Reviews

Thank you, Jacke. It’s not political to speak the truth.

This is my favorite podcast of all time, hands down. It's got everything. He perfect nails a combination of being informative but also entertaining and also engaging with historical events in a very meaningful way. He makes history into a three-dimensional, full-color experience instead of just black words on a page. I've been listening for a long time now and the whole pocast is worth it. The first few episodes have mediocre sound quality but after the first few it's golden, so don't let that dissuade you. Some of the other things Jacke Wilson manages to do so well include: talking about religious or political works without getting bogged down into the debates on religion or politics themselves, sprinkling humor and variety throughout the show, and really engaging with readers. He loves to read emails, and he's a great conversant over email as well. So many great things about this podcast. If you are even slightly interested in learning about literature, I would definitely start listening to this today. It will increase your appetite for literature a hundred fold.

New listener. Going through your backlist. This is most excellent. If you’re a literary type personage this podcast is for you. 10/10 would listen to the upanishads and the prince episode again.

I have been listening for more than two years now. I can’t believe it has been this long before writing a review. This series of podcasts has brought me immeasurable joy, understanding, and perspective. Jacke has introduced me to authors I would not have sampled and themes I would have avoided. I have grown as a reader by listening. His colorful personal insights make each episode more like a discussion with your friend than a dry lecture audit. When there have been longer stretches between episodes, I found myself longing for the next, worried the series would end. Please keep them coming, Jacke, there is so much more to be learned. We’re this Reddit I would vote up Bryon with a yo’s comment 20 times!

I may lack the critical distance of some of the negative reviewers of this podcast, but for me it is rare to find a love of literature that Jacke exhibits on each episode of his podcast. Not only is his enthusiasm refreshing, but this podcast blends the right mix of critical analysis, informative facts about the authors and works, and the humor and personality of Jacke and his guests. To those who are turned off by reflections on current social issues, politics, and personal lives of the podcasters, I say it is the poor reader who doesn’t allow great works of art to color their vision of the world they experience both public and private. I applaud the courage of the host and his guests for expressing their rumination on these works in an open and honest way.

The guy who hosts this seems like the nicest person 🙂

I’m a secondary English teacher. Your podcast exposes me to works that I wouldn’t normally come across that I can introduce to students (when not too scandalous). Thanks for giving me new ideas. More importantly, I admire your focus on authors from a variety of backgrounds. Literature includes but isn’t limited to dead white men. Please don’t go anywhere except up.

Please stop preaching about race relations. Don’t preach to the choir. You are not one voice in the wilderness. And leave your politics out of what is otherwise a wonderful discussion of literature. Trump bad, Obama good. What?

I’m an ex-high school lit. teacher who has spent the past 18 months or so of leisure time listening to podcasts concerning events of the paranormal. Fascinating subject to myself, yes, but finally grown tiresome. So I reached out my tentacles a bit. Found a nice history ‘cast that enlightened me unto Civil War Generals of both North and South. Fascinating a brief moment. Then done. Next beyond paranormal playthings brought me you. I cheer. In your way, you are as brilliant and interesting as your subjects, and if you were not, if you were false, I would leave you instantly. I will stay. Just listened to my 30th or so episode, Chekhov, “Gooseberries”. Cried. Don’t want to cry further at this moment of early frigid dawn, so the gooseberries can just stay sour for now. Just know you that your sensitive commentary wetted my eyes, and it was good to have them wetted in such a way...Next listened to Virginia Woolf. A gross disappointment. Boring interview. Little history. My own literary history began at the University of Northern Colorado in 1991. “To the Lighthouse” my first reading (novel-wise); or was it “Wuthering Heights” (beside the point here, but I adored your episode on the Brontes)? Upon reflection, the “Heights” I think. Devoured it. Then switched sisters to Charlotte. “Jane Eyre”. Here for myself I discovered, in part, the differences between a literary heavyweight (Em) & a literary mid-to-lightweight (Char). But that’s for me.... I work nights now, 12-hour-shifts at a factory. Good money. But I miss my authors. I am generally so tired on my off-days that I cannot lend thought, true thought, to my authors’ tales. But now I’ve you. Your podcast. I’ve not analyzed your entire catalog, but I will. Hoping to find Joseph Conrad, a stinking weed if you like planted there amongst the lilies...Sincerely, Daniel Gray (dflacky42@gmail).

Jacke reminds me why I love to think and to read. He has such palpable affection for his material – and it’s contagious. This podcast has given me the energy to start and to finish reading books and stories – and that, I think, is the highest praise a podcast about literature can attain.

I will keep this brief and to the point: I listen to this podcast nearly every day and it brings me solace. As a 24 year old literature fanatic, I find it difficult to find other similarly aged, similarly minded friends with which I could discuss literature (or art in general, but that’s a whole different conversation). Jacke Wilson’s informative podcast provides a voice and a friend that I rarely find outside of the internet.

How sad that a passion for great literature is rare and that Jacke Wilson hasn't been called upon to revise current to society to reflect the wisdom he talks so well about. This podcast makes me grateful for the internet; it's a mesmerizing oasis in a grim world that thinks genius is whatever makes the most money. This podcast is a small rural restaurant in Tuscany with handmade pasta and tomatoes and plums picked fresh from the hillside far from the miserable world of Chick-fil-A's.

The too-loud and obnoxious commercials kill it. Please. Gentle listener doesn't like ringing ears

I listen to lots of true crime & vulgar comedians, but I also love this show. Books are great. TV is dumb. The gentleman that runs this show is a mensch & I thank him for the hours & hours of truly awesome & enlightening discussions about the most impressive achievement of all the creative arts... a good story.

I love this pod and look forward to each new episode. Jacke is informative and well researched. I like the pods best where its just Jacke telling a story.

This is the most astute, engaging, informative, and entertaining lit podcast out there, bar none.

I love this light-hearted and soothing podcast that helps me remember why I choose to study English-- for the sheer love of literature. I find these podcasts wonderfully inspiring!

Thank you for your Morrison program. Appreciate your candor in sharing your experience. Really great job!

I discovered The History of Literature about two years ago, and have been a true fan ever since. Learning the intricacies of plot-lines and back stories, of writers’ lives and loves, enriches my understanding of so many classics that I never had the time to read. Jacke Wilson - while he doesn’t have a typical ‘radio voice’ - has a winning personality that never disappoints. He’s witty, conversational (with his foil Mike Palindrome) and can simultaneously inform and amuse. His self-deprecating nature won me over from the beginning, and I had to listen to his prior episodes, just to get enough of his quirky humor, lol! At the end of each episode, I feel both smarter and sated. You know those questionnaires where they ask what famous person (or not so famous person) would you like to have a dinner conversation with? My answer: Jacke Wilson!

I’m an historian, and I don’t have any time to read great works of creative writing—much as I would like to. With this podcast, I feel like I learn so much that I’m no longer worried about the time I do not have. This show is rich without being dense, intense without being daunting, and the host connects to his subject on a deep level that communicates through to the listener.

Time well spent. Enough said.

I think the part I like the most about this show is the author's vocal style, which always seems just on the edge of being tongue-in-cheek, while still delivering solid musings and reflections on some of the greatest works in the literary canon.

Jacke is so funny and earnest and it’s a pleasure to listen to him every week—it feels like you’re just chatting with a friend about books! Favorite podcast by far.

If you can get past the occasional left-wing pablum and hysteria, an absolutely wonderful podcast that’s frequently poignant and touching. Bravo Jack and Mike Palindrome! These fellas are consistently knocking it out of the park with erudite book selections and sharp insights. They’re honest, refreshing and well read without any hint of condescension whatsoever. They have respect for the canon but aren’t afraid to slaughter sacred cows. More power to them. But let’s keep it political neutral from now on, please?

Have listened to several episodes and agree with the other reviewers that this is a worthwhile podcast for lovers of literature. I just wanted to add that the episode about bad poetry was hysterically funny--a difficult feat to pull off with such a topic, but Jacke hit the right tone, chose the extremes of bad poetry (mostly from several decades into the past, so generally not offensive to present day poets). Loved that episode!

Perfect for literature nerds like me!

This is the best podcast! Do not just subscribe but go back to the early episodes and listen to them all. If you love literature but don't want stuffy, dry commentary, then this one is for you. Jacke Wilson has a great personality and brings great insight and FUN to the discussion of great books.

Jacke is a fun host. I like when he brings "guests" on like Edgar Allen Poe, and guests like some of the more recent professors and such. I haven't listened through the full back catalog, only about 15 deep, but the sound quality is great, editing is great, and the books he picks are some I have been putting off reading myself - so a nice little introduction to them - and some I read ages ago and haven't thought about in a while. Highly recommend.

Do you ever read a book and think, "I wish I wrote that book?" Well I do, and when I do that is a great sign that I loved a book. I feel that exact same way with this podcast. I wish I created and did this podcast. It would be so cool to read, research, and record. Mr. Wilson (ha) is very passionate. His ability to tell stories is clear which really adds to the entertainment of an educational show. I listen to the first couple episodes because I wanted to learn about an author. I quickly connected with Mr. Wilson, and I listen every week now and often pick off an older episode which I am running out of!

Delightful, a nice tone, deep research, entertaining, respectful, simply lovely