The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

Literature

Poetry

Shakespeare

Ernest Hemingway

Emily Brontë

William Shakespeare

Translation

Charlotte Brontë

Jane Austen

James Baldwin

Identity

Emily Dickinson

Virginia Woolf

Sylvia Plath

Feminism

Russian Literature

Henry James

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

3k ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	765	Founded	11 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	HistoryBooksArts

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Latest Episodes

799 Emma Smith and Shakespeare's First Folio (Revisited)

As Jacke and Emma travel to England for the History of Literature Podcast Tour, they're revisiting some past interviews with special guests. In this episode, Jacke talks to the University of Oxford's Emma Smith about her book Shakespeare's First Foli... more

7 May 2026 • 48 min

798.5 Thinking Through Shakespeare (with David Womersley) | My Last Book with Ramie Targoff

Is there such a thing as a general human nature? And if so, does Shakespeare serve as a "faithful mirror" to it, as Dr. Johnson claimed? In this episode, Jacke talks to Oxford University's David Womersley about his book Thinking Through Shakespeare, ... more

6 May 2026 • 50 min

798 Emma Smith and Portable Magic - A History of Books and Their Readers (Revisited)

As Jacke and Emma get ready for the History of Literature Podcast Tour, they're revisiting some past interviews with special guests. In this episode, Jacke talks to the University of Oxford's Emma Smith about her book ⁠Portable Magic: A History of Bo... more

4 May 2026 • 41 min

797 Marion Turner and Chaucer (Revisited)

As Jacke and Emma get ready for the History of Literature Podcast Tour, they're revisiting some past interviews with special guests. In this episode, Jacke talks to the University of Oxford's Marion Turner about her book Chaucer: A European Life⁠.

T... more

30 Apr 2026 • 52 min

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Recent Guests

Marion Turner

Geoffrey Chaucer scholar, JRR. Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language at the University of Oxford

University of Oxford

Episode: 796 Marion Turner and The Wife of Bath (Revisited)

Will Tosh

Head of Research at Shakespeare's Globe in London

Shakespeare's Globe

Episode: 795 Will Tosh and Queer Shakespeare (Revisited)

Gerri Kimber

Katherine Mansfield biographer; author of Katherine Mansfield, A Hidden Life

Independent/Academic

Episode: 794 E.T.A. Hoffmann (with Ritchie Robertson) | My Last Book with Gerri Kimber

Ritchie Robertson

Oxford fellow and emeritus Schwartz-Taylor Professor of German; author of ETA. Hoffmann

University of Oxford

Episode: 794 E.T.A. Hoffmann (with Ritchie Robertson) | My Last Book with Gerri Kimber

Peter Budrin

Author of Laurence Sterne and His Readers in Early Soviet Russia, The Secret Order of Shandeans

Queen Mary University of London

Episode: 793 The Secret Order of Shandeans: Laurence Sterne in Early Soviet Russia (with Peter Budrin) | My Last Book with Edward Watts

Edward Watts

Historian of ancient Rome

Episode: 793 The Secret Order of Shandeans: Laurence Sterne in Early Soviet Russia (with Peter Budrin) | My Last Book with Edward Watts

Eileen Sperry

Assistant Teaching Professor of English at Skidmore College; author of This Body of Death, Form and Decay in Early Modern Lyric

Skidmore College

Episode: 792 Death and Decay in Early Modern Lyric Poetry (with Eileen Sperry) | My Last Book with Bruce Gordon

Bruce Gordon

Professor and author of The Bible, A Global History

Episode: 792 Death and Decay in Early Modern Lyric Poetry (with Eileen Sperry) | My Last Book with Bruce Gordon

Natasha Joukovsky

Author of Medium Rare; writer published in Literary Hub, Electric Lit, The Common, Still Alive

Author, Medium Rare

Episode: 790 Madness and Myth (with Natasha Joukovsky) | My Last Book with Kimberly Lau

Host

Jacke Wilson

An amateur enthusiast who engages audiences on literary topics ranging from historical to contemporary literature, inspiring listeners to connect with books and discussions in a meaningful way.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings

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 States15 days 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 States18 days 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 States2 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 States2 months ago
Literature is not dead
This a very interesting and engaging podcast about literature and I have found a renewed interest in books I have not read in a long time. However, I could live without the commentary on current politics. It is nice to have a little escape from all that, even if it just for a few minutes.
Apple Podcasts
3
OttosGrandma
United States4 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Many find the interviews with guests illuminating, bringing new insights into classic works.

Listeners often appreciate the engaging exploration of literature and the host's passion for the subject.

Reviews highlight the blend of scholarly analysis with relatable anecdotes, making complex themes approachable.

Some have expressed a desire for less personal commentary and more focus on literary analysis.

Overall, the community expresses gratitude for the new motivation to read and engage with literature.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#50	United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#157	United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts	#55	United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#150	United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts	#179	Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts	#34	Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

796 Marion Turner and The Wife of Bath (Revisited)

Q: You could have written a character study or an analysis, a full-length book even on The Wife of Bath, but instead you styled it as a biography. So what does that mean?

It means using The Wife of Bath as a lens to tell several women's stories and to connect medieval and modern perspectives on gender, work, and mobility, while placing her in a broader historical context to illuminate voices often obscured in conventional histories.

795 Will Tosh and Queer Shakespeare (Revisited)

Q: Why do editors like John Benson alter sonnet texts, and what does that tell us about canon formation?

Editors often sanitized or altered language to fit prevailing norms, which contributed to later generations overlooking or misreading queer elements in the sonnets. This shows how the printed record shapes our understanding of literary history.

795 Will Tosh and Queer Shakespeare (Revisited)

Q: What does it mean to call Shakespeare queer in the Elizabethan context, and how should we talk about sexuality in historical periods?

Shakespearean queer readings can emerge from multiple contexts—romantic friendships, erotic subtexts, and stage conventions—without forcing 21st-century identity labels onto early modern experiences. The aim is to understand lived feelings and their cultural expressions rather than pin down a modern identity.

790 Madness and Myth (with Natasha Joukovsky) | My Last Book with Kimberly Lau

Q: What should a reader approach Medium Rare with in mind—is it for entertainment, for a deep dive into myth, or something else?

She describes Medium Rare as a recursive Trojan horse that operates on three levels—appealing to basketball fans, lovers of intimate character drama, and readers drawn to myth's staying power—so that it rewards readers who engage with any one layer.

792 Death and Decay in Early Modern Lyric Poetry (with Eileen Sperry) | My Last Book with Bruce Gordon

Q: What role does Donne play in your argument about mortality and intimacy?

Donne exemplifies how decay and bodily imagery become instruments of intimate discourse with the beloved and, later, with the divine, blending erotic and spiritual dimensions.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The History of Literature

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

A deep exploration of literature spans from ancient epics to contemporary classics, engaging listeners with both renowned and lesser-known works. The discussions often include biographical insights into significant authors, the context of their creations, and the relevance of their writings in today's society. Particularly noteworthy is the accessible style, which invites participation regardless of listeners' familiarity with the literary world, making complex themes digestible and relatable. The blend of scholarly analysis and personal anecdotes aims to enrich the audience's understanding and appreciation of literature, inspiring a renewed love for reading and engaging with provocative literary questions.

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Which podcasts are similar to The History of Literature?

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

1. Backlisted
2. In Our Time: Culture
3. Close Readings
4. In Our Time
5. Literature and History

How many episodes of The History of Literature are there?

The History of Literature launched 11 years ago and published 765 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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What guests have appeared on The History of Literature?

Recent guests on The History of Literature include:

1. Marion Turner
2. Will Tosh
3. Gerri Kimber
4. Ritchie Robertson
5. Peter Budrin
6. Edward Watts
7. Eileen Sperry
8. Bruce Gordon

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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