Rephonic
Artwork for The History of Literature

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate
Literature
Shakespeare
Poetry
William Shakespeare
Ernest Hemingway
Emily Brontë
Charlotte Brontë
Jane Austen
James Baldwin
Identity
Emily Dickinson
Sylvia Plath
Feminism
Translation
Henry James
Virginia Woolf
Harlem Renaissance
John Keats
The Jolly Corner
The Great Gatsby

Amateur enthusiast Jacke Wilson journeys through the history of literature, from ancient epics to contemporary classics. Episodes are not in chronological order and you don't need to start at the beginning - feel free to jump in wherever you like! Find out more at historyofliterature.com and facebook.com/historyofliterature. Support the show by visiting patreon.com/literature or historyofliteratur... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes782Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsHistoryBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The History of Literature

Latest Episodes

Thanks in part to beloved films like Marty (1955) and Network (1976), Paddy Chayefsky is often regarded as the greatest writer of television's first Golden Age and the most acclaimed screenwriter in Hollywood history. But who was Chayefsky? What made... more

What is it like to translate Shakespeare into another language? How does one attempt to capture that transcendent magic so familiar to English speakers? In this episode, Jacke talks to writer, editor, and translator Daniel Hahn (If This Be Magic: The... more

Upon her death, French novelist George Sand (1804-1876) was widely recognized as one of the most popular and acclaimed writers in Europe. And yet, even then, the legend of the cigar-smoking, cross-dressing, promiscuous writer threatened to overshadow... more

Why are we so fascinated by the ancient world? What can we find in the distant past that is recognizably human--and how do we grapple with the complicated and controversial issues that the past forces us to address? In this episode, Jacke talks to di... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Backlisted
BacklistedBacklisted
Close Readings
Close ReadingsLondon Review of Books
The LRB Podcast
The LRB PodcastThe London Review of Books
In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Fiona Sampson
Poet and author; biographer of George Sand in Becoming George, The Invention of George Sand
The History of Literature; HOL Press (publisher)
Episode: 813 George Sand (with Fiona Sampson) | My Last Book with Kathleen Antonioli
Mary Beard
Distinguished classicist, international bestselling author, and television personality
University of Cambridge; Times Literary Supplement; various museums and media
Episode: 812 Talking Classics (with Mary Beard) | My Last Book with Karen Spence
Karen Spence
Author of The Companion Guide to the Godfather Trilogy
The Companion Guide to the Godfather Trilogy
Episode: 812 Talking Classics (with Mary Beard) | My Last Book with Karen Spence
Erin Sharkey
Editor of A Darker Wilderness, Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars
Soil to Stars
Episode: 811 The Harlem Renaissance [Reclaimed] | My Last Book with Erin Sharkey
Elisabeth Paling Funk
Translator, editor, independent scholar; author of The Dutch World of Washington Irving
Fordham University (PhD); Hudson Valley resident
Episode: 809 Robert Browning | The Dutch Roots of Washington Irving (with Elisabeth Paling Funk)
Marjorie Garber
William R. Kenan Jr. Research Professor of English and of Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: 808 A Treacherous Secret Agent - How Literature Spoke Truth to Power During the Red Scare (with Marjorie Garber) | Arthur Miller on Writing "The Crucible"
James H. MacGavran III
Translator
The Graphomaniac (translator)
Episode: 807 The Story of Stories (with Kevin Ashton) | My Last Book with Ilya Vinitsky and James H McGavran III
Kevin Ashton
Visionary technologist and author
MIT/Author of The Story of Stories
Episode: 807 The Story of Stories (with Kevin Ashton) | My Last Book with Ilya Vinitsky and James H McGavran III
Ilya Vinitsky
Author and translator
The Graphomaniac (author) / Translator
Episode: 807 The Story of Stories (with Kevin Ashton) | My Last Book with Ilya Vinitsky and James H McGavran III

Host

Jacke Wilson
Host of The History of Literature

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Remarkable Racist

    Jack says that if you ever use the word woke in a sentence, you are a 100% racist.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    chubby baker
    United States2 months ago
  • Love this Podcast

    Wuthering Heights was a great discussion. I had to laugh at Jacke’s description of Heathcliff as compared to his young, squeaky clean self. We’ve all known how the opposite sex seems to be attracted to the bad boys/girls. Poor good Jacke. Great work for an interesting piece of literature! Refreshing not to approach it with a bit of humor! Thumbs up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    marketpop
    United States2 months ago
  • An incel rant

    Listened to the Wuthering Heights “analysis” and instead got an incel ranting about how he was “too nice” and that’s why no girl liked him back. Completely ignored a lot of the deeper themes of the book (ex. class, racism, and portrayal of female sexuality in the Victorian era) to talk about the “mysteries of the female mind”.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    gb4600
    United States3 months ago
  • Too much fluff

    Found this podcast after searching for an episode on The Brothers Karamazov. I’m 40 minutes in and he has not even started talking about the book. It feels more like a personal therapy session than a book analysis/discussion.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    tayshotzy
    United States4 months ago
  • A Virtual Round Table

    I love this podcast! Great guests. The company carries me right back to college class discussions about literature; I can’t shake the note-taking habit, but I do respond (a little) less out loud.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    audrey e. w.
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The format and host chemistry are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the show.
Guests and discussions are described as thoughtful and high-quality, with a strong sense of intellectual curiosity.
Some reviews note overly long introductions or a slow pace before getting to the core topic.
Listeners praise the engaging, scholarly discussions and accessible storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#41
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#123
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#29
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#33
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#96
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

808 A Treacherous Secret Agent - How Literature Spoke Truth to Power During the Red Scare (with Marjorie Garber) | Arthur Miller on Writing "The Crucible"
Q: What does Garber mean by poetic revenge in literature?
She argues that literature can perform a form of revenge not by the author, but through the work itself—older texts rise up in memory and discourse to rebuke the attacks and reveal hypocrisy, especially when recalled during public crises.
808 A Treacherous Secret Agent - How Literature Spoke Truth to Power During the Red Scare (with Marjorie Garber) | Arthur Miller on Writing "The Crucible"
Q: So what exactly was the Red Scare?
Garber explains that there were two phases, the post-World War I era and the post-World War II McCarthy period, both marked by fear of communism and attempts to punish or exclude individuals based on associations or beliefs, including widespread investigations and blacklisting.
811 The Harlem Renaissance [Reclaimed] | My Last Book with Erin Sharkey
Q: What does the Harlem Renaissance mean in the context of migration and opportunity?
The host explains that the movement represented a shift of Black Americans from the South to the North, bringing energy and opportunities, which yielded a sense of being in demand and the possibility of better economic and social conditions.
812 Talking Classics (with Mary Beard) | My Last Book with Karen Spence
Q: How do you think artifacts like bread or a Pompeian wall inscription change our understanding of ancient people?
Artifacts provide tangible access to everyday life and reveal that ancient people shared human experiences and emotions, which helps us imagine otherwise inaccessible perspectives.
812 Talking Classics (with Mary Beard) | My Last Book with Karen Spence
Q: What drew you to the topic of Talking Classics and how do you approach making the past feel present?
Beard explains that making the past feel present comes from close encounters with artifacts and texts, and from embracing both the familiar and unfamiliar in ancient cultures, rather than clinging to reverence alone.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The History of Literature

What is The History of Literature about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful exploration of literature across eras, with episodes that pair close-reading with conversations about authors, publishing, and the cultural context surrounding classic and modern works. The show often features scholars, authors, and editors who illuminate themes, historical settings, and book-making as objects, processes, and ideas. Noteworthy is the mix of deep-dive literary analysis and accessible storytelling, plus regular guest readers and expert guests who bring varied perspectives from education, criticism, and publishing. The format tends to blend scholarly context with personal storytelling, making complex topics approachable for devoted readers and researchers alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for The History of Literature?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The History of Literature. 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 The History of Literature and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The History of Literature get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The History of Literature, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The History of Literature?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The History of Literature, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The History of Literature have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The History of Literature 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 The History of Literature?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The History of Literature:

1. Backlisted
2. Close Readings
3. The LRB Podcast
4. The New Yorker: Fiction
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of The History of Literature are there?

The History of Literature launched 11 years ago and published 782 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 The History of Literature?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The History of Literature?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The History of Literature 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 The History of Literature?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The History of Literature. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The History of Literature?

Recent guests on The History of Literature include:

1. Fiona Sampson
2. Mary Beard
3. Karen Spence
4. Erin Sharkey
5. Elisabeth Paling Funk
6. Marjorie Garber
7. James H. MacGavran III
8. Kevin Ashton

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days