The book club podcast where Dave Warneke has read the book so you don't have to. Each episode Dave tells two special guests all about a classic novel or play, and by the end of the show, both you and they can pretend you've read it. From Austen to Tolstoy, Shakespeare to Hemingway... Devour a classic in a single sitting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Across the Pond is a podcast about the most discussed and anticipated books on both sides of the Atlantic. Texas indie bookstore owner Lori Feathers and UK publisher Sam Jordison bring their unique perspectives on the book business, local literary trends, and author news. In each episode Lori and Sam will also provide a critical take on an important book, discussing how it has been anticipated and received on either side of the pond. Exciting US and UK authors occasionally join Lori and Sam to talk about their work. more

With episodes in which two devoted readers (Jeffrey Severs and Michael Streit) unpack his deadpan, hilarious, and disturbing works one by one, DDSWTNP is dedicated to the idea that Don DeLillo, the greatest of living writers, deserves every serious reader's attention. Contact: ddswtnp@gmail.com. @delillopodcast. **Support our work and our trip to DeLillo's archive**: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/delillopodcast more

Book Spider (previously known as The God Setebos) is a book-of-the-week podcast primarily covering novels, with the occasional detour into nonfiction, literary criticism, poetry, and music. We pride ourselves in running a smart podcast for the discerning listener, and we strive for the highest level of intellectual rigor.Our mascot, the book spider, sits in its cold corner, gathering its web of text, looking at the world with its calm, chilly eyes. more

New Yorker fiction writers read their stories.

Master storytellers discuss the stories and struggles that go into writing the first page of their books. Why? Because the first page is often the most re-written page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—HOOK YOU. Learn how the most talented writers work their magic with host, novelist and writing coach, Holly Lynn Payne. more

The Big Book Project is a multi-venue reading experience for bibliophiles fascinated by long or dense works of fiction and interested in discussing them with others, one novel at a time. The works selected will be capacious novels from the mid-nineteenth century through today that possess an abundant writing style or complexity in structure and themes. The notion that reading need not be a solitary activity has special resonance with these novels given that there is much to discuss, elaborate upon and question in the authors' expression of ideas. I like to think of these novels as abundant because I appreciate their richness and volume, characteristics bestow a sort of grace to luxuriate with the text. The critic and scholar Alexander Nehamas writes that when a work of art beckons, it is because we do not fully understand it but feel the strong desire to do so. And it is this deliberative process, the journey, of trying to understand why a novel is extraordinary that I want to explore with fellow readers at The Big Book Project. We discuss books like Roberto Bolaño's 2666 more

An enthusiastic amateur discusses Jane Austen's novels chapter by chapter. All are welcome whether you have a fancy degree or not. more

In my daily show, I interview today's latest, bestselling, buzziest, or underrated authors whose work I think is worth your time -- in 30 minutes or less. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author and (obviously) podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to. Stay in the know, get insider insights, and connect with guests like I do. Every single day. With 2,000 episodes to choose from, you'll never run out of book talk. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow the show on Instagram at @totallybookedwithzibby . Please rate and review the show. And go buy the books! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

In a book club spanning over a decade, Joe, Kevin, Wes, and Scott actually discuss the books- and now, it's a podcast! With a focus on serious fiction, the four explore context, interpretation, and criticism while enjoying a few drinks and lively banter. There will be spoilers- so, if you haven't read the novel, and would prefer not to hear plot points, pause this now, go read the book, and then press play. more

KBOO Radio is a community-powered station in Portland Oregon

Our greatest actors transport us through the magic of fiction, one short story at a time. Sometimes funny. Always moving. Selected Shorts connects you to the world with a rich diversity of voices from literature, film, theater, and comedy. New episodes every Thursday, from Symphony Space. more

Bookwaves/Artwaves presents in-depth interviews with authors of fiction and narrative non-fiction, delving deeply into political and social issues, literary technique, and the life of the author, along with interviews devoted to theatre and film, and archive interviews from Bookwaves and Probabilities. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. more

Hosted by Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan, fiction/non/fiction interprets current events through the lens of literature, and features conversations with writers of all stripes, from novelists and poets to journalists and essayists. more

a book club, like oprah's if oprah were two suburban guys from new jersey, or reese witherspoon's if reese were two suburban guys from new jersey, except without the engine of fame that those two huge stars provide. but come on: oprah is not going to answer your emails. (trust us, we know.) every two weeks, a new book microscoped and surgeried by benevolent despot joey lewandowski and disgraced college professor 'shreds'... with your help! here's a guarantee: every episode ends with an arrestable crime. will it be something boring like credit card fraud or something sexy like a casino heist? listen to find out. more

The Naples Writers' Workshop presents lessons from successful writing

Weekly long-form discussions about books with authors, translators and critics from around the world.

Listen to the latest literary events recorded at the London Review Bookshop, covering fiction, poetry, politics, music and much more.Find out about our upcoming events here https://lrb.me/bookshopeventspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Whether you read constantly or never find the time, let's go through some stories together that help all of us shape our beliefs, spark wonder, and connect us to the past. We're a brother and sister who love to chat and share about what we read and learn. Join us as we celebrate the worlds within stories! more

Looking for a delightful escape into the world of romance and manners? Look no further than Jane Austen's Emma! This classic novel offers a charming and witty look at love, friendship, and self-discovery. With its relatable characters and engaging plot, Emma is a must-listen for fans of Austen and anyone looking for a heartwarming and enjoyable audiobook experience. Don't miss out on this chance to lose yourself in the world of Emma start listening today!https://www.solgood.org - Check our our Streaming Service for our full collection of audiobooks, short stories, & 10 hour sounds for sleep at our website more

Fall asleep with the ultimate comfort bedtime stories: the works of Jane Austen! Each episode we'll read a section of Jane Austen's work aloud in a soothing voice, set to relaxation music, to help you get to sleep. more

From KMUW Studios and part of the NPR Network, Marginalia is a weekly 29-minute show hosted by Beth Golay. Episodes always features an author interview, and *sometimes* include editorial commentary, book reviews, indie bookstore reading recommendations and other marginalia to enhance the reading experience. Since 2015, Beth has interviewed hundreds of authors, including Pulitzer Prize winners, US Poet Laureates and two Nobel Laureates.Several of Beth's interviews are included each year in NPR's Books We Love (formerly known as Book Concierge). And you can see the list of what Beth has read since she started keeping track in 2003.Listen to KMUW on Saturdays at 11:30 am CT, find episodes below, or subscribe to Marginalia wherever you get your podcasts.Marginalia is available to public radio stations through PRX. more

The Los Angeles Review of Books Radio Hour is a weekly show featuring interviews, readings and discussions about all things literary. Hosted by LARB Editors-at-Large Kate Wolf, Medaya Ocher, and Eric Newman. more

In each episode Trevor Berrett and Paul Wilson have a pleasant conversation about books and reading. Visit our blog at http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews. Follow us on Twitter @mookse and @bibliopaul. Email mookseandgripes@gmail.com. mookse.substack.com more

A podcast for writers and readers who are obsessive about their books. Interviews with established and up-and-coming writers, and recommendations for the best in contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama. Chris Holmes. Chris is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. more

Author interviews with today's best writers — established & up-and-coming — in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Hosted by David Naimon & Tin House in Portland, Oregon. --The Guardian's 10 Best Book Podcasts --Book Riot's 15 Outstanding Podcasts for Book Lovers --the most intense and awesome podcast I've ever been a part of Gary Shteyngart more

Welcome to the Lannan Foundation podcast, a home for cultural freedom, diversity, and creativity. Here, we celebrate exceptional contemporary artists, writers, and activists and delve into inspiring readings and conversations with leading literary figures and advocates for social, political, and environmental justice. more

Get the ultimate insider's scoop on the best new books. The editors at Kirkus Reviews interview your favorite authors, tell you whether or not the books on the bestseller list are worth the read, give you behind-the-scenes insights, and introduce you to great books you may otherwise never find. more

In 1929 F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote Ernest Hemingway that because his short stories now earned $4000 a pop he was 'an old whore' who had 'mastered the 40 positions' when 'in her youth one was enough.' But were the upwards of 180 stories he cranked out when not writing The Great Gatsby really the work of a literary prostitute selling out his talent for a fast buck? Kirk Curnutt and Robert Trogdon don't think so. Each episode they draw a random title from a hat and explore its place in Fitzgerald's career, in the magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post or Esquire where it may have appeared, and in the overall development of the American short story. Along the way, they talk literary politics, history, and gossip from the 1920s and 1930s, rediscovering the lively personalities and rivalries that tried to define the porous boundaries between commercial and artistic fiction, between the popular and the avant-garde, between the forgotten and the canonized.  more

For intelligent, candid conversations with authors of all genres, tune in to the Gulf Coast Life Book Club with Cary Barbor. Listen in on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 1 pm and 9 pm on WGCU FM. more

A blessing, a curse, a podcast, since 2014. Christopher (@cdhermelin) invites folks to the Damn Library to talk about reading, literature, publishing, and trying to make it through the never-dwindling stack of things to read. All with a themed drink in hand. Recorded at the Damn Library in Brooklyn, NY. For show info, book lists, and drink recipes, follow @somanydamnbooks and visit somanydamnbooks.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Few literary terms are more hotly debated, discounted, or derided than the 'Great American Novel.' But while critics routinely dismiss the phrase as at best hype and as at worst exclusionary, the belief that a national literature commensurate with both the scope and the contradictions of being American persists. In this podcast Scott Yarbrough and Kirk Curnutt examine totemic works such as Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and Toni Morrison's Beloved that have been labeled GANs, exploring their themes, forms, and reception histories, asking why, when, and how they entered the literary canon. Readers beware: there be spoilers here, and other hijinks ensue... more

A podcast about literary fiction and the world of books, with hosts Matt Bucher and Dave Laird. [Logo by Chris Ayers] more

It's like a book club, but we actually read the book. Join hosts Becca and Corinne as they recreate their days working and hanging out at their local independent book store. more

One True Podcast explores all things related to Hemingway, his work, and his world. The show is hosted by Mark Cirino and produced by Michael Von Cannon. Join us in conversation with scholars, artists, political leaders, and other luminaries. For more, follow us on Twitter @1truepod. You can also email us at 1truepod@gmail.com. more

To celebrate a hundred years since Sylvia Beach published James Joyce's Ulysses , and to encourage readers to engage (or re-engage) with this spirited, funny, life-changing book, Shakespeare and Company, Paris—in partnership with Penguin Classics and Hay Festival—created an ensemble recording of the unabridged text, released as a free podcast between the centenary of the publication on 2nd February 2022 and Bloomsday on June 16 2022. Read by more than a hundred writers, artists, comedians and musicians from all over the world— including Sally Rooney, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Fry, Pete Buttigieg, Kae Tempest, Ben Okri, Ali Smith, Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley and many, many more... (full cast list below)— Friends of Shakespeare and Company read Ulysses is a polyphonic and diverse celebration of this Modernist masterwork. Also featuring Bloomcast . A deep-dive into the text with Adam Biles, Alice McCrum and Lex Paulson, as well as other bonus episodes. Conceived and produced by Adam Biles, Literary Director at Shakespeare and Company, Paris Discover more about Shakespeare and Company here: https://shakespeareandcompany.com Buy the Penguin Classics official partner edition of Ulysses here: https://shakespeareandcompany.com/d/9780241552636/ulysses Find out more about Hay Festival here: https://www.hayfestival.com/home Featuring (in order): Will Self Jeanette Winterson Paul Murray Ishion Hutchinson Caoilinn Hughes Eddie Izzard Lola Peploe Nathan Englander Joe Dunthorne Kate Stables Jarred McGinnis Nicholson Baker Richard Barnett Amy Sackville Chigozie Obioma Erica Wagner Patrick Marber Claire-Louise Bennett Aleksandar Hemon Ryan Van Winkle Cressida Brown Holly Pester Adam Thirlwell Catherine Lacey Ciaran Farrell Lauren Elkin Andrew Hankinson Conor Horgan Andy Miller Preti Taneja Salena Godden Sinéad Gleeson Luke Kennard Sophie Gorman Nicole Flattery John Freeman Aysegul Savas Daniel Levin Becker John Butler John Mitchinson Sigrid Rausing Max Porter Eimear McBride Keith Ridgway Philip Hoare Deborah Landau Karthika Nair Cerys Matthews DBC Pierre Katharina Volckmer Mark O'Connell Marcel Theroux Sylvia Whitman & David Delannet Lenny Kaye Sarah Churchwell Olivia Laing Katie Kitamura Ali Smith Keri Walsh Lesley Blume Patrick Hastings Ben Okri Colm Toibin Chloe Aridjis Stephen Fry Douglas Stuart Pete Buttigieg Tara Mulholland Paul Muldoon S&Co Table Readers (Anne Bielec, Ben Brown, Amanda Dennis, Linda Fallon, Heather Heartley, Octavia Horgan, Conor Lee Bourke, Lex Paulson, Kate Poston, Francesca Reece) David Keenan Tom McCarthy David Szalay Jesse Ball Carter Bays James Gregor Will Burns Declan McCavana Greg Proops Jennifer Canada Sam Jordison Eloise Millar Hollie McNish Michael Pedersen Jonathan Safran Foer Sasha Foer Ethan Hawke Rob Doyle Roisin Kiberd Lucy Sante Caitlinn O Keefe Deborah Levy Meena Kandasamy Joanna Lumley Susan Philipz Sylvia Whitman Bonnie Greer Emilie Pine Margaret Atwood Kae Tempest Lou Doillon Sally Rooney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Literary discussion www.commonreader.co.uk

A story show for readers. There's curiously good literature all around us—being written as we speak. Here on A Curiously Good Podcast, we fold you into the Kingdom conversation: by crafting great stories for you to listen to, by analyzing what goes into a good story, and by breaking down the great and the terrible stories lurking among us. more

Let's Deconstruct a Story: A podcast for the story nerds! Aspiring writers need to understand the components of a good story before they can write one. Choices of POV, plot, setting, and tone are crucial. In each episode, I'll be interviewing a writer about one of their own stories, which will be available for listeners to read for free on my website before they listen. www.kellyfordon.substack.com and letsdeconstructastory.substack.com letsdeconstructastory.substack.com more

Ignyte Award finalist podcast of short stories from the Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online Magazine, the World Fantasy and Hugo Award finalist online magazine of literary adventure fantasy. For sixteen years of literary adventure fantasy and over 350 podcast episodes, visit our website at beneath-ceaseless-skies.com. more

A podcast from the Fall for the Book Festival team - Director Kara Oakleaf, and Manager, Suzy Rigdon. Each season, they sit down with writers from across the genre spectrum. Visit the festival's site at https://fallforthebook.org/ more

Ellen and Harriet are a mother and daughter who have been talking about Jane Austen together since Harriet was first old enough to read her. In this podcast, we will be doing a close reading of the books.In each episode, we will look at a few chapters. As well as talking about anything that strikes us in the chapters, we will also pick a favourite sentence, have a discussion about one of the characters, and then Ellen will give a social historian perspective about some element of the nineteenth century that seems pertinent, and Harriet will talk about the chapters in pop culture adaptations of the book. more

A literary-inclined release from the publishers of Indirect Books. Subscribe for conversations with authors, editorial talks, critical deep dives, and other book-type discussions. Updated at certain times. more

A little podcast that loves big books. You don't need to have read with us to enjoy the show as we always do a synopsis of the work as well as dive into the life and times of the author behind it. Our conversations vary and roam, but we always have a good time asking if each book we cover should be included in 'the canon' of important novels.Our show icon is by Jeremy Kanne at Smart Yeti. more

In the podcast First Impressions, hosts Kristin and Maggie hilariously discuss the brilliance of Jane Austen and how her novels give us unparalleled insight into our own lives and characters. There's no shame in loving (and obsessively re-reading) Austen's novels, which are just as fresh and relevant as they were 200 years ago. Kristin and Maggie are here to give a big middle finger to any haters who say otherwise! more

Welcome to your new favourite book club. If you enjoy deep dives into the greatest books ever written, you will love Hardcore Literature. Provocative poems, evocative epics, and life-changing literary analyses. We don't just read the great books - we live them. Together we'll suck the marrow out of Shakespeare, Homer, and Tolstoy. We'll relish the most moving art ever committed to the page and stage from every age. Join us on the reading adventure of a lifetime. more

The Los Angeles Review of Books is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and disseminating rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts.The Los Angeles Review of Books magazine was created in part as a response to the disappearance of the traditional newspaper book review supplement, and, with it, the art of lively, intelligent long-form writing on recent publications in every genre, ranging from fiction to politics. The Los Angeles Review of Books seeks to revive and reinvent the book review for the internet age, and remains committed to covering and representing today's diverse literary and cultural landscape. more

Welcome to Bite at a Time Books where we read you your favorite classics one bite at a time. Join host Bree Carlile as she shares her passion for books, audiobooks, and bringing stories to life in these classic novel audiobooks. Busy schedule? Each episode is just one chapter, or bite of a classic novel, play or short story, which means you can fit in your reading goals while getting ready for work, bed, or on your commute. more

Each week on The Book Show, host Joe Donahue interviews authors about their books, their lives and their craft. It is a celebration of both reading and writers. more

The Way We Live Now is a scathing satirical novel published in London in 1875 by Anthony Trollope, after a popular serialization. It was regarded by many of Trollope's contemporaries as his finest work. One of his longest novels (it contains a hundred chapters), The Way We Live Now is particularly rich in sub-plot. It was inspired by the financial scandals of the early 1870s, and lashes at the pervading dishonesty of the age, commercial, political, moral, and intellectual. It is one of the last memorable Victorian novels to have been published in monthly parts. more

Amidst the fireworks and celebrations of Guy Fawkes Night, a covered wagon winds its way along the dark country heath land. Hidden at the back is a young woman who is running away from a thwarted marriage ceremony with the local innkeeper. The driver of the wagon, a young herdsman, is secretly in love with her but is so devoted that he vows to help her reunite with her useless lover. The opening scenes of Thomas Hardy's sixth novel The Return of the Native, form the backdrop to this story of a profoundly flawed woman and the men who fall in love with her.The book itself had a controversial debut, something which greeted many of Hardy's novels at that time. It first appeared in serial form in 1878 in the Belgravia magazine, which was notorious for its risqué and sensational content. The radical themes explored by Hardy in the novel prevented many publishers from daring to accept it. However, today it is considered one of the finest Victorian novels and one that marks a great shift in the moral universe of the time.Set in the famous, fictional Hardy country Wessex, The Return of the Native also takes place here in this imaginary county of his own creation. This novel's action is focused in Egdon Heath in Wessex, and occurs across the time frame of exactly one year and one day. Probably for the first time in English literary history, a book was written that takes a frank and objective look at concepts like illicit physical and romantic relationships, the conflict between human impulse and societal restraint and the tragedy that awaits those who fly in the face of convention. For Hardy, these were enduring themes that he explored time and again, despite the moral outrage that greeted most of his novels. Unforgettable characters like Diggory Venn, the 'reddleman' who rescues his beloved Thomasin Yeobright from a failed elopement, the haughty black haired beauty Eustacia Vye, the bitter and superstitious Susan Nunsuch and many more make this a truly panoramic novel.The novel is also remarkable for its deep roots in country customs, folklore and legends which give it a matchless feel of the atmosphere and authenticity. Hardy's scrupulous plotting, his compassion and humanity, his own experiences of returning to his native Brockhampton after facing the anger of the moral brigade in London all combine to make this book a most valuable experience. more

A life lived backwards, with events happening in reverse order forms the strange and unexpected framework of one of F Scott Fitzgerald's rare short stories. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was published in Collier's in 1927 and the idea came to Fitzgerald apparently from a quote of Mark Twain's in which he regretted that the best part of life came at the beginning and the worst at the end. Fitzgerald's concept of using this notion and turning the normal sequence of life on its head resulted in this delightful, thought provoking fantasy tale. The story was later incorporated in a Fitzgerald anthology, Tales of the Jazz Age. The story opens with a young, high society couple who are shocked beyond belief when they discover that their much awaited first born child resembles an elderly gent of seventy, complete with a white beard and whiskers, sitting up and querulously demanding to know, 'Are you my father?' Their young son is born to live out a peculiar destiny. And so begins a grotesque journey through life, with the child, Benjamin 'growing down' instead of up.Set in the Baltimore of the 1860s the story is also a satire of contemporary American society of the time. Though Fitzgerald maintains a cool and light tone throughout the story, it is in fact, deeply reflective and a very interesting take on the human condition. For contemporary readers who are familiar with the problems of aging and 'second childhood' Benjamin Button's difficulties with dealing with the demands of his chronological age vs his mental age are extremely interesting. As we find more and more older people succumbing to Alzheimer's disease and dementia, requiring the kind of care that an infant does, the story is strangely prophetic of the condition of geriatric care in our century. The plot is not exactly new to literature, with several stories and novels being written on a similar theme by many other writers. However, Fitzgerald's take on growing old and how we humans deal with it is what sets The Curious Case of Benjamin Button apart. The style is extremely readable, the premise is intriguing and refreshingly different and appeals to readers of all ages. The story was adapted into a film in 2008 and continues to fascinate Fitzgerald fans the world over. more

This book opens with a young wife and mother, vacationing at a resort in the Gulf of Mexico with her husband and children. The resort is run by an elderly Frenchwoman, who manages the place along with her two sons. The young wife and one of the sons develop a deep and passionate attachment to each other, with devastating effects on both families and their circle of friends.When Kate Chopin's 1899 novel The Awakening, originally titled A Solitary Soul, was first released, it evoked a storm of controversy. Though it was not actually banned, it received public censure across the United States. It was considered immoral and subversive, dangerous to the moral well being of 'innocent' women and too frank in its depiction of female desires and physical needs. It challenged the existing gender roles and created a hitherto unrecognized space for a woman's requirement for self fulfillment, something which was seen as inflammatory and ruinous to society in general.Kate Chopin (formerly Katherine O'Flaherty) was an American short story writer and novelist who explored the landscape of New Orleans culture and the female mind. Brought up in a privileged background in St. Louis, she married Oscar Chopin, a wealthy French-Creole plantation owner and became a prominent member of St. Louis society. Her husband's financial troubles led them to leave the plantation and move to provincial Cloutierville, Louisiana, where Oscar owned a small estate. Following his sudden death, Kate and their six children moved back to St. Louis where she began writing in 1889.The Awakening was her second and last novel, and evoked a great sense of outrage in conservative Missouri, where the feminist movement which was sweeping America was completely absent at the time. Chopin was hurt and mystified by this reaction and almost abandoned her writing career after this.The Awakening is a deeply sensitive and insightful portrait of a woman and her conflicts. Many scholars have traced the origins of The Awakening to an affair that Kate Chopin herself had with a married neighbor following Oscar's death. Readers will immediately identify with the questions and dilemmas raised in the book and it seems strangely contemporary today. Kate Chopin's writing style, with its rich imagery, full of local atmosphere and color, her compassion and the frank and fearless way in which she discusses the hitherto unexplored landscape of a woman's mind are what make The Awakening a book that marked a shift in the moral universe of the time.Today The Awakening is hailed as an early and a vivid portrayal of female independence, besides being itself an absorbing read. more

Every week, join award-winning narrator B.J. Harrison as he narrates the greatest stories the world has ever known. From the jungles of South America to the Mississippi Delta, from Victorian England to the sands of the Arabian desert, join us on a fantastic journey through the words of the world's greatest authors. Critically-acclaimed and highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story with plenty of substance. more

A biweekly podcast hosted by Jon DiSavino. It celebrates the enduring and compact literary form known as - you guessed it - the short story. But more importantly, it gives listeners an opportunity to hear the work of some of the best emerging writers of today. Episodes contain an author interview followed by a reading of a story by that author. Jon DiSavino is an actor and stage director. He's been producing and narrating audiobooks since 2019. His most recent is Abduction: Another Max Dent MD Adventure by Mark R. Belsky, set for publication in 2025. more

The Sewanee Review Podcast—the newest from the nation's oldest continuously published literary quarterly—is for readers and storytellers. Subscribe now to hear from some of the most exciting voices in contemporary letters. The Sewanee Review. New. Since 1892. more

End your day with the quiet joy of timeless literature gently read to you - just as it might have been in times gone by. The great works of fiction are steady companions. They're filled with rhythm, beauty, and truths that still breathe. Whether you're returning to an old favorite or discovering a forgotten gem, you'll find comfort in the familiar language and the calm cadence of storytelling. We'll explore classics from beloved authors like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and others, helping you to slow your thoughts and ease into sleep. Let these pages become your pillow. Subscribe or explore the full ad-free library at www.whisper.fm. more

Sick Sad Lit is a podcast for readers and writers who love digging into the dark, messy, and provocative corners of contemporary fiction, as well as exploring the emergence of 'Good for Her' as a literary genre.Through candid conversations with authors who push boundaries, we explore themes of alienation, identity, mental health, and the creative process behind bold, unforgettable storytelling.It's part literary deep dive, part late-night chat—intelligent, unfiltered, and a little unhinged. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

What makes us human? We tell stories, so great works of literature tell the emotional tale of human existence as we try to make sense of our existence and the world we live in. I consider fiction a distilled form of truth, coming from the depth of our subconscious mind.So this podcast looks at great novels from a philosophical or psycholgoical perspective, and is dedicated to bringing you the best of literature from around the world for you to enjoy. Each week, I will pick a great novel and discuss it in great details. I provide indepth summary and analaysis. more

From Papagayo and the Humanities Collaborative at EPCC-UTEP, this podcast dissects culturally-relevant literature: novels, memoirs, poetry, and short stories. We love reading and analyzing books, comparing their adaptations, and connecting their allusions. We interview authors too! #Ad-Free #ElPasoEspañol: este podcast disecciona literatura culturalmente relevante: novelas, memorias, poesía, y cuentos cortos. Nos encanta leer y analizar libros, comparando sus adaptaciones, y conectando sus alusiones. Entrevistamos a los autores tambien! more

A Persuasion audiobook performed by 20 actors with gorgeous ambient sounds and an original musical score to bring the story to life. From the director of the Webby Award Honouree podcast of Pride and Prejudice. Presented over 13 beautiful episodes. This dramatised audiobook is produced by the Australian not-for-profit community theatre company, Ballarat National Theatre.  more

The Freedom Takes is a podcast from the Freedom Reads, produced for listeners in prison and out, that explores the relationship between literature and freedom.Freedom Reads was founded in the knowledge that in a world with prison cells, freedom can begin with a book. And in a country with two million people incarcerated, the offer of a million books to provide solace, affirm dignity, enable imaginative escape and bridge human differences is a duty. So we are sending tens of thousands of books into prisons and juvenile detention centers across this country. On the show, poet, lawyer, and founder of Freedom Reads, Reginald Dwayne Betts talks to some of the authors of these books about their lives as writers and as readers, and about what it means to them to be free. more

a kim stanley robinson read-along podcast with regular forays into utopia. hosted by some friends who are into communism, science fiction and other stuff more

Welcome to Canon or Canceled--the show where Mr. Fox's AP Literature students read a book and debate whether it should be literary canon or literally canceled. It's a book club for the ones we love to hate and love to love, where the books and the hosts change every episode. more

We love short stories. Join authors Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) and Dawnie Walton (The Final Revival of Opal & Nev) for author interviews, book club discussions, and immersive short stories. We celebrate storytelling from some of today's most thrilling writers, with an emphasis on spotlighting underrepresented voices. (Photo credits: Vanessa German / Rayon Richards)Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://ursastory.com/join more

Join Lisa VanDamme as she guides you through Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.Recommended Book Url: https://readwithme.app.link/tkcr1lRJEjbTo learn more about Read With Me visit https://readwithmesalon.com more

'Mrs. Dalloway' recounts a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway in the middle of June 1923. Clarissa Dalloway is a high society London lady. On that day, she is hosting a party, meeting people, going to the park, and reflecting on her choices. Where would she have been if she married Peter Walsh and not Richard Dalloway? What if she would not invite this or that person to her party? Her feelings about Peter Walsh grow because on that particular day he returns from India to settle some affairs in London. Other people also reflect on their choices. Mr. Smith who cannot move on from the horrors he saw in battle, his Italian born wife, members of Clarissa's family and friends.This book is considered a classic. It appears on many lists of best novels including the 100 best novels list by the Guardian. Indeed, some of the them are timeless and touch all of us. - Summary by Stav Nisser. more

The Matterhorn is for writers and curious minds from author and academic Dr. Kathleen Waller. Each week in this new season, Kathleen shares a chapter of her serialized novels - A Hong Kong Story & An Interpreter in Vienna - and uses it as a catalyst to discuss the layers of literature and how you can use these in your own writing. The Matterhorn mission is to bring books and texts to life through an interdisciplinary and international approach as well as help writers take risks and create from knowledge.Follow on Substack to receive posts with links, extra media & transcripts as well as to join the conversation - https://thematterhorn.substack.com/ thematterhorn.substack.com more

Book 1. Resurrection is the last of Tolstoy's major fiction works published in his lifetime. Tolstoy intended the novel as an exposition of injustice of man-made laws and the hypocrisy of institutionalized church. It was first published serially in the magazine Niva as an effort to raise funds for the resettlement of the Dukhobors. The story concerns a nobleman named Nekhlyudov, who seeks redemption for a sin committed years earlier. His brief affair with a maid resulted in her being fired and ending up in prostitution. The book treats his attempts to help her out of her current misery, but also focuses on his personal mental and moral struggle. more

Two sisters, one practical and full of commonsense, the other a passionate and emotional creature, an uncaring brother and his avaricious wife, a handsome rake and a faithful gentleman these are some of the unforgettable characters who make Jane Austen's first published novel, Sense and Sensibility such a delightful, witty and timeless classic.The novel was published under the pseudonym 'A Lady' by its shy and retiring nineteen-year-old author, Jane Austen, in 1811. She was the daughter of a country rector and lived all her life in the circle of her large and loving family in a little village in Hampshire, England. There is very little autobiographical material available about her, as her well-meaning relatives burned and destroyed most of her diaries and letters after her death.Sense and Sensibility is a charming story of two sisters who see life from two very different viewpoints. When their father suddenly dies, leaving his entire estate to their half-brother John, the sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, their mother and youngest sister Margaret are thrown at the financial mercy of John and his mean-minded wife, Fanny. Mrs Dashwood and her daughters soon realize that they are not welcome at their former home Norland Hall. Fanny's brother Edward Ferrars, who is quite different from his greedy and graceless sister, arrives and begins to form an attachment to Elinor, which is violently opposed by Fanny. Mrs Dashwood is hurt and bewildered, but finally realizes that they have no option but to leave. They move to Devonshire, where Mrs Dashwood's cousin, Sir John Middleton welcomes them and helps them to find suitable lodgings. While out walking one rainy evening, Marianne suffers a small accident and is rescued by the suave and dashing John Willoughby. She falls passionately in love with him.The story takes several interesting twists and turns, driven by the opposing natures of the two sisters. More than two hundred years after publication, this delightful tale still manages to capture the reader's imagination as it echoes universal truths of passion, love, social status and ethics. Sense and Sensibility is a coming of age novel, marked by Jane Austen's deliciously ironic and sharp wit and famously under-stated style that will certainly appeal to modern-day readers. more

Dickens thought it was 'in a hundred points, immeasurably the best' of his stories. Yet it was also one of his greatest flops. Compared to his other novels, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit was a dismal failure in terms of sales and the main reason for Dickens falling out with his long term publisher Chapman & Hall. They invoked a penalty clause and demanded that he pay back a portion of the advance which he refused. Martin Chuzzlewit was also dimly received in Dickens friendly America. Its vitriolic satire of American customs and manners was met with astonished rage on the other side of the Atlantic and Dickens began to receive masses of hate mail from offended Americans.The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, His Relatives, Friends and Enemies, comprising All His Wills and Ways... The Whole Forming a Complete Key to the House of Chuzzlewit is the original title, in typical elaborate Dickensian overkill. In fact, in his almost apologetic preface to the first edition, he justifies it. He declares, 'What is exaggeration to one class of minds and perceptions is plain truth to another...' and goes on to testify that some of the events and characters in his works are based on reality and not wholly imagined.Martin Chuzzlewit is the tale of a most unprepossessing set of Chuzzlewits. Martin senior, a miserly millionaire has adopted a young girl with the idea of having free help around the house. His grandson falls in love with this hapless orphan whose employment and connection to the house is to last only as long as the old man lives. Young Martin rebels and leaves the house to seek employment with a crooked and greedy architect, Seth Pecksniff (one of Dickens' most memorable villains) Meanwhile, more Chuzzlewits emerge in the form of Anthony and his son Jonas who have concocted a nefarious Ponzi scheme. Young Martin travels to America and almost dies in a malaria ridden swamp. This is the turning point of Martin's life and he becomes a changed man. The rest of the story follows quintessential Dickensian twists and turns.Some of the most hilarious passages in English literature are contained in Martin Chuzzelwit. It also features two of Dickens' wickedest villains, Pecksniff and Jonas Chuzzlewit. In Tom Pinch and Mark Tapley, the reader finds much to commend, while Sairey Gamp is one of Dickens' most famous female villains.Martin Chuzzlewit is one of the best of Dickens and indeed a great addition to your bookshelf! more

A Room With a View opens with Two Englishwomen touring Europe. The older one is poor, bossy, old fashioned and a great upholder of what is 'proper.' The younger one is less certain of herself, but holds within her the makings of a passionate, emotional and independent woman. In Florence they are allotted a room overlooking a dull courtyard, whereas they had specifically asked for a 'view.' A fellow guest offers them his own rooms which offer wonderful vistas of the Arno. The older woman instead of appreciating his courtesy, sees this as a breach of propriety. What follows is a romantic novel, a treatise on the independence of women and a penetrating portrayal of hypocritical Edwardian society and politics.A Room With a View by Edward M Forster was published in 1908. He wrote the early parts of the book while actually traveling in Italy with his mother and hence provides an almost first hand view of the English abroad. It was his third novel and many consider it to be one of his most optimistic. The tone is also considerably lighter than his earlier books, Where Angles Fear To Tread and The Longest Journey. Along with Angels, it is also seen as the two 'Italian novels' that Forster wrote, in which he explores the narrow-mindedness and silly conventions followed by the English when they travel. The heroine, Lucy Honeychurch, represents a young and impressionable generation just emerging from the chains of society's illogical and unfair restraints. She is unsure, but courageous and passionate.Forster's books are deeply influenced by his humane and compassionate views. Another major theme in Forster's work is the conflict between individual freedoms, desires, sexuality and society's repressions and restrictions. He also uses symbolism and mysticism as vehicles to convey his ideas. In A Room With a View, the young Lucy is torn between the demands of two men she encounters in Florence. The wealthy Cecil Vyse can offer her everything in terms of material wealth and comfort, while the poor, but passionate George Emerson represents all that finds echoes in her heart. Other interesting characters like Rev Beebe, the Miss Alans (who are never seen apart), Miss Lavish a pretentious writer and the liberal, large hearted Mr. Emerson make A Room With a View an interesting and memorable read.A Room With a View was adapted first for the stage in 1975 and later went on to be made into a much acclaimed film that won scores of popular and critical awards and featured several well-known actors. It was also successfully adapted for television by the BBC. more

This story opens with a mother and daughter found brutally murdered inside a locked room in an upstairs apartment on a street in Paris. The police are baffled by both the ferocity of the crime and the lack of clues. Neighbors give conflicting evidence. Two friends are intrigued by the entire situation as reported in the newspapers. They decide to do a little investigating on their own. What they come up with is one of the most shocking and strangest of conclusions.The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe is perhaps the first modern detective tale, though similar stories by Voltaire and ETA Hoffman did appear a few decades earlier. It was published in Graham's Magazine in 1841.One of the interesting aspects of Poe's story is that it sets the tone for future detective stories. Many of the elements found in Rue Morgue... went on to become the established canon of detective fiction. For instance, the idea of a 'locked room' was taken up by other writers to include long-distance, non-stop trains, remote islands, a house cut off from neighbors by snow, floods, rain and other such ideas. Another idea that this story generated was that of suspicion being thrown equally on a number of people. The amateur sleuth is usually drawn into the case by a friend. Finally, the detective comes up with a solution that could have been apparent to everyone, but only he or she is able to put the facts together in the most logical way. These ideas are all contained in The Murders in the Rue Morgue, making it the forerunner of great detective stories featuring fictitious crime solvers like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Father Brown, Nero Wolfe and a host of others.One of Poe's biographers declares that this story changed the history of world literature. It was received with great enthusiasm and commercial success. It has also been adapted several times for radio, film, stage, television and comic books. The sleuth C. Auguste Dupin featured in two more stories: The Mystery of Marie Roget, and The Purloined Letter. He became the prototype of the brilliant, eccentric detective who solves mysteries that the police are unable to.The story was also one of the first of Poe's works to be translated into French and was published in a Parisian newspaper, though Poe was not noted as the author and many of the locations and characters were changed. When another French paper featured the story, a sensational trial followed, which finally brought Poe's name into the limelight!Indeed a great addition to your whodunit collection! more

An idle, extravagant young man is the heir presumptive of his wealthy grandfather, an industrial tycoon. His wife, divinely beautiful and utterly selfish, believes that nothing is more powerful than her own beauty. Together, this couple represents what Fitzgerald famously portrayed as the lost generation of the Jazz Age in several of his novels.In The Beautiful and The Damned, F Scott Fitzgerald explores the trivial and shallow lives of the well-heeled inheritors of the American Dream the second or third generation that can afford to live on the fortunes that their forbears worked so hard to accumulate. The book traces the life of Anthony Patch between the ages of 25 and 33 and focuses intensely on his almost obsessive love for the gorgeous looking Gloria Gilbert. Their meeting, courtship, marriage, the endless social whirl of parties, the sudden financial troubles that hit them, the long awaited inheritance that comes to their rescue and the totally unexpected final conclusion make the book a bittersweet saga.Fitzgerald's own life and his marriage to the beautiful Zelda are supposedly the inspiration for this 1925 book, which was his second novel. It follows one of Fitzgerald's favorite themes that great wealth destroys greatly. However, here the irony in the whole situation is that Patch is not wealthy at all; he only nurses 'great expectations!' He refuses to work believing that one day he would be a gentleman of leisure. However, his grandfather, an old-school reformist thinker, believes in the credo of hard work and plain living. When the old man turns up unexpectedly at one of the couple's flashy parties, he rewrites his will, leaving Patch devastated and with no recourse other than to explore legal options.Fitzgerald was famous for his uncanny ability to select the perfect title for his books. The Beautiful and The Damned is no exception. It describes a group of people whose looks are indeed their damnation. Their outward appearance hides their avarice, lust, self indulgence and utter degeneration of moral values. Though these characters are totally unworthy of our sympathy, they manage to capture the imagination simply because of the author's vivid portrayal. Fitzgerald's eye for detail, his brilliant and luminous prose, the authentic recreation of the garish and gaudy side of America in the 1920s are all wonderfully showcased in the book.His first novel, This Side of Paradise had just been published and received with almost universal admiration. Though The Beautiful and The Damned is considered by critics to be less brilliant, it is nevertheless a dazzling picture of a vanished era. more

Charles Dickens is one of the most appreciated Victorian writers, his novels gaining worldwide recognition by both critics and readers. First published in 1850, David Copperfield begins with avid the tragedy of David's brother dying when David is just a boy. After this episode he is sent by his step-father to work in London for a wine merchant. When conditions worsen he decides to run away and embarks on a journey by foot from London to Dover. On his arrival he finds his eccentric aunt, Betsey Trotwood who becomes his new guardian. Being witness to the formation of David's character is quite fascinating. David begins as a strong child whose only aspiration is a better life. On the way to his adulthood, David sees how people enter and leave his life. Romanticism takes its place in David's life as he gets married to Dora Spenlow who is not long for this world. Will David ever find stability and happyness? And what of his wife? Dickens proves to be a master in creating an autobiographical work that is a captivating page-turner. more

Montgomery's literary classic recounts the exciting adventures undertaken by the fiery eleven-year-old Anne Shirley, an orphan girl accidentally adopted by middle aged siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. A coming-of-age novel, Anne of Green Gables focuses on Anne's new life at Green Gables farm in Avonlea and her adjustment into the Prince Edward Island community. The story launches when the aging siblings Matthew and Marilla decide that they could use an extra hand around their farm, and believe that adopting an orphan boy would be an appropriate solution. However, due to a misunderstanding, the orphanage sends Anne Shirley instead. As Matthew heads to the train station to pick up the anticipated boy, he is shocked to be greeted by a red-headed, freckled and quite talkative little girl. Oblivious to the fact that a mistake has been made, Anne cheerfully enjoys the ride to her new home not hiding her enthusiasm whatsoever. Although initially spinster Marilla requires a bit of persuasion, both siblings are drawn in by the irresistible charms of the young chatty girl and accept the orphanage's mix-up. Undeniably Anne adds the much needed color in the lives of Matthew and Marilla who are quiet and timid, while Anne serves as a complete opposite to the two. As Anne adjusts to her new surroundings, she leaves readers absorbed as she makes social gaffes in her clumsy attempts to soak in the social norms, religion, and morals with which her peers are already long accustomed to. Obstructed by countless mischief and creative excursions, Anne must make a distinction between reality and imagination as she walks along the path of self-expression. A timeless favorite, Anne of Green Gables leaves a mark on all that have come across the bright and imaginative character portrayed by Anne. It is nevertheless a little girl's imagination, romanticism, free-spirit and playful antics that have presented Montgomery's novel with a special place in the world of literature. All books in this series:1 Anne of Green Gables2 Anne of Avonlea3 Anne of the Island5 Anne's House of Dreams7 Rainbow Valley8 Rilla of Ingleside more

Comprised of four parts, Gulliver's Travels documents the bizarre, yet fascinating voyages of Lemuel Gulliver as he makes his way through several uncharted destinations, experiencing the lives of the small, the giant, the scientific, and downright eccentric societies. Narrated in first person, Swift successfully portrays Gulliver's thoughts and reactions as he faces struggles of integration throughout his travels.Beginning with the introduction of Gulliver, an educated ship's surgeon, who after a series of unfortunate events is victim to repeated shipwrecks, desertions, and set adrift. His first of several misadventures sees him washed up on the shores of Lilliput, home to the less than six inches tall Lilliputians, where he wakes up to the sounds of scurrying beneath him. However, roles are reversed when his misfortunes lead him to Brobdingnag, a land occupied by giants where he must experience life as an inferior and fragile being. Subsequently, he comes across a society of oppressive theoreticians, and finally an intellectual, superior race. Divided between the known and the unknown, Gulliver must put aside his prejudgments and experience the unfamiliar societies first hand. As the novel gradually progresses, the transformation of the narrator becomes evident as he draws conclusions from each and every one of his adventures.Written by the master of satire, Jonathan Swift has not only created a story of adventure, but also cunningly attacks the mere nature of society in between its lines. Abuse of power, criticism of human nature, politics, and individualism are just some of the themes explored during the enlightening journeys of the venturesome Gulliver. Swift's witty use of metaphors and satirical style serves as a puzzle waiting to be solved. An adventure story for the young, but a critical piece for the mature, the novel has a bit of everything and appeals to all age groups. The details in which the locations are described, the escapism it offers, and its openness to interpretation is what makes Gulliver's Travels a timeless piece of literature. more

Set in 19th century Russia, The Brothers Karamazov (Russian: Братья Карамазовы) is the last novel written by the illustrious author Fyodor Dostoyevsky who died a few months before the book's publication. The deeply philosophical and passionate novel tells the story of Fyodor Karamazov, an immoral debauch whose sole aim in life is the acquisition of wealth. Twice married, he has three sons whose welfare and upbringing, he cares nothing about. At the beginning of the story, Dimitri Karamazov, the eldest son who is now a twenty-eight year old war veteran, returns to his home town to claim the inheritance left to him by his dead mother. Fyodor is none too pleased to see him as he hates to part with money. The middle brother Ivan, a cold and unemotional man, is called in to settle the dispute but he fails. The youngest son, Alyosha, a gentle and learned soul is training to be a monk in a nearby monastery. He suggests that they consult the famous monastic elder Zosima who could work out a satisfactory solution. The plot winds through an amazing labyrinth of twists and turns, with the characters of the three brothers becoming more and more apparent to the readers. As different aspects of a human being, the three are completely different, yet bound by the irrevocable ties of common ancestry. The true hero of the story is the gentle Alyosha, whose spiritual journey and wonderfully humane qualities of kindness and compassion remain with the reader for ever. As one of the most compelling and fascinating explorations of the human heart, The Brothers Karamazov remains one of the world's greatest literary creations. A novel of great length (it is divided into twelve volumes) and breadth, its sheer scale and scope captures the imagination of readers. The book has had an enduring influence on writers all over the world. It was admired and loved by renowned intellectuals like Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Sartre, Camus, James Joyce, Franz Kafka and a host of others. Pope Benedict XVI referred to it in his 2007 encyclical. It has been extensively adapted for stage, screen, TV and translated into many world languages. Dostoyevsky was one of literature's greatest observers of the human mind. His writings were shaped by his own experiences of political activism, imprisonment, questioning of faith and finding spiritual enlightenment towards the end of his life. The novel is as relevant today as when it was published in 1880 and though it is deeply complex, it was also strangely prophetic as it foretold the events that would take place under the Soviet Regime. more

Set in nineteenth century New England, Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters-Jo, Beth, Amy and Meg. The novel is a classic rites of passage story, that has often split literature critics but has been adored by many over the years. Intended as a book for young girls, the book is too sentimental for some but plenty of adults and young men have Little Women firmly featured in their best books of all time. The pace of the novel can be slow at times and the language almost too perfect but the overall sympathetic tone of Alcott wins over the reader.The book is semi-autobiographical, with Jo Marsh mirroring the life of an ambitious Alcott. Just like Alcott, Jo is a strong, independent woman who is fighting through her domestic duties to do what she truly loves. Writing is Jo's passion and in a world where women are expected to put personal growth aside in order to withhold traditional family values, she is met with many challenges. 'I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.' The book speaks to every woman that has had to fight against convention. With their father away at war, the four sisters pull together to support each other but still have time to search for their own identity. These 'little women' are not children but young adults finding their way via love, religion and confidence. Whilst it may seem sad that the sisters do have to conform to some extent, if you read between the lines there is so much inspiration for young female readers. more

A mysterious crime is being plotted in a tiny garret above a dilapidated apartment building in St Petersburg in Russia. The plotter, Rodion Raskolinikov, is a poor student who has delusions of ridding the world of 'worthless vermin' and counter balancing these crimes with good deeds. He commits a murder to test his own theories and prove that crime comes naturally to the human species. Crime and Punishment is a path-breaking novel of ideas that changed the course of novel writing in the 20th century. The intense insights into the workings of the human mind had seldom been attempted by any writer anywhere in the world till then. The author, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, was the son of a hardworking but indigent doctor in Moscow. He was educated in boarding schools and later at a military academy from which he graduated as a military engineer. However, his heart was set on becoming a writer and he left the army to pursue a life devoted to writing. He was also deeply involved in the politics of the time and was sentenced to four years in a prison camp in Siberia for being part of an anarchist group. In Siberia, he underwent an ideological change and reverted to traditional/conservative ideas. Crime and Punishment was published in serial form in a literary journal in 1866 after he returned from Siberia. His father's sudden and brutal killing by serfs on their own estate probably provided the trigger for the ideas expressed in the book. His father was an authoritarian despot, while his mother was a weak and fearful person and many of Dostoyevsky's novels contain images that portray these contradictions. The book is divided into six parts and it is quite a formidable task reading through the entire novel. However, the sheer size, scope and scale of the book carries even the most timid reader along as it traces social realities, psychological aspects of crime and the effect of environment on the minds of vulnerable people. The book met with immense acclaim as it emerged in serial form and was soon compiled in book form. Several English translations followed, as well as those in other languages. More than 25 film adaptations, numerous references in books, television and contemporary writings have kept its appeal alive for generations of readers. Its enduring fascination for modern day readers remains in its themes of alienation and loneliness, the idea of a Superman above the conventions and rules of society and its deep insights into the inner life of a young person on the brink of adulthood. more

A young man from a poor, working-class background, passionate about education, who aspires to become a professor. His teacher, a respected role model who turns out to have feet of clay. An independent, free-spirited woman. Another who is scheming, selfish and flirtatious. Dominating their lives is the magnificent university town of Christminster. All these and a host of other colorful, memorable characters inhabit the pages of Thomas Hardy's monumental fourteenth novel published in 1895.Thomas Hardy's fame as a novelist rivals that of even Dickens in Victorian literature. Creator of unforgettable novels like Far from the Madding Crowd, Tess of the d'Ubervilles, Under the Greenwood Tree and the Mayor of Casterbridge, his essential humanity and the depth that he brings to his characters are what sets him apart. A largely self-taught man, he went on to become a skilled architect and restorer of old buildings. His life-long love of languages, music, country-side life, languages and history emerges in most of his works. Jude the Obscure tells the story of a young orphan, Jude Fawley who is devoted to academics though his impoverished aunt (who rears him) wants him to start work as early as possible as a stone-mason. Jude's inspirational teacher, Richard Phillotson, leaves the village for better pastures in the university at Christminster, leaving Jude to dream about a future career as a teacher. Instead, the travails of his working-class background begin to slowly consume him. He is deceived into marrying Arabella Donn, the come-hither daughter of the local butcher. After many trials and tribulations, Jude reaches Christminster, where a terrible disappointment awaits him. Jude's meeting with his brilliant, free-thinking cousin Sue Bridehead is another turning point in his life. The novel scandalized Victorian readers when it first came out due to its revolutionary ideas about sexuality, women's rights and the rise of the working class. Copies of the book were publicly burned in London and other cities. Thousands of people wrote to Hardy from all over the world, severely criticizing him/the novel which shocked him into abandoning fiction-writing till his death. He continued to publish poetry and drama and remained a successful writer. In 1912, a new edition was well-received by more modern readers and the book delights young and old even today. The universal themes of marriage, love, class-distinctions, education, women's rights, religion and human migrations from their native homes to cities are brilliantly explored in Jude the Obscure, making it a must read classic. more

An epistolary novel, Lady Susan is an early work by Austen that was posthumously published in 1871. The short novel focuses on the self-serving eponymous anti-heroine, as she cunningly maneuvers her way through society in search of a wealthy husband for both her daughter and herself. Disregarding anything but her own selfish goals, Susan employs her charms to lure men and draw them into her web of deceit, no matter their age or status. Exploring issues including morals, manners, self-indulgence, malevolence, and social machinations, the relatively short novel is sure to fascinate with its atypical form.Comprised of forty-one letters, the novel introduces Lady Susan Vernon, a beautiful recent widow in her thirties, who is allowed to stay with her brother-in -law Charles Vernon and his wife Catherine in their family home. Apparently, this move is initiated after Susan is sent packing from the previous residence where she had been residing, due to the exposure of her flagrant affair with a married man. The novel also focuses on Frederica, Susan's timid 16-year old daughter, who is terrorized by her mother, as Susan tries to marry her off to the wealthy, yet fatuous Sir James Martin against her wishes. Furthermore, Susan's skills in manipulation are confirmed when Catherine's younger brother arrives to meet the notoriously scandalous woman, whose name is attached to many raffish rumors. However, having a way with words, Susan effortlessly manipulates and twists the disreputable gossip to her favor and even has the man converted to the position of advocate. Her true nature is revealed through her correspondence with her friend Alicia Johnson, to whom she reveals all her schemes, contrivances, and the true depth of her unscrupulous nature.Austen effectively employs the epistolary format in her writing, allowing the audience to gain an insight into the characters, their emotions, schemes, and artifices. Unlike Austen's most notable female characters, who are typically guided by principled objectives, Lady Susan is in contrast guided simply by her egocentric ways. An exciting view of Austen's early attempts to write in the epistolary format, Lady Susan presents a melodramatic piece full of details, descriptions, provocative characters, and a well-deserved taste of one's own medicine. more

Over twenty consecutive months, Charles Dickens enthralled readers with his monthly installments of the novel Bleak House, a complex and compelling portrayal of the English judicial system. Serialized in his own magazine, Household Words, between 1852 and 1853, the book is deemed to be his finest work and is his ninth novel. Using an innovative literary technique known as 'free indirect discourse,' where the narrator himself speaks through the medium of one of his main characters, Dickens uses the heroine Esther Summerson and an unidentified narrator as the vehicle for his story. Esther Summerson is a young woman who is brought up under mysterious circumstances by several people, including an aunt who hates her, a Chancery lawyer and finally another lawyer John Jarndyce, a wealthy, extremely kind and compassionate man. After completing her education, she moves into the Jarndyce residence, appropriately named Bleak House, where two other wards of his also live. Secrets begin to tumble out of many cupboards as one of the wards, Richard Carstone, begins investigating a century old case, Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce. It concerns a complicated and huge inheritance case which has been going on for generations. In fact, the phrase 'jarndyce and jarndyce' has entered the English language as a metaphor for interminable court proceedings. Almost all the major characters in the book are connected in some way to this case. There are plenty of wonderfully named, extremely memorable characters in the convoluted structure of plots and subplots, masterfully constructed by a writer working at his peak. Many of them are based on real people Dickens knew while the accounts of the legal system are based on his real-life experiences as a court clerk. The portraits of scheming lawyers like Mr. Tulkington and the merciless moneylender Grandfather Smallweed and an almost bewildering host of minor characters make Bleak House one of the most interesting and entertaining novels. Dickens' magnum opus focuses extensively on the ills of the English judicial system, but it is also a brilliant detective story. Inspector Bucket, a police detective, is put in charge of the murder of Mr. Tulkington and this leads to the unraveling of a deep and secret plot. A mysterious note written by a dead man known only as 'Nemo,' an aristocratic lady with secrets of her own, her suspicious husband, her disappearance and Esther's romance with a country doctor are some of the elements that make up the sweeping panorama of Bleak House.Whether you're reading it for the first time, or it's an old favorite, Bleak House is indeed an invaluable addition to your bookshelf. more

This story opens with a lovely, poor and proud young woman who lives with her aunt. The young woman saves the life of a farmer who subsequently falls in love with her. However, the young woman inherits a fortune and moves away.On the flip side the farmer loses everything he has and travels around the country seeking employment. One evening the farmer helps to put out a blazing fire in a lonely farm. When the veiled owner comes out to thank him, he discovers that she is none other than the beautiful woman who once rejected him and moved away.Thomas Hardy was brought up in rural Dorset and was the son of a humble stonemason. He suffered from life long ill health and was schooled at home till he was sixteen. He then trained to be an architect and began writing poetry. He wrote his first novel The Poor Man and The Lady in 1867 but met with little success. Hardy destroyed the manuscript and worked on two others which were published but anonymously. In 1873, he published A Pair of Blue Eyes, to which he put his own name and this book was relatively more successful. In fact the term, 'cliff-hanger' which refers to stories in which the reader is left in suspense till the next chapter originated with the book which originally appeared in serial form in a magazine.Far From the Madding Crowd was Hardy's fourth novel and gave him his first taste of literary and commercial success. It also laid the foundation for several themes that Hardy would continue to use. The concept of Wessex itself was an important Hardy motif in which he contrasts the rural setting against a rapidly industrializing urban England. In many of his novels, his characters are unable to stem the flow of events. The effects of overwhelming passion, women's rights, society's constraints and demands which clash with individual wants and desires, are some of the themes explored in his work.The beautiful and proud Bathsheba Everdene, Gabriel Oak, the man who loves her, the rich, lonely and strait laced William Boldwood, the dashing and debonair Sergeant Troy, the tragic Fanny Robin are all memorable characters who make Far From the Madding Crowd an absorbing and thought provoking read. more