Rephonic
Artwork for Close Readings
Andrew Marvell's 'an Horatian Ode Upon Cromwell's Return From Ireland'
Political Poetry
Oliver Cromwell
Irish Campaigns
King Charles I
Chaucer's Miller's Tale
Hesiod
The Canterbury Tales
Jean-Paul Sartre
Judith Butler
Anti-Semitism
Alice Oswald
Works and Days
Dart
Memorial
Literature
Seneca
Elizabeth Bowen
Pankaj Mishra
Brent Hayes Edwards

Close 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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes166Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for Close Readings

Latest Episodes

Leonora Carrington was a prodigious artist closely associated with major surrealists of the 1930s. Though only sporadically in print until recently, her writing has helped cement her cult status, not least The Hearing Trumpet (1974).

Before her fami... more

At the heart of human existence is a tragic ambiguity: the fact that we experience ourselves both as subject and object, internal and external, at the same time, and can never fully inhabit either state. In her 1947 book, Simone de Beauvoir addresses... more

YouTube

Trollope enthusiasts Tom Crewe and Dinah Birch say they could have chosen any one of his 47 novels for this episode, so it’s no wonder Elizabeth Bowen called him ‘the most sheerly able of the Victorian novelists’. They settled on The Last Chronicle o... more

YouTube

Without Emma Gifford, we might never have heard of Thomas Hardy. Hardy’s first wife was instrumental in his decision to abandon architecture for a writing career, and a direct influence – possibly collaborator – on his early novels. Their marriage, i... more

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Recent Guests

Ruth Bernard Yeazell
Stirling Professor of English at Yale University, author of 'Fictions of Modesty' and other works
Yale University
Episode: Novel Approaches: ‘The Mill on the Floss’ by George Eliot
Deborah Friedell
Contributing editor at the LRB, writer since 2007
London Review of Books
Episode: Novel Approaches: ‘The Mill on the Floss’ by George Eliot
Stefanie Markovits
Teaches English at Yale, published widely on literature of the Romantic and Victorian periods and on the verse novel.
Yale University
Episode: Novel Approaches: 'Aurora Leigh' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Seamus Perry
Teaches English at Oxford, participant in a series on literature.
Oxford University
Episode: Novel Approaches: 'Aurora Leigh' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Dinah Birch
Meritus Professor of English at Liverpool University
Liverpool University
Episode: Novel Approaches: ‘North and South’ by Elizabeth Gaskell
Adam Thirlwell
Novelist and passionate advocate for literature
Contributed to LRB and involved in discussions of literary subjects
Episode: Fiction and the Fantastic: Stories by Franz Kafka
Anna Della Subin
Writer and scholar, contributor to the LRB
London Review of Books
Episode: Fiction and the Fantastic: ‘The Thousand and One Nights’
Colin Burrow
A contributor to LRB and guest for the first episode
London Review of Books
Episode: Introducing ‘Novel Approaches’
Brent Hayes Edwards
Literary scholar and critic
Episode: Human Conditions: ‘Sister Outsider’ by Audre Lorde

Hosts

Seamus Perry
Co-host and contributor exploring various literary themes and works.
Irina Warner
Long-time contributor focusing on myth and fairy tale, co-host of specialized series.
Mark Ford
Poet, critic, and professor relevant to discussions on literature and poetry.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 187 ratings
  • Accessibility of close readings as a subscriber.

    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 Podcasts
    2
    Theysawmecomingagain
    United Kingdom3 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 Podcasts
    5
    display name!!
    United States4 months ago
  • so good

    so worth the subscription

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    12,9)(;;7):.!
    United Kingdom9 months 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 Podcasts
    5
    Hattiehein
    United 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 Podcasts
    4
    Barbaradelsol
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, the podcast is well-received for its ability to blend literary analysis with personal anecdotes.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful and deep exploration of literature.
The production quality and the knowledgeable hosts contribute to an engaging experience.
Some find the content to be intellectually stimulating, though access issues have been mentioned.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#147
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#8
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#32
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#74
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#188
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Novel Approaches: ‘The Mill on the Floss’ by George Eliot
Q: What broadly is the story of The Mill on the Floss?
The first part lingers over the childhood of Maggie Tulliver, detailing her relationship with her family and her struggles in a rigid societal framework, ultimately leading to her tragic fate.
Novel Approaches: ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Brontë
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the biographical and historical circumstances in which Wuthering Heights came to be written and published?
Charlotte Brontë took the lead in persuading her sisters to publish their poems and later their novels, which stirred controversy in the literary world due to their themes and characters.
Novel Approaches: ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Brontë
Q: What was so scandalous about Wuthering Heights in particular?
It was regarded as completely amoral, which seems to be entirely correct.
Introducing ‘Fiction and the Fantastic’
Q: What do you think of the threads in the fabric of the Fantastic that you're hoping to follow?
Anna is interested in how storytelling emerges as a way to literally save your life in the figure of Shaharazad.
Human Conditions: ‘Anti-Semite and Jew’ by Jean-Paul Sartre
Q: When did you first read this book and what kind of impression did it make?
Judith Butler recalls reading Sartre's book as an undergraduate, noting her admiration for its brilliance yet frustration with its framing of Jewish identity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Close Readings

What is Close Readings about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A multi-series podcast subscription that offers insightful explorations of literature through key literary works. Hosts discuss a diverse range of topics including philosophy, fiction, historical perspectives, and poetry, providing listeners with a detailed introduction to significant texts and their authors. Unique series cover a variety of themes such as love, death, and the role of the fantastic in literature, appealing to enthusiasts of literary criticism and philosophy alike. Each episode combines scholarly analysis with engaging conversations, making complex ideas accessible while encouraging thoughtful reflection on literary traditions and cultural contexts.

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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 166 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?

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What guests have appeared on Close Readings?

Recent guests on Close Readings include:

1. Ruth Bernard Yeazell
2. Deborah Friedell
3. Stefanie Markovits
4. Seamus Perry
5. Dinah Birch
6. Adam Thirlwell
7. Anna Della Subin
8. Colin Burrow

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.

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