Rephonic
Artwork for Great American Novel
Civil War
Don Delillo
White Noise
The Underground Railroad
Surveillance Culture
Postmodernism
Reagan Era
Fear Of Death
Consumerism
The Red Badge Of Courage
Stephen Crane
Slavery
Racism
American Literature
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
American Culture
Media Influence
The Catcher In the Rye
Slaughterhouse-Five
Toni Morrison

Few literary terms are more hotly debated, discounted, or derided than the "Great American Novel." But while critics routinely dismiss the phrase as at best hype and as at worst exclusionary, the belief that a national literature commensurate with both the scope and the contradictions of being American persists. In this podcast Scott Yarbrough and Kirk Curnutt examine totemic works such as Herman ... more

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes35Founded5 years ago
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Arts

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Latest Episodes

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Ernest Hemingway's 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms is probably the most famous war novel in American literary history. Inspired by his own wounding on the Italian front shortly before his nineteenth birthday, Hemingway tells the story o... more

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In this, our 34th episode of the Great American Novel podcast, the hosts tackle Colson Whitehead’s intriguing, interesting, and in some surprising ways challenging award-winning 2016 novel, The Underground Railroad.  This novel works ... more

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More celebrated for her dark, satirical short stories, Flannery O'Connor nevertheless burst on the literary scene in 1952 in her mid-twenties with her debut novel, Wise Blood. The story of a would-be preacher resistant to God's grace,... more

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In Episode 32 of the Great American Novel podcast, we slip through time with Billy Pilgrim as we shuffle between the character’s experiences as a prisoner of war and first hand witness to the Dresden firebombing in World War II and th... more

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Hosts

Scott Yarbrough
Co-host known for his insights on American literature and its cultural interpretations.
Kirk Curnutt
Co-host who brings a depth of knowledge about literary contexts and historical analysis.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 206 ratings
  • Essential Listening

    Life is busy and I often miss my roots as a student of literature and art. Listening to this podcast returns me to one of my great loves, reminds me of the great books I’ve read or still need to read. Scott and Kirk are clearly great enthusiasts and lovers of great lit and I’m always engrossed in their conversation. Unmissable for any serious reader.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HoustonRufus
    United States3 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Outstanding podcast, the discussions are very accessible and Scott and Kirk have a great cadence throughout and a lot of helpful background information and context within each discussion. Happily making my way through each of them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shhakjah
    United States4 months ago
  • Great American Podcast

    If you have any interest at all in American literature this is the podcast for you. Erudite without being boring, it is bringing me back to so many novels I have read and loved and left behind. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JFitz0804
    United States5 months ago
  • Great listen

    Best literature podcast I’ve heard. Super informative, engaging, and educational.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Book Lover 277
    United States7 months ago
  • Excellent analysis

    Excellent analysis. Able to discuss difficult topics without being preachy. Can tell they are good teachers. Shout out to the big homie Scott Yarbrough.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1988pens
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Highly recommended for anyone interested in diving deeper into classic American works and their authors.
If you have any interest at all in American literature this is the podcast for you.
This is one of the best literature podcasts I've ever listened to, providing both informative analysis and engaging discussion.
Outstanding podcast, the discussions are very accessible with a lot of helpful background information and context.
I found the discussions incredibly insightful and reminiscent of listening to professors debate literature in a casual setting.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#243
Saudi Arabia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 34: Riding the Rails with THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Colson Whitehead
Q: What do you think about Ridgeway?
He's a very familiar figure, starting with Uncle Tom's Cabin and then we had the creepy, weird, completely amoral, not even extra violence or extra evil, just completely no empathy at all.
Episode 34: Riding the Rails with THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Colson Whitehead
Q: What genre is Whitehead writing in here when he does something like that?
The two you hear cited most often are either speculative history or alternate history.
Episode 27: Filtering the Static in Don DeLillo's WHITE NOISE
Q: What does the title "White Noise" mean to you?
It symbolizes the meaningless noise of static from a television that represents all the ways we try to interface with reality to avoid confronting it.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Great American Novel

What is Great American Novel about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers an insightful exploration into the works labeled as the 'Great American Novel' (GAN), tackling the complexities and historical contexts behind these significant literary pieces. Hosts Scott Yarbrough and Kirk Curnutt engage in thoughtful discussions examining the themes, styles, and societal implications found in totemic texts such as 'Moby-Dick' and 'Beloved.' The conversations not only provide literary analysis but also connect these works to broader cultural themes and historical narratives, making them accessible for both seasoned readers and those new to the classics. Unique in its blending of scholarly analysis with engaging dialogue, this podcast encourages listeners to reconsider the landscapes of American litera... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Great American Novel:

1. Reading McCarthy
2. The History of Literature
3. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
4. Overdue
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Great American Novel are there?

Great American Novel launched 5 years ago and published 35 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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