Close Readings
London Review of BooksClose Readings is a new multi-series podcast subscription from the London Review of Books. Two contributors explore areas of literature through a selection of key works, providing an introductory grounding like no other. Listen to some episodes for free here, and extracts from our ongoing subscriber-only series. How To Subscribe In Apple Podcasts, click 'subscribe' at the top of this podcast feed ... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 185 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksEducationCoursesArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
In The Man Behind the Curtain, a bonus Close Readings series for 2026, Tom McCarthy and Thomas Jones examine great novels in terms of the systems and infrastructures at work in them. For their first episode, they turn to the book that invented the mo... more
George Gissing’s novels, Orwell once said, could be described in three words: ‘not enough money’. Writing is a matter of survival for the cast of ‘New Grub Street’ (1891), which follows a handful of literary men and women in London in the early 1880s... more
Did Dickens ruin Christmas? He was certainly a pioneer in exploiting its commercial potential. A Christmas Carol sold 6,000 copies in five days when it was published on 19 December 1843, and Dickens went on to write four more lucrative Christmas book... more
Samuel Johnson’s doctor, Robert Levet, had piecemeal medical knowledge at best, was described as an ‘an obscure practiser in physick’ by James Boswell and was only paid for his work with gin. Yet for Johnson this eccentric man deserved a poetic tribu... more
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Terrible access. And please no smug answers from lrb punters. Lrb podcast organisers - are you there? Communicate with subscribers and make it easy. Others do. The podcasts are good btw.
Apple Podcasts2Theysawmecomingagain
United Kingdom6 months ago - Great
One of the best podcasts of its kind. I can tell that it takes a lot of time and labor to make the show – I hope the creators don’t get burnt out so that it’s able to continue.
Apple Podcasts5display name!!
United States7 months ago - so good
so worth the subscription
Apple Podcasts512,9)(;;7):.!United Kingdoma year ago - As good as meditation for my mental health
Great conversations between humble yet honestly intelligent people about fascinating topics, unobtrusively edited and crisply presented.
Apple Podcasts5HattieheinUnited States2 years ago - Shorts
It seems the full versions of the ‘Shorts’ episodes are no longer available? Is that correct? I’ve only just found the podcast and would love to locate the full versions. The link in the show notes doesn’t work for me.
Apple Podcasts4BarbaradelsolUnited Kingdom2 years ago
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Apple Podcasts | #53 | United States/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #139 | United States/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #21 | United Kingdom/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #49 | United Kingdom/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #76 |  Canada/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #186 | Canada/Arts |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Close Readings
What is Close Readings about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Focused on exploring significant literary works, this podcast brings together a selection of contributors to discuss key themes and narratives across diverse genres and periods, including realism, contemporary literature, elegy, and narrative poetry. Episodes emphasize a deep understanding of the socio-cultural contexts and artistic styles of revered authors ranging from Thomas Hardy to Ursula K. Le Guin, creating an enriching experience that appeals to both literature enthusiasts and casual readers. Notably, the series also delves into philosophical themes and the evolution of literary criticism, making it a valuable resource for those interested in broadening their literary horizons through nuanced discussions.
Where can I find podcast stats for Close Readings?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Close Readings. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Close Readings and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Close Readings get?
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What are the audience demographics for Close Readings?
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How many subscribers and views does Close Readings have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Close Readings has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Close Readings?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Close Readings:
1. The LRB Podcast
2. London Review Bookshop Podcast
3. The TLS Podcast
4. Past Present Future
5. Backlisted
How many episodes of Close Readings are there?
Close Readings launched 3 years ago and published 185 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Close Readings?
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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Close Readings?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Close Readings from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Close Readings?
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What guests have appeared on Close Readings?
Recent guests on Close Readings include:
1. Mark Ford
2. Mary Wellesley
3. Ruth Bernard Yeazell
4. Deborah Friedell
5. Stefanie Markovits
6. Seamus Perry
7. Dinah Birch
8. Adam Thirlwell
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.