
Adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. TheAllusionist.org
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 251 | Founded | 11 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsEducation | |||

Throughout the Draculae miniseries, about the Swedish and Icelandic translations of Dracula that played fast and loose with the original text, I've been wondering a couple of questions: why are cover versions of songs and remakes of films so normal a... more
Many mysteries accompany the revelations that Powers of Darkness, the Icelandic and Swedish versions of Dracula, are not direct translations of Bram Stoker's original, but stories that significantly differ in character names, plot and runtime. Like: ... more
Happy World Dracula Day to all who celebrate! Visit theallusionist.org/draculae2 for more information about the topics in this episode plus a transcript.
This is the second episode of the Draculae miniseries, about a literary mystery which came to m... more
A literary mystery came to me via a meme: “Someone translated Dracula into Icelandic, and it took over 100 years for anyone to point out he just made a fanfic rewrite of what he wanted the story to be.”
In this first instalment of a short series ab... more
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Started out curious and providing niche information about diverse topics, but now seems only interested in covering political topics...
Delightful podcast about words and the English language!
Last night I was sick and feverish and awake in the middle of the night and the way relief crashed over me when I heard the tranquillusionist jingle. Suddenly I was warm and safe and still sick but it was manageable
This podcast is always great. The Christmas Dickens reading though is something special. Thank you Helen and Martin
I never failed to be delighted by this completely original, thought-provoking podcast. The creator puts so much work and spirit into every episode. Recommended for anyone who loves language, a.k.a. the layers of the onion that is history, society and life!
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Apple Podcasts | #64 |
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This show centers on language, its history, and its social impact, often weaving linguistic nerdiness with cultural commentary. Episodes frequently feature scholars, translators, writers, and researchers who unpack topics like censorship, dictionaries, regional language variations, and the power dynamics embedded in everyday speech. A distinctive trait is how conversations fuse rigorous analysis with wit and accessible storytelling, sometimes including live readings, debates, and sponsor segments that feel seamlessly integrated. Listeners tend to be word-nerds, educators, and culture enthusiasts who appreciate thoughtful, well-researched discussions delivered with personality and humor.
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The Allusionist launched 11 years ago and published 251 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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