The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is ranked #4 on the History of Literature Podcast's list of the Greatest Books of All Time. In Episode 761, Jacke places the book in context, offering seven points about the time and circumstances that influen…
The masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez is #5 on the History of Literature's list of the 25 Greatest Books of All Time. In Episode 758, Jacke takes a look at this novel, which received global praise and …
At #6 on the History of Literature's list of 25 Greatest Books of All Time is George Orwell's novel 1984, which was first published on June 8, 1949. Undeniably, it is a compelling and devastating dystopian narrative, and one that persists in its rel…
The Sound and the Fury is #7 on the History of Literature list of 25 Greatest Books of All Time. In Episode 749, Jacke explores the strengths of Faulkner's narrative style in this novel, in which a single day of a family, told from four different pe…
There is a lot to praise about Herman Melville's Moby Dick, which comes in at #8 on the History of Literature's list of 25 Greatest Books of All Time. In Episode 747, Jacke considers this tale that is so much more than a story about a whale. Eager t…
In the History of Literature's list of the 25 Greatest Books of All Time, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes comes in at #9. In Episode 746, Jacke makes the case for the enduring delight of Don Quixote, which Harold Bloom called the first modern nov…
At #10 on the History of Literature's Greatest Books of All Time is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Among the most memorable opening lines of any novel is the one that opens Anna Karenina:Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhap…
The History of Literature's countdown of the greatest books of all time continues! Here's Jacke's list of books 19 to 11, with opening lines that craftily establish the tone and wonder of what comes next.For more about why these works made Jacke's…
What are the qualities of a great book? The History of Literature host Jacke Wilson considers this question as he creates his list of the 25 greatest books of all time.As a teaser, here are the first lines of Jacke's top books, from 25 to 20: …
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…
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…
"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 DickensJoin Jacke and me as we spen…
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 …
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…
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 …
