli about her new biography of Colette. #books @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
Stay tuned for @jackewilson.bsky.social's interview with Kathleen Antonioli about her new biography of Colette. #books @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 2:57 PM
“If we want to be sincere, we must admit that there is a well-nourished love and an ill-nourished love. And the rest is literature.” – Colette #botd
Stay tuned for @jackewilson.bsky.social's interview with Kathleen Antonioli about her new biography of Colette. #books @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
Stay tuned for @jackewilson.bsky.social's interview with Kathleen Antonioli about her new biography of Colette. #books @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
“Who are you?” said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I—I hardly know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” –Lewis Carroll #botd
January 27, 2026 at 1:10 PM
“Who are you?” said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I—I hardly know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” –Lewis Carroll #botd
"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
"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
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
"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
"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
"She knew what these women were. They had their own special memoires, tastes, and ideas which distinguished them, personalities that were expressed in their features. But in herself Françoise could not see any clear-cut shape."
– Simone de Beauvoir #botd
#books #literature #philosophy
– Simone de Beauvoir #botd
#books #literature #philosophy
January 9, 2026 at 2:40 PM
"She knew what these women were. They had their own special memoires, tastes, and ideas which distinguished them, personalities that were expressed in their features. But in herself Françoise could not see any clear-cut shape."
– Simone de Beauvoir #botd
#books #literature #philosophy
– Simone de Beauvoir #botd
#books #literature #philosophy
"So I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning."
– Carl Sandburg, Chicago
#botd #poetry #chicago #literature
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning."
– Carl Sandburg, Chicago
#botd #poetry #chicago #literature
January 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM
"So I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning."
– Carl Sandburg, Chicago
#botd #poetry #chicago #literature
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning."
– Carl Sandburg, Chicago
#botd #poetry #chicago #literature
“Machines, he said, are an effect of art, which is nature’s ape, and they reproduce not its forms but the operation itself.”
– Umberto Eco #botd
#books #literature #novels
– Umberto Eco #botd
#books #literature #novels
January 5, 2026 at 9:02 PM
“Machines, he said, are an effect of art, which is nature’s ape, and they reproduce not its forms but the operation itself.”
– Umberto Eco #botd
#books #literature #novels
– Umberto Eco #botd
#books #literature #novels
“Stories should be natural as apples, brief as lust, long as a thought.”
– Leonard Michaels #botd
#books #literature #stories
– Leonard Michaels #botd
#books #literature #stories
January 2, 2026 at 2:33 PM
“Stories should be natural as apples, brief as lust, long as a thought.”
– Leonard Michaels #botd
#books #literature #stories
– Leonard Michaels #botd
#books #literature #stories
"Many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records…If you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement...it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry." – JD Salinger #botd
January 1, 2026 at 3:12 PM
"Many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records…If you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement...it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry." – JD Salinger #botd
"Night’s brittle song, sliver-thin
Shatters into a billion fragments
Of quiet shadows
At the blaring jazz
Of a morning sun."
– Frank Marshall Davis #botd
#books #poetry #frankmarshalldavis
Shatters into a billion fragments
Of quiet shadows
At the blaring jazz
Of a morning sun."
– Frank Marshall Davis #botd
#books #poetry #frankmarshalldavis
December 31, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"Night’s brittle song, sliver-thin
Shatters into a billion fragments
Of quiet shadows
At the blaring jazz
Of a morning sun."
– Frank Marshall Davis #botd
#books #poetry #frankmarshalldavis
Shatters into a billion fragments
Of quiet shadows
At the blaring jazz
Of a morning sun."
– Frank Marshall Davis #botd
#books #poetry #frankmarshalldavis
“We're not blind, we're just human. We live in a changing reality to which we try to adapt ourselves like seaweed bending under the pressure of water.” – Giuseppe Di Lampedusa #botd
#books #literature #lampedusa #novels
#books #literature #lampedusa #novels
December 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
“We're not blind, we're just human. We live in a changing reality to which we try to adapt ourselves like seaweed bending under the pressure of water.” – Giuseppe Di Lampedusa #botd
#books #literature #lampedusa #novels
#books #literature #lampedusa #novels
"Talk a little; or, if not,
Show me with a sign
Why it was that you forgot
What was yours and mine."
– Edwin Arlington Robinson #botd
#poetry #books #literature
Show me with a sign
Why it was that you forgot
What was yours and mine."
– Edwin Arlington Robinson #botd
#poetry #books #literature
December 22, 2025 at 7:38 PM
"Talk a little; or, if not,
Show me with a sign
Why it was that you forgot
What was yours and mine."
– Edwin Arlington Robinson #botd
#poetry #books #literature
Show me with a sign
Why it was that you forgot
What was yours and mine."
– Edwin Arlington Robinson #botd
#poetry #books #literature
"You see things less clearly when you open your eyes too wide." – Italo Svevo #botd
#books #literature #novels
#books #literature #novels
December 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
"You see things less clearly when you open your eyes too wide." – Italo Svevo #botd
#books #literature #novels
#books #literature #novels
“A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a ton of explanation.”
– Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) #botd
#books #literature
– Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) #botd
#books #literature
December 18, 2025 at 10:06 PM
“A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a ton of explanation.”
– Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) #botd
#books #literature
– Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) #botd
#books #literature