show episodes
 
The Divine Comedy (Italian: Commedia, later christened “Divina” by Giovanni Boccaccio), written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321, is widely considered the central epic poem of Italian literature, the last great work of literature of the Middle Ages and the first great work of the Renaissance. A culmination of the medieval world-view of the afterlife, it establishes the Tuscan dialect in which it is written as the Italian standard, and is seen as one of the greatest works ...
 
Written by one of the most significant American poets, Fire and Ice proficiently tackles the continuous query about how the world will cease to exist, whether it will go up in flames, or succumb to the cruelty of ice. First published in Harper’s Magazine in 1920 and later included in his acclaimed anthology New Hampshire, Frost effectively employs the use of simple, yet evocative language that assigns each syllable a significant purpose in the poem, while simultaneously concentrating on a pe ...
 
A storytelling podcast dedicated to the stories behind the great books of the past. On the show, I explore the inner conflicts and adverse circumstances that have shaped authors' lives, from antiquity to the twentieth century, one author at a time. Together, we'll uncover the long-forgotten mysteries and dramas behind the greatest literary works, the heartache and anger and joy behind all those books that still speak to us today. Visit my website, www.inviolablevoices.com, for more information.
 
Oh No! Lit Class is a semi-educational comedy literature podcast hosted by Megan and RJ, two bitter English grads who are here to tell you all the weird and sexy things you never knew about the books you had to read in school. Let's ruin some literary classics together. New episodes released every other Thursday.
 
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show series
 
Join us for some tall tales, short tales, and some stories that are truly the stuff of fairy tales as we discuss Elsa Maxwell. Maxwell revolutionized what it meant to throw a good party. She lived deeply and joyfully, celebrating every part of life in the most fantastic ways. She wrote up the social news, music and scripts for films, entertaining g…
 
This week, we get to know Mary Church Terrell: activist, speaker, writer, and educator! Terrell's TIRELESS work changed the lives of Black people across the U.S. She advocated for women's voting rights, worked on anti-lynching and desegregation campaigns, all while teaching, writing, and lecturing around the world. Terrell's ineffable spirit should…
 
This week, we learn about William Wells Brown! Who is he? An excellent question - Wells Brown was born into slavery, escaped, and spent his life advocating for abolition and rights for women through his writing, exceptional speeches and activism. He helped dozens of other enslaved people to freedom, toured the US and Europe, and became a Doctor tow…
 
We're continuing our celebration of Black History Month with Margaret Walker! This remarkable poet certainly walked the walk and wrote the... writing? She used the power of her pen to advocate for Black women, while teaching and creating space to celebrate and uplift Black creatives! Join us for this and a little Valentine's Day appreciation!…
 
This week, we're kicking off our Black History Month celebration by honoring the legacy of James Weldon Johnson, the brilliant writer behind 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'. BUT did you know that Johnson wrote numerous other poems, articles, and songs in addition to being a school principal, lawyer, diplomat, jingle writer, Broadway composer, and profe…
 
It's our 200th episode! And we're descending into hell to learn more about Italian writer, poet, delegate, and apothecary Dante Alighieri! Dante's influence casts a wide net across politics, our understanding of 'hell', the Italian language and more! We're joined by Ailey Yamamoto and Dan Esquivel with original games, and plenty of stories. Grab yo…
 
This week: iconic lesbian bohemian poet Renée Vivien, everyone! She lived a fantastically wild life, writing work and living as her truest and most authentic self. She traveled the world wearing pants, left suitors in her wake, and wrote decadent and devastating poetry along the way. We celebrate 'The Muse of Violets', (for your consideration as Va…
 
This week, we unpack and interrogate the legacy of modernist poet Ezra Pound, who had a heavy hand in shaping contemporary poetry, but also had some heavily problematic beliefs. From his initial limericks to his long cantos, there's a lot of things in this episode's suitcase! Join us for this AND find out which works enter the public domain in 2023…
 
We're kicking off 2023 with an inspiration - Ursula K. LeGuin. A poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer, and fierce advocate for writers, there are many things we can learn from this exceptional story teller. Full of magic, courage, and heart, this is an episode you won't want to miss about an author you should read as soon as you are able!…
 
This week: lyrical, brilliant, clever, and spectacular, we look at the life of poet Dylan Thomas who fused a variety of art forms to craft his stunning works. We have a guest reader to give you a taste of Thomas' poetry, along with the results of our Would You Rather game, name poll, and some author holiday cards that got lost in the mail! We think…
 
Just in time for your Holiday work or school party, we have a very special 'Ho-LIT-day' episode for you full of stories, games, and fascinating trivia! Find out which classic Christmas song was saved from the trash, the origins of sending Christmas Cards, and discover your new favorite Hanukkah tale! We also have a delightful literary 'would-you-ra…
 
This week, we're here to tell you about feminist icon Angela Carter who worked to forge her own path, traveling the world and infusing her writing with elements of the gothic, magic, and fantasy at a time when women weren't expected to do any of those things! Help us celebrate this 'raconteur of glee' known for her acerbic, bold writing (including …
 
This week, we profile Native Doctor, author, activist, and speaker Charles Eastman. Eastman traveled around the world to raise awareness and educate people about Native American traditions, cultures, and communities. He worked tirelessly to advocate for Native American rights and served on numerous committees at local and national levels, ensuring …
 
Just in time to mark this most recent election cycle, we honor the legacy of Zitkala-Ša - activist, writer, composer, and educator. She worked tirelessly to properly document and present Native American culture, advocate for Native suffrage, and create connections between communities that helped ensure their heritage and ways of life could be prese…
 
It's Native American History Month! We're celebrating the legacy of Ella Cara Deloria: a ground-breaking novelist, anthropologist, and translator who helped promote and deepen our understanding of the Sioux (Dakota and Lakota) culture, traditions, and ways of life. Her collaborations, research, and work as an educator helped ensure that these tradi…
 
In this special spooky episode, we feature two early engineers of Gothic horror/terror novels - Ann Radcliffe & Charlotte Dacre. These two women had a huge impact on authors including Jane Austen, Edgar Allen Poe, Sir Walter Scott and Lord Byron! They helped define a new genre and wrote compelling work that is in desperate need of attention! We als…
 
Ailey and Mary from the 'Ghosts in the Closet' Podcast guest host this week as we cover the SCANDALOUS life of Lord Byron! This episode is full of fantastic stories and conspiracies, looking at Byron's wild connections, intensely passionate writing, and adventures across Europe! There is also some wonderful queer-history trivia so come along for th…
 
Megan and RJ are back (again)! And they swear it's really them and not a couple of criminal deviant androids. For real, they pinky-promise and everything. Join us for Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and discover the shame of electric pet ownership, the power of robo-snatch, and fun existential pranks to play on your friends. J…
 
We're pleased to introduce your new favorite novelist-playwright-garden-designer-baroness-paramour, Vita Sackville-West! We're discussing her wild, wonderful, and slightly witchy life as she disrupted marital expectations, gender rolls, and societal boundaries of her era! This episode is full of delightful stories and wild adventures, so join us fo…
 
This special episode covers our interviews, stories, and snippets from Printer's Row Lit Fest in Chicago, IL! We talked to people of all ages about the books and authors that changed their lives, who they'd like to take to dinner, and a few literary hot takes! Come along with us and learn about new books, and find out which author won our poll!…
 
We're exploring the much-neglected legacy of Countee Cullen, Harlem Renaissance poet, playwright, and also, Junior High School teacher! Cullen's work ran counter to many of his contemporaries but made a huge impact on the world of poetry. Despite the mixed reception of his work, he continued to write, create, and challenge the understanding of what…
 
Even though our author this week didn't live in Paradise, we hope our humor isn't totally Lost! That's right, we're learning about John Milton this week - author of the iconic epic poem with a delightful characterization of Satan, along with many other writings and pamphlets (!!!). This episode also features a short dramatic reading, for your delig…
 
This week, Dan Esquivel joins us to talk about the remarkable living legacy of Griselda Gambaro, Argentine playwright and activist who used her work to fight an oppressive government regime and pull focus to the experiences and voices of the marginalized! Dan has wonderful stories to share - this is an episode you won't want to miss!…
 
We're here to uncover the mystery behind the author of The Nancy Drew Series! Known to us as Carolyn Keene, the Nancy Drew novels were written by a series of ghost writers since their debut in 1930, but 23 of the original 30 novels were written by the exceptional Mildred Wirt Benson! We focus on her life and legacy in this episode - it's sure to be…
 
This week, we're looking at the legacy of Angelina Weld Grimké: poet, playwright, and physical education teacher? That's right! Weld Grimké found a home in education before beginning her work as an author. She wrote tirelessly about the experience of Black Americans through her work, including writing, Rachel, her powerful response to 'The Birth of…
 
In a bit of a twist this week, we're celebrating the poetic technical writing of Ada Lovelace. Widely considered among the first computer programers, Lovelace fused her talent with words and her passion for programming to write extraordinary articles in a variety of math and science fields. We also include postcards from the East Coast tour, if you…
 
Meet the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature: Selma Lagerlöf! In addition to her groundbreaking literary accomplishments, Lagerlöf also inspired generations of students, restored her beautiful childhood home, traveled the world, received an honorary Doctorate, and fought against the Nazi regime... Safe to say, we should all try to live…
 
We're wrapping up our Pride Month Celebration with Federico García Lorca, a poet, playwright, musician, and artist who helped spur a revolution within the artistic communities in Spain and around the world. He used his art to explore his identity, aesthetics, and what it means to experience to full breadth of what it means to be human!…
 
Get to know the whimsical, hard-working, clever, and Queer author behind the classic children's picture book Goodnight Moon. Margaret Wise Brown was a pioneer in the evolution of children's literature, exploring what it really meant to be a young person. This episode also features a flower cart, a well that doubled as a refrigerator, and a very pow…
 
She has arrived. The Queen of the Paris Lesbians: Natalie Clifford Barney! We're so delighted to speak about the legacy of the woman whose life was as compelling as her writing. She helped shaped generations of writers, artists, and thinkers through her literary salons, hosted with wit, charisma, and eviction? Find out more in this week's episode!…
 
We're continuing our celebration of Pride Month with Christopher Isherwood, who not only contributed greatly to gay literature, but also served as a model for what an open and public queer relationship could look like. Join us to explore his plays, novels, short stories, screenplays, along with many delightful/wild/thrilling facts and stories that …
 
In this week's very special kick off to Pride Month, Steph is joined by co-hosts of the 'Ghosts in the Closet' Podcast, Ailey Yamamoto and Mary Rogers to discuss the controversial legacy of Radclyffe Hall. Hall is often credited with writing the earliest version of Lesbian Pulp Fiction and explored what a non-binary identity could look like. Also f…
 
This week, meet the remarkable bohemian author Sanmao who made an incredible impact on the world (very literally - she visited over 50 countries throughout the course of her life!). She changed the literary game with her striking writing, but also empowered women in the way she led her life, resisting societal norms as a true independent spirit.…
 
This week, in recognition of Jewish American History Month, we honor the legacy of Anne Frank and her extraordinary diary. We hope to further Anne's dream of being recognized as an author and the impact that her words had and continue to have on generations of people around the world. Although not 'American', her diary has deeply impacted American …
 
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