Blog

Sept. 9, 2025

Jacke and Mike Palindrome in Conversation: Top 10 Animals in Literature

Revisit your favorite animals in literature by listening to an early appearance of Mike Palindrome, the President of the Literature Supporters Club, on the show. In January 2018, Mike joined Jacke for on the podcast to talk the Top 10 Animals in Lit…

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Sept. 5, 2025

The 25 Greatest Books of All Times Series: #24 The Odyssey

Check out Episode 720 in which Jacke takes a special look at The Odyssey, which ranks #24 on his list of the 25 Greatest Books of All Time. The story continues to resonate with new and old readers, with its many different translations. Most recentl…

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Sept. 2, 2025

The Good Company of Charles Dickens

"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour." — Charles Dickens Join Jacke and me as we spen…

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Aug. 29, 2025

The 25 Greatest Books of All Time Series: #25 The Grapes of Wrath

What are your top 25 greatest books of all time? On Jacke's list at #25 is The Grapes of Wrath (1939) by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck's portrayal of the Joad family during the Great Depression is among America's finest literary narratives. In Episode …

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Aug. 26, 2025

My Last Book Series

For the past few years, the History of Literature Podcast has been running the special "My Last Book Series." The idea for the series started with a question in an email from a listener: "Dear Jacke," said the emailer. "What do you want your "last b…

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Aug. 22, 2025

The History of Literature Podcast Goes to England

Join the History of Literature Podcast on a literary tour of England! Celebrate iconic authors, explore historic sites and rediscover classic stories. Jacke and I will be channeling the literary dynamic duo Johnson and Boswell as we start the tour …

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