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The Norton Library Podcast

The Norton Library
The Decameron
Slavery
Paradise Lost
Sense and Sensibility
The Age Of Innocence
Little Women
Edith Wharton
The Awakening
Frederick Douglass
Ernest Hemingway
Robert Louis Stevenson
Louisa May Alcott
Feminism
Literacy
Jane Austen
Christianity
The Iliad
John Milton
Harriet Jacobs
Confessions

Welcome to the Norton Library Podcast, where we explore influential works of literature and philosophy with the leading scholars and teachers behind Norton’s newest series of classics. In each episode, with a Norton Library editor or translator as our guide, we'll learn something new and surprising about these classic works—why they endure, and what it means to read them today. Hosted by Mark Ciri... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes77Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

In Part 2 of our discussion on Apuleius's The Golden Ass, translator Ellen Finkelpearl returns to discuss the striking cover of the Norton Library edition, her favorite line from the text and the paradox of the title, and the ways Apuleius thinks of ... more

In Part 1 of our discussion on Apuleius's The Golden Ass, we welcome translator Ellen Finkelpearl to discuss the author's surviving and lost works, the process of translating such an ancient text, and the challenge of preserving Apuleius's rhythmic a... more

In Part 2 of our discussion on Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, translator Michael Katz returns to discuss the symbolic colors of the cover of the Norton Library edition, his first encounter with Dostoevsky's work and other Russian literatur... more

In Part 1 of our discussion on Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, we welcome translator Michael Katz to discuss the effects of Dostoevsky's personal and family life on his writing, the "big questions of life" and morality woven into Dostoevsky... more

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Recent Guests

Ellen Finkelpearl
Translator of The Golden Ass edition for Norton Library
Scripps College (Professor Emeritus) / Norton Library
Episode: Doesn't Everybody Want to Be a Bird? (The Golden Ass, Part 1)
Michael Katz
Translator and editor of The Norton Library Crime and Punishment edition
Middlebury College
Episode: The Quintessential Russian Novel (Crime and Punishment, Part 1)
Susan M. Ryan
Professor of English, University of Louisville; editor of The Norton Library edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin
University of Louisville / Norton Library
Episode: Why We Read Controversial Texts (Uncle Tom's Cabin, Part 2)
Susan Ryan
Editor of Norton Library edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin
University of Louisville
Episode: Tears with a Purpose (Uncle Tom's Cabin, Part 1)
Daniel Wright
Editor of The Norton Library edition of Great Expectations
University of Toronto (associate professor)
Episode: Trying to Be Funny Again (Great Expectations, Part 1)
Dora Zhang
Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley; editor of A Room of One's Own for Norton Library
University of California, Berkeley; Norton Library
Episode: Pulling Back the Curtain (A Room of One's Own, Part 2)
Justine S. Murison
Associate Professor of English at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; editor of The Scarlet Letter edition
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Norton Library
Episode: Subtle, Remorseful—Self-Loathing?—Hypocrites (The Scarlet Letter, Part 2)
Dennis Washburn
Translator of The Tale of Genji; professor
Dartmouth College
Episode: Beauty, Loneliness, and Scandal (The Tale of Genji, Part 1)
Jenny Davidson
Professor of English and Comparative Literature; editor of Austen's Pride and Prejudice for the Norton Library
Columbia University
Episode: Happy Birthday, Jane! (Jane Austen at 250)

Host

Mark Cirino
Host of The Norton Library Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 60 ratings
  • Excellent!

    Good stuff! I love writers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nickanderhoey
    United States8 months ago
  • Great overview of famous stories

    This podcast offers a summary of classic literature and well-known authors. It’s well-produced, professional, and the host, Mark Cirino, does a lot of preparation for each interview, then wisely gets out of the way, letting each guest talk.

    It can be clunky in places. These are academics, so they don’t always phrase their ideas in the clearest terms, and some of the questions Cirino asks do not get the most insightful responses, like asking about the Norton edition cover or a playlist for the b... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sjdoublec
    United States9 months ago
  • Well researched.

    Succinct and to the point. Very entertaining. The scholarship is erudite and fun. Great hosting too!

    Audible
    5
    Htown
    United States9 months ago
  • Succinct and to the point. Very entertaining. The scholarship is erudite and fun. Great hosting too!

    Audible
    5
    Htown
    United States9 months ago
  • Spoilers for books over 150 years old

    Great podcast. Interesting discussions with the editors/experts. Good choice of books. Engaging questions from the interviewer. But the insistence on avoiding “spoolers” is irritating. How do you talk about Jane Eyre without mentioning who she married? Or what happened to Lucy in Dracula? I suspect that anyone choosing to listen to this podcast has already read the books so no one is going to have the ending spoiled.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    1centrist
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Quality production and strong academic guests, though some questions may feel overly technical for casual listeners.
Positive on the depth and breadth of scholarly perspectives, with occasional notes on pacing.
High signal for readers and students seeking context for Norton Library editions.
Listeners appreciate the rigorous, editorial-focused conversations and the host's preparation.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Doesn't Everybody Want to Be a Bird? (The Golden Ass, Part 1)
Q: What do we know about Apuleius' engagement and travels?
We know he traveled to Athens and Rome for education, possibly Phrygia, and references to East-West dialogues indicate a broad, cross-cultural engagement that informed his work.
Doesn't Everybody Want to Be a Bird? (The Golden Ass, Part 1)
Q: What can we imagine about the form of a novel in the 120s AD? What did a novel even look like?
The speaker explains that prose fiction was a new form at the time, with audiences both reading and listening; the novel exists as a hybrid of narrative devices and serves multiple audiences, not strictly a single canonical form.
Who's Sorry Now? (Crime and Punishment, Part 2)
Q: What is the contemporary relevance of Crime and Punishment and how can readers connect with it today?
The novel remains relevant for its exploration of motive, moral responsibility, and the consequences of action; its open-ended spiritual questions and its portrayal of isolation and societal pressure continue to resonate in modern life and in discussions about ethics and punishment.
Who's Sorry Now? (Crime and Punishment, Part 2)
Q: Is there a controversial take you have about this novel that goes against prevailing wisdom?
Yes; the epilogue is a fitting, essential ending that underscores a religious or spiritual dimension of redemption, and dismissing it as merely tacked-on overlooks the deep thematic architecture of guilt, morality, and rebirth.
Who's Sorry Now? (Crime and Punishment, Part 2)
Q: What can you tell us about the detective Porfiry Petrovich and his role in the novel?
Porfiry is portrayed as a masterful psychological puzzle-maker who guides Raskolnikov toward confession through a series of strategic interviews, revealing the detective's understanding of motive and conscience rather than a straightforward pursuit of guilt.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Norton Library Podcast

What is The Norton Library Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A scholarly interview series that brings editors, translators, and prominent academics behind Norton Library editions to discuss classic works. Episodes blend editorial choices, publication history, and teaching strategies with literary and cultural context, often tying the text to its historical moment and its modern relevance. Listeners can expect rigorous analysis, behind-the-scenes editorial insight, and recommendations for classrooms and readers, with a consistent emphasis on making difficult literature accessible and engaging for a modern audience. A noteworthy pattern is the sustained focus on how Norton Library editions shape interpretation, along with a balanced mix of canonical authors and diverse voices across literature and phil... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Norton Library Podcast:

1. One True Podcast
2. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited
3. NPR's Book of the Day
4. Zero to Well-Read
5. Close Readings

How many episodes of The Norton Library Podcast are there?

The Norton Library Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 77 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 Norton Library Podcast?

Recent guests on The Norton Library Podcast include:

1. Ellen Finkelpearl
2. Michael Katz
3. Susan M. Ryan
4. Susan Ryan
5. Daniel Wright
6. Dora Zhang
7. Justine S. Murison
8. Dennis Washburn

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