Rephonic
Artwork for The Norton Library Podcast

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 monthlyEpisodes83Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Norton Library Podcast

Latest Episodes

In Part 2 of our discussion on Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, editor Deborah Lutz returns to discuss the cover design of the Norton Library edition, her favorite line from the novel, and the strengths and weaknesses of various film adaptations. 

more

In Part 1 of our discussion on Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, we welcome editor Deborah Lutz to discuss collaborative writing amongst the Brontë sisters, the initially negative reception of Wuthering Heights, and the process of unpacking parts of ... more

In Part 2 of our discussion on Henry David Thoreau's Walden, editor Jedediah Britton-Purdy returns to discuss misconceptions about the author's philosophy, the balancing act of isolation and civic duty, and Thoreau's possible influence on important f... more

In Part 1 of our discussion on Henry David Thoreau's Walden, we welcome editor Jedediah Britton-Purdy to discuss the relevance of Thoreau's questions about modernity to today's AI debate, the similarities and differences between Thoreau and Ralph Wal... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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.

Close Readings
Close ReadingsLondon Review of Books
The Interview
The InterviewThe New York Times
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
One True Podcast
One True PodcastMark Cirino and Michael Von Cannon

Recent Guests

Deborah Lutz
Editor of the Norton Library edition; biographer of Emily Brontë
Penn State University
Episode: Haunted (Wuthering Heights, Part 1)
Jedediah Britton-Purdy
Professor of Law at Duke University; editor of Walden and Other Writings
Duke University
Episode: An Account of Yourself (Walden, Part 2)
Emily Wilson
Translator of The Odyssey; Professor of classical studies
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Who Doesn't Understand Thunder? (The Odyssey, Part 2)
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
Professor Emeritus of Russian and East European studies; translator and editor of Crime and Punishment
Middlebury College
Episode: Who's Sorry Now? (Crime and Punishment, Part 2)
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
Episode: Life is Made of Ever So Many Partings Welded Together (Great Expectations, Part 2)
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)

Hosts

Mark Cirino
Host of The Norton Library Podcast; affiliated with Norton Library / WW Norton & Company across multiple episodes
Michael Von Cannon
Producer of the show; coordinates production across Norton Library editions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Excellent!

    Good stuff! I love writers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nickanderhoey
    United Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago
  • Well researched.

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

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

    Audible
    5
    Htown
    United Statesa year 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 States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High value for those researching or teaching classic works, especially edition-focused discussions.
Listeners note clunky moments or occasionally academic phrasing, but overall high quality.
Well-produced, with strong scholarly guests and preparation.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#216
Philippines/Arts/Books

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.

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 Norton Library Podcast

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

The series centers on exploring influential literary works and philosophical texts through the hands of Norton Library editors and translators. Across episodes, listeners gain behind-the-scenes access to decisions about translation, edition design, manuscript history, and editorial pedagogy, with a strong emphasis on how classics are read today. Expect thoughtful conversations about how to teach difficult texts, the intersection of scholarship and accessible teaching, and the ongoing relevance of canonical works across genres and time. A notable strength is the consistent pairing of deep scholarly insight with practical teaching strategies, plus a focus on how edition choices shape readers' understanding and enjoyment of the literature.

Wh... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Norton Library Podcast?

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

How many listeners does The Norton Library Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Norton Library Podcast, 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 Norton Library Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Norton Library Podcast, 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 Norton Library Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Norton Library Podcast 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 Norton Library Podcast?

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

1. Close Readings
2. Fresh Air
3. The Interview
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. One True Podcast

How many episodes of The Norton Library Podcast are there?

The Norton Library Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 83 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 Norton Library Podcast?

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 Norton Library Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Norton Library Podcast 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 Norton Library Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Norton Library Podcast. 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 Norton Library Podcast?

Recent guests on The Norton Library Podcast include:

1. Deborah Lutz
2. Jedediah Britton-Purdy
3. Emily Wilson
4. Ellen Finkelpearl
5. Michael Katz
6. Susan M. Ryan
7. Susan Ryan
8. Daniel Wright

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